Righteousness and Empowerment
إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ سَبَبًا فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
“Indeed We established him upon the earth, and We gave him from everything a way.
So he followed a way.” [1]
Dhul-Qarnayn or possessor of the two horns,[2] was a righteous king whom Allah established upon earth. He travelled around the world from the easts to the wests ruling with justice and calling people to the worship of Allah. The kings and rulers submitted to him[3] and this dominance was given to him by Allah along with everything he needed of resources, from a vast army to knowledge and technology. These blessings however did not cause him to forget Allah. Rather, he would reflect and contemplate the signs and mercy of his Lord throughout his amazing journeys.
The story of Dhul Qarnayn is mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf (Cave) which was revealed when the Prophetﷺ was asked three particular questions. Ibn Abbas narrates that the people of Quraysh set out to ask the Jews their opinion on Muhammad’s prophecy ﷺ saying to them, “You are the people of the Torah and we have come to you so you can inform us of our companion.” The Jewish Rabbis told them to ask three specific questions[4] and if Muhammad ﷺ was able to answer them then he would be a true Prophet. One of the questions was about a man who travelled a great deal and reached the East and West of earth and his story.[5] This man was no other than Dhul Qarnayn.
Dhul Qarnayn travelled extensively with the aim of establishing justice and ending oppression. During one of his expeditions he followed a route to the West where he found the sun setting as if in a spring of dark mud. There he found a nation who disbelieved and had mischief and oppression spread amongst them. Allah revealed to him that he may either punish them or treat them kindly. Dhul Qarnayn said,
قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا وَأَمَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلَهُۥ جَزَآءً ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرً
“Whoever does wrong will be punished by us, then will be returned to their Lord and He will punish them with a terrible punishment. But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of Paradise, and we (i.e., Duhul-Qarnayn) will speak to him from our command with ease.”[6]
Upon reaching the setting point of the sun i.e. the West, Dhul Qarnayn called the people to Allah and to the correct path. He rewarded those who acted righteously and punished those who did wrong. That is because those who do not fear Allah or believe in Him have no deterrent stopping them from oppression and so if they are not punished by those in power, then anarchy and chaos would spread. This is in this world, while in the hereafter they will have a different punishment which is ‘Nukra’, which not only means a punishment that is terrible but also one that is different to what we are used to seeing, one that is unheard of.
Likewise, those who do good were rewarded, encouraged and shown ease so that there was an incentive to keep doing good and benefiting society. As such, Zhul Qarnayn established Justice in the land.
Then he travelled towards the East, where he found a people living without any protection from the sun.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًا
“Then he followed a way. Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no shelter from it.”[7]
These people had no shelter from the sun. They were in a land where no buildings could be built and so to escape the sun they would go into tunnels until the sun had passed its zenith, then they would come out. It is also said that they did not have clothes to cover them.[8]
He then continued on his journey until he reached a pass between two mountains where he found a people so far removed from others that they could hardly understand his language, nor could they get others to understand their language. Yet Dhul Qarnayn was patient in listening to their complaints and needs.
Upon seeing the strength of Dhul Qarnayn and his justice, they asked him for help against a neighbouring community, Gog and Magog who had spread great mischief in the land and greatly outnumbered them. They pleaded,
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا
“They said, O Zhul Qarnayn! Surely Gog and Magog are spreading corruption throughout the land. Should we pay you tribute, provided that you build a wall between us and them?” [9]
Dhul Qarnayn decided to help them but refused the offer of money. He said, “What my Lord has provided for me is far better.” Rather, he asked them to assist him with strength and resources. They requested from him to build a barrier ‘Sadda’. Dhul Qarnayn however did more than that, he first made a ‘Radma’ by filling in the land till it was completely levelled. He then asked for big blocks of iron which he placed on top of each other so that it blocked the gap between the two mountains. Then he told them to blow fire onto it so that it became as hot as fire. Then he poured melted copper on the hot iron so that it all welded together.[10]
Not only did they succeed in building the barrier, but Dhul Qarnayn had also taught the people how to build and maintain it. Gog and Magog were thus unable to climb the barrier because of its height, nor were they able to penetrate it.
فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًا
“Thus they were made powerless to scale it or to dig through it.”
Reflections
After achieving this great feat, Zhul Qarnayn humbly turned to Allah,
قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى حَقًّا
“He said, ‘This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust. And the promise of my Lord is true.”[11]
Zhul Qarnayn attributed this great success to Allah for it was He the Almighty who enabled them to build it as a mercy for the people, to protect them from the evils of Gog and Magog.
Dhul Qarnayn also knew that the barrier will one day collapse when the time comes for Gog and Magog to roam freely again, and the promise of Allah is true.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ يَحْفِرُونَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ حَتَّى إِذَا كَادُوا يَرَوْنَ شُعَاعَ الشَّمْسِ قَالَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِمُ ارْجِعُوا فَسَنَحْفِرُهُ غَدًا . فَيُعِيدُهُ اللَّهُ أَشَدَّ مَا كَانَ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَتْ مُدَّتُهُمْ وَأَرَادَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْعَثَهُمْ عَلَى النَّاسِ حَفَرُوا حَتَّى إِذَا كَادُوا يَرَوْنَ شُعَاعَ الشَّمْسِ قَالَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِمُ ارْجِعُوا فَسَتَحْفِرُونَهُ غَدًا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى وَاسْتَثْنَوْا فَيَعُودُونَ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ كَهَيْئَتِهِ حِينَ تَرَكُوهُ فَيَحْفِرُونَهُ وَيَخْرُجُونَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَيَنْشِفُونَ الْمَاءَ وَيَتَحَصَّنُ النَّاسُ مِنْهُمْ فِي حُصُونِهِمْ فَيَرْمُونَ بِسِهَامِهِمْ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَتَرْجِعُ عَلَيْهَا الدَّمُ الَّذِي اجْفَظَّ فَيَقُولُونَ قَهَرْنَا أَهْلَ الأَرْضِ وَعَلَوْنَا أَهْلَ السَّمَاءِ فَيَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ نَغَفًا فِي أَقْفَائِهِمْ فَيَقْتُلُهُمْ بِهَا " . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّ دَوَابَّ الأَرْضِ لَتَسْمَنُ وَتَشْكَرُ شَكَرًا مِنْ لُحُومِهِمْ " .
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Gog and Magog people dig every day until, when they can almost see the rays of the sun, the one in charge of them says: "Go back and we will dig it tomorrow." Then Allah puts it back, stronger than it was before. (This will continue) until, when their time has come, and Allah wants to send them against the people, they will dig until they can almost see the rays of the sun, then the one who is in charge of them will say: "Go back, and we will dig it tomorrow if Allah wills.' So they will say: "If Allah wills." Then they will come back to it and it will be as they left it. So they will dig and will come out to the people, and they will drink all the water. The people will fortify themselves against them in their fortresses. They will shoot their arrows towards the sky and they will come back with blood on them, and they will say: "We have defeated the people of earth and dominated the people of heaven." Then Allah will send a worm in the napes of their necks and will kill them thereby.'" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the beasts of the earth will grow fat on their flesh."[12]
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Power comes from Allah and He grants it to whom He wishes.
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
“Say, "O Allāh, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honour whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”[13]
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The one in power should therefore be humble and grateful to Allah Who has empowered him. Zhul Qarnayn recognizes this and understands that his accomplishments were only made possible by the mercy of Allah so he says, “This is a mercy from my Lord”[14]
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Dhul Qarnayn had exceptional leadership qualities. He used his power to end oppression and encourage righteousness thereby spreading justice in the land.
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Dhul Qarnayn witnessed many wonders and came across diverse communities and unique cultures. He ruled over them justly in accordance with the rulings of the Almighty and not in accordance with their colour, race or wealth.
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Through the travels of Zhul Qarnayn, we see the wondrous varying landscapes of the world and how different cultures are able to survive and adapt to their environments.
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Zhul Qarnayn’s sincerity also shows when he helps Allah’s servants on earth for the sake of Allah alone. When the community pleaded for his help against Gog and Magog, he could have easily exploited their weakness, but rather, he refused the payment and asked for their cooperation instead.
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌۭ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا
“He said: “(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them.”[15]
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Zhul Qarnayn also dignifies the people by involving them in the process of building the barrier and giving them responsibilities. They not only learned how to build but also how to maintain. This naturally gives the community a sense of achievement and confidence.
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We also learn from this that if Allah has given you an ability then you should use it. They had strength so they were encouraged to use it and not just rely on others.
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Dhul Qarnayn humbly remembers and reminds the people that the true source of all accomplishment is Allah the Almighty.
فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًا قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى حَقًّا
“They were made powerless to scale it or to dig through it. He said, ‘This is a mercy from my Lord. When the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust. And the promise of my Lord is true.”[16]
[1] Quran 18:84–85
[2] According to Ibn Kathir in Stories of the Quran, there is a difference of opinion about why he is called Zhul- Qarnayn. Some said he had something on his head that looked like two horns. It is also said that he had two horns of brass on his head. (This interpretation is very weak) It was also said that he reached the two horns of the sun east and west and he ruled over all that was in between, which is more likely to be true. Al-Hasan Al-Basri said: He had two braids of hair that he used to fold up and thus was called "Dhul-Qarnain".
[3] Tafseer Ibn Juzayy, Surah Al-Kahf
[4] The three questions were: The story of the young men mentioned in old time; the story of the man who travelled a great deal and the Ruh (The spirit or soul) and what it is.
[5] Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Surah Al-Kahf
[6] Quran 18:87-88
[7] Quran 18:90
[8] Tafseer Aljuzzi, Surah Al-Kahf
[9] Quran 18:94
[10] Tafseer Ar-Razi, Surah Al-Kahf
[11] Quran 18:98
[12] Sunan Ibn Majah 4080, Book 36, Hadith 155
[13] Quran 3:26
[14] Quran 18:98
[15] Quran 18:95
[16] Quran 18:97-98