2359 The controversy in later ages raged about the number of the Sleepers: were they three or five or seven? People answered, nor from knowledge, but from conjecture. Gibbon's version, which has now become best known, makes the number of Sleepers seven. The point was immaterial: the real point was the spiritual lesson. 2360 The true significance of the story is known only to a few. Most men discuss futile details, which are not in their knowledge. 2361 It is unprofitable to enter such immaterial controversies, and many others that have been waged about Religion by shallow men from time immemorial. Yet, if there is a matter of clear knowledge from experience that matters, we must openly proclaim it, that the world may be brought to listen to Allah's Truth. 2362 Vulgar storymongers as such know little of the true significance of the stories and parables. We have a clear exposition in the Qur'an. What need is there to go into details of the men in the Cave, or of the time they remained there?