Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40536639›Full record

ReviewSleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung2025

Scientific parallels of sleep physiology in the Qur'anic narrative of the Companions of the Cave "the Cave Sleepers".

Wissem Dhahbi, Ahmed S BaHammam, Abdelfatteh El Omri, Ismail Dergaa, Amine Souissi, Anis Ben Dhahbi, Helmi Ben Saad

Abstract readReviewHistorical Article
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Wissem DhahbiResearch Unit "Sport Sciences, Health and Movement", Higher Institute of Sports and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Kef, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0001-6221-546X
Ahmed S BaHammam *University Sleep Disorders Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0002-1706-6167
Abdelfatteh El Omri *Surgical Research Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, 3050, Doha, Qatar.ORCID 0000-0003-4112-7924
Ismail Dergaa *High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0001-8091-1856
Amine SouissiFaculty of Medicine of Sousse, Farhat HACHED Hospital, Heart Failure (LR12SP09) Research Laboratory, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0003-2072-2425
Anis Ben DhahbiDepartment of Physics, College of Science and Arts at ArRass, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-3716-9398
Helmi Ben SaadFaculty of Medicine of Sousse, Farhat HACHED Hospital, Heart Failure (LR12SP09) Research Laboratory, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.ORCID 0000-0002-7477-2965

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Qur'anic narrative of the Companions of the Cave (Cave Sleepers, in Arabic "Ashab al-Kahf") describes young believers who experienced a prolonged, divinely induced sleep in a cave, as recounted in verses 18:9-26 of Sūrah Al-Kahf. This account, while spiritual in nature, presents details that parallel modern scientific concepts in sleep physiology, particularly regarding environmental influences and bodily preservation during extended immobility.

objectiveTo explore scientific parallels between the Qur'anic description of the Cave Sleepers' prolonged sleep and contemporary sleep physiology, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue.

methodsA comparative analytical descriptive approach was employed, incorporating historical context and established principles for the scientific interpretation of the Qur'an. A comprehensive literature review covered publications from 1970 to July 2024, focusing on sleep physiology, circadian rhythms, and relevant Qur'anic exegesis.

resultsThe analysis revealed notable correspondences between the Qur'anic narrative and modern sleep science. The emphasis on noise reduction and controlled light exposure aligns with the current understanding of optimal sleep environments and circadian regulation. The narrative's mention of bodily preservation and periodic turning during sleep reflects modern practices to prevent complications from prolonged immobility, such as pressure ulcers and muscle atrophy. Additionally, the described cave environment mirrors conditions known to support hypometabolic states and sleep consolidation.

conclusionsThe Qur'anic account of the Cave Sleepers resonates with contemporary sleep physiology, particularly in environmental optimization and bodily maintenance during extended sleep. This interdisciplinary exploration encourages new scientific questions and research directions in sleep biology and human physiology.

Indexed as

CavesSleepCircadian RhythmHumansNarrationArchaeosomnologyBioenvironmental adaptationComparative religion-science interfaceNeurotheologyPsychoneuroendocrinology

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.