Fitnahs and from the people who create those Fitnahs. We should also have the company of pious people as it is the means by which one can remain protected from Fitnahs. Commanding us to take a safe refuge to remain protected from the Fitnahs, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated: ‘Soon there will be such Fitnahs in [the era of] which, a person sitting will be better than the standing one; and the person standing will be better than the walking one; and the person walking will be better than the running one. Whoever will peep at these Fitnahs, they will affect him. So whoever finds any refuge or shelter, he should take refuge in it.’

Regarding this Hadees, ‘Allamah ‘Ali Qaari رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated: In this glorious saying, ‘sitting’ here means completely staying away from those Fitnahs. In this way, a person can remain safe from those Fitnahs as he will remain unaffected, by not looking at them. ‘Standing’ here means watching them from a distance, becoming aware and informed about them. ‘Walking’ here means indulging in them slightly and ‘running’ means indulging in them greatly. ‘Shelter’ means the place of peace and ‘refuge’ means the man who could protect him from the Fitnahs i.e. either he should go to the place of shelter or should stay with such a person who could protect him from these Fitnahs. (Mirqat-ul-Mafatih, vol. 9, pp. 261, Hadees 5384)

Once, while passing by the cave of Ashab-e-Kahf on the journey of battle of Rome, Sayyiduna Ameer Mu’awiyah رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ desired to enter the cave. Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰی عَـنْـهُمَا forbade him and recited this blessed Ayah:

لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَیْهِمْ لَوَلَّیْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَّ لَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا(۱۸)

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: O listener, were you to look at them closely, you would turn back running away from them, and be filled with their dread.

(Part 15, Surah Al-Kahf, Ayah 18)

Dear Islamic brothers! The first thing Ashab-e-Kahf did after they had woken up was to say Salam to each other and then they offered Salah. From this    act it has been deduced that Salam and Salah are very old acts of worship.