The Kulliye of Eshab-ı Kehf (The Seven Sleepers) in Kahramanmaraş, which is included in UNESCO's Temporary World Heritage List, awaits both local and foreign visitors.

The Eshab-i Kehf incident is depicted in many sacred books, including the Quran, as one of the holy "resurrection" examples.

In Islamic tradition, the Roman Emperor Decius was believed to have been ruling at the time of the incident. The emperor was a pagan and ordered the execution of a small number of people who did not accept paganism. Later, the ruler learned of certain non-pagan youths in the court. As a result, the emperor summoned and threatened to kill them if they did not convert to paganism. Though they resisted bravely and even invited Decius to join them, the ruler refused, instead granting them time to convert back to their former belief.

In order to preserve their faith, the young men traveled to a mountain near the city. On their way, a shepherd named Kefeştetayyuş joined their faith and became the seventh traveler, accompanied by his shepherd dog, Kıtmir. When they reached the mountain, they entered a cave led by the shepherd where they prayed for mercy. According to the story, Decius traveled to Efsus and learned that the young men had escaped and taken shelter in the cave. He went to the cave with his men and blocked the mouth of the cave with the goal of killing them. According to the story, the seven young people did not die, but continued to sleep for centuries until they were finally awakened through divine intervention. Exactly how long they slumbered is unknown, the Surah Al-Kahf states that only Allah knows. Nevertheless, they are traditionally thought to have slept for about 300 years.

It is stated in the Quran that they were not aware of the time that had passed when they woke up. When finally awakened, they talked among themselves and decided to send one of them to the city to buy bread. Dressed in a disguise, Yemliha was chosen for the task and to return without telling anyone his identity. To his astonishment, Yemliha went to town only to discover a completely different city in its place. After a particular incident, Yemliha became aware of the lost time and was taken to the current ruler. According to the story, this ruler believed in the same religion as the young people. Yemliha told the ruler what had happened to them and then left to tell his friends of his adventures. In the end, they all fell asleep once again.

According to the Christian legend, the story is set in a pagan country ruled by a king named Decius around the year A.D. 250, where seven young people were prosecuted for their Christian faith. They were given a period of time to change their beliefs, but they chose to leave their worldly goods to worship on the mountain. The king, despising this attitude against paganism, ordered his men to kill them. The young people and their dog took shelter in a cave, but the king ordered the entrance of the cave to be sealed with stones. The Seven Sleepers stayed here for many years.

The Kulliye of Eshab-ı Kehf (The Seven Sleepers) in Kahramanmaraş has been included in UNESCO's Temporary World Heritage List as a ising star in religious tourism in Anatolia.

Years later, around A.D. 379-390, a farmer opened the cave entrance and met the Seven Sleepers. After exploring the city, they were puzzled by so many buildings with crosses in the city. When they tried to spend their Decius coins, they were brought before the bishop who listened to their story and declared it a miracle.

In Christianity, the seven men are the saints Maximilian, Iamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus (Constantine) and Antoninus.

The cave in the Christian version is located on the outskirts of Mount Ochlon, near the present-day city of Ephesus. A church that had been built on top of the Seven Sleepers cave was unearthed in an excavation carried out 1927-1928. Graves dating back to the fifth and sixth centuries were found during the excavation, while inscriptions dedicated to the Seven Sleepers were found both in the graves and on the church walls.

There are 33 cities that claim that the cave associated with the Eshab-i Kehf lies within their borders. Three of these are in Turkey: Afsin, Tarsus and Ephesus.

The Kulliye of Eshab-i Kehf in Afsin, Kahramanmaraş was included on UNESCO's Temporary World Heritage List in 2016, and thanks to the subsequent increased interest, it welcomes many local and foreign tourists every year. In the kulliye, where efforts have been made to include it in the permanent UNESCO World Heritage List, the demands of the visitors are being met. Through tourism-centered arrangements for the Eshab-i Kehf, the aim is to increase the brand value of the district.

Afşin Mayor Fatih Mehmet Güven told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the inclusion of the site on the UNESCO Temporary List was a big step for the Eshab-i Kehf in 2015 and that they have applied to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with hope of being included on the permanent list. Noting that they are trying to make the region more visible by creating the "Eshab-i Kehf Lives Project," Güven said they are developing many different areas, from the lighting to the museum.

Pointing out that today people attach great importance to a visual experience, Güven said: "The Eshab-i Kehf has 700 years of foundation and madrasa tradition. We could not depict it all to our young people via just empty stone buildings. So, we have visualized it. We wanted people to visualize the life experiences there and to live them out in their minds. We installed appropriate seating areas in the inn so that visitors could spend time there, and we furnished the rooms." Explaining that they also furnished the surroundings of the inn with animals associated with the caravan, Güven said: "We wanted people who come here to have a good time. We re-examined the lighting and sound systems. Walking paths were built, museum projects were conducted, and security cameras were installed. We have made an effort to make people feel comfortable and safe and have provided a space where they can experience the spiritual atmosphere."

Mayor Güven said the projects have a lot of potential, especially in the area of religious tourism, noting that they are pleased this could contribute to the regional economy.

Highlighting that the Eshab-i Kehf has been included on the UNESCO Temporary List, Güven stated that there has been an increase in the number of foreign visitors after receiving the UNESCO status because 30 percent of the world's tourists use the list as a guide for planning tours. "UNESCO has had such a positive effect on us. In this sense, we have already begun to reap the benefits of our work. It will be great when we are on the permanent list," Güven said.

"The Eshab-i Kehf is a striking example of the phenomenon of resurrection in the world," he said, inviting both local and foreign tourists to the region.