Syria’s Caves of Blood, Hunger, & Seven Sleepers

On the slopes of Mount Qasioun (transliterated as "Jabal Qasiun," known to some as a "holy mountain") overlooking the Syria's city of Damascus, considered to be among the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, are Caves steeped in legend.

The first is said to have been inhabited at one point by the first human aware of God, "Adam," and there are various stories told, according to Ibn Jubayr (1145-1217), an Arab geographer, traveler and poet from al-Andalus: "In this cave prayed Prophets Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Lot, and Job."

Ibn Jubayr mentions another story, which he attributes to Ibn Asakir (1106-1176), a Syrian Sunni scholar, one of the most prominent renowned experts on Hadith and Islamic history in the medieval era, and in part to a collection known as "The Story of Damascus."

The story holds that: "Prophet Abraham was born on the slopes of this mountain, near a village called Barzeh, inside a long and narrow cave."

The story also accounts: "Paul's encounter with Jesus face-to-face and their conversation on the road to Damascus," as is told in (Acts 9:1-19) and retold by Paul in Acts (22:6-21; and Acts 26:12-18).

At the western edge of the mountain, Ibn Jubayr writes and local traditions still affirm, is a hill mentioned in the Quran, where Jesus (Isa) lived with his mother, Mary (Maryam). 

What is striking about the stories, besides their sheer volume and religious significance, is the consistency in detail, whose information align perfectly with historic records and narratives.

It’s been renowned for years as a place where prayers were immediately accepted, and especially in times of past drought, rulers of Damascus would climb to the Cave and pray for rain.

The Cave in Medieval Arab history books is located in 'Al-Arba'in,' an extension of the mountain towards the east, having been the place where 'Cain' (Qābīl) killed 'Abel' (Hābīl), thus, called the 'Cave of Blood' (known as "Maghārat al-Dam"), and a Maqam where Abel is said to be buried.

According to Islamic tradition, Mount Qasioun, is the site of the 'mihrābs' (prayer niches) of the 40 men or forty Saints, (known as the "Abdāl"), who are said to pray the night vigil prayers every night (Musnad Ahmad: hadith 896). Maqam al-Arba'in is a small Mosque built over the Cave containing these miḥrābs.

Further down the mountain is another cave called the 'Cave of Hunger' (known as "Maghārat al-Jū"). Stories about this cave are somewhat confusing. Some say that forty Saints died there of hunger; however, "al-Harawī" who lived in the 13th century, wrote that it was said forty Prophets instead.

At present, the cave is concealed by surrounding houses, but its spot is called the 'Place of the Hungry' (known as "al-Juyūˁīyah").

On another flank of the same mountain is one more cave, which has come down in local legend to being called the 'cave of Seven Sleepers' (known as "Aṣḥāb al-Kahf").

Also called in Christendom "Seven Sleepers of Ephesus," a legend in both Christianity and Islam. According to some surviving stories, seven young men were living in the Roman Empire (circa 250 CE), to escape persecution for their faith, they went to sleep in the cave for several hundred years.

Despite it being one of many caves in this part of the world that share the claim. A madrasah (religious school) has been built over the Cave.

Last but not least, in the foothills of the mountain is the Mosque and tomb of the most prominent mystic of all time: Ibn Arabi, the 12th century Saint, poet and philosopher.

Food for thought!