The Story of Thul-Qarnayn

Question :

What is the meaning of this verse:
"And they ask you about Thul-Qarnayn. Say: I shall recite to you something of his story."

Answer:

Allâh Almighty said:
"And they ask you about Thul-Qarnayn."

The questioners here are the Quraysh who asked the Prophet about Thul-Qarnayn, about whom stories were famous, espe cially among the people of the Book.

He was a righteous king who lived during the time of Al-Khalil Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and it is said that he performed Tawaf around the House (Ka'bah) with him, and Allah knows best..

Allah Almighty granted this righteous man strength and provided him with every means he needed to overcome his enemies, and he took the steps he needed to take to reach his goal:
"Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people".

He seized power over them, and Allâh Almighty gave him the choice as to what to do with them:
"We (Allah) said: O Thul-Qarnayn! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness."

And he judged justly among them:
"He said: As for him who does wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord; Who will punish him with a terrible torment (Hell). But as for him who believes and works righteousness, he shall have the best reward, and we (Thul- Qarnayn) shall speak unto him mild words (as instruc- tions).

Then he continued his journey toward where the sun rises:
"Until, when he came to the rising place of the sun, he found it rising on the people for whom We (Allah) had provided no shelter against the sun"

The people referred to in this verse had no buildings or trees to protect them from the sun's heat; in the daytime, they lived in tunnels and caves, and during the night they would come out in search of livelihood.

During all of Thul-Qarnayn's travels, Allah Almighty knew everything about him and He Almighty guided him:
"So (it was)! And We knew all about him (Thul-Qarnayn)"

And so he continued on forward:
"Until, when he reached between two mountains, he found, before them, a people who scarcely understood a word"

They were a strange people who spoke a different language, but they were still able to communicate with Thul-Qarnayn, and complain to him about Ya'juj and Ma'juj, two nations of the children of Adam who were creating much mischief in the land, as mentioned in an authentic Hadith. There are many Israelite narrations regarding these two nations, by which I mean Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog). All of these narrations are incorrect in their description; Ya'juj and Ma'juj, as we learn from the Sunnah, were in fact two nations, and they were from the children of Adam sa. In an authentic Hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said :
"Allah will say on the Day of Judgement, O Adam,' and Adam will respond, "Here I am, at Your service. Allah will say. Take to the Fire a group from your progeny. He will say, 'O my Lord, and what is the group for the Fire." Allah will answer, From every one thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-nine are in the Fire, and one is not."

As the Companions heard this, they said, "Allahu Akbar-which of us is that one man." And the Prophet ﷺ said :
"Glad tidings to you, for among you are two Nations, they will always increasae: they are Ya'juj and Ma'juj."

This is a clear proof, indicating that these two nations are from the children of Adam, and though they may in appearance look like the children of Adam, they are habitual transgressors and wrongdoers, people who destroy others and their livelihood. The people who were oppressed sought help from Thul-Qarnayn and offered him a reward:

"They said: "O Thul-Qarnayn! Verily, Ya'juj and Ma'juj are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a harrier hetween us and them?"

He said that whatever Allah Almighty gave him in terms of power and ability was better than wealth, and he asked them to help him with materials and the strength of men:
"He said: "That in which my Lord had established me is better.

So help me with strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier".

Then he asked them for pieces of iron, which he arranged together until the gap between the two mountains was filled:
"Give me pieces of iron, then, when he had filled up the gap between the two mountain-cliffs, he said, "Blow," till when he had made it (red as) fire, he said, 'Bring me molten copper to pour over it."

After he poured the molten copper over it, the blocks were welded together and became one, a solid iron wall :
"So they-Ya'juj and Ma'juj - were made powerless to scale it or dig through it."

Thus were the people who were being subjugated separated from Ya'juj and Ma'juj. Allah Almighty relates this story in Surat Al-Kahf, and whoever wishes to learn more about, may read what the scholars of Tafsir have written about it.