The history of Islam and the word of Allah (swt) in the Holy Quran aware us of the remarkable tales of valor of great warriors who fought with the might of the sword, word and faith for the sake of Allah (swt). One of them is the legend of Dhul Qarnayn/Zulqarnain (pronounce 'zool-qar-nayn') - the great and righteous conqueror and ruler who built a wall of iron to restrain the barbarians of Yajooj and Majooj (Gog and Magog) until the End of Times draw closer.
Who was Zulqarnain? - Alexander or Cyrus?
There are strong theories about Dhul Qarnayn being either Alexander the Great or Cyrius/Darius because these are the 2 known great conquerors from the pre-Mohammad (saww) era. There are no solid conclusions whatsoever. The Alexander Romance; a collection of legends of Alexander the Great, depict similar stories as depicted in the Quran for Dhul Qarnayn i.e. the construction of The Gates of Alexander to restrain a barbaric tribal nation. However, Cyrus too is known to have constructed the Dariel Pass to restrain a barbaric nation.
The name Zulqarnain means "He of The Two Horns" or "He of The Two Ages/Generations". Quranic accounts narrate that Zulqarnain was a great, righteous ruler who rode all the way to the very west where the sun set and then all the way to the very east where the sun rose from. Of course, the riding here points to the idea of conquering land. And he also went to a third direction. Alexanderian theory, here, seems to lose out a bit because Alexander is known to have conquered all the way to the east and south. Whereas Cyrus is said to have conquered on his expeditions to the east and the west and the north (a third direction). Also, the Quranic view of Zulqarnain is of a believer of One God. Alexander was Greek and a believer in polytheism therefore. And Cyrus the King of Persia, was a Zoroastrian. Zoroastrianism was a new religion of the time and the prophet Zoroaster was a preacher of the concept of monotheism - One God.
Zulqarnain in Surah Kahaf (The Cave)
The great conqueror is mentioned in the Holy Quran; in particular in Surah Kahf which has great merits of being recited on a Friday. Why is the story mentioned in the Holy Quran? It is Allah's narration for Prophet Mohammad (sallalahu alehe wa'alihi wasallam) in order to aware him of the hidden tales of history and to enhance his knowledge so he is able to answer the trivial questions of the non-believers when they tested the prophet (saww).
Allah (swt) speaks to Prophet Mohammad (saww) and narrates:
From the Quranic narrative we know that Zulqarnain was a great conqueror who lived before the time of Prophet Mohammad (saww) and was blessed with great power in the land, by Allah (swt). He conquered lands; having being blessed by material and physical strength, and established the word of Allah (swt) - One God. As he reached the east - where the sun rises from - he came across a nation who requested his help in putting an end to the barbaric people of Yajooj and Majooj (Gog and Magog) who inhabited a land behind two mountains. Yajooj and Majooj are humans; as narrations tell and they are from the progeny of Prophet Noah (a.s.)'s son Yafith ibn Nooh. They used to come down the mountain sides and unleash anarchy and chaos for the nation that had lodged the request before Zulqarnain. They offered a deal to present him with tribute; financial/material most probably, in return for his favor. To this he replied that he was already blessed and enriched by Allah (swt) and required only the help of labor to restrain the Yajooj and Majooj.
The strategy used by Zulqarnain to restrain the Yajooj and Majooj is described to be an encapsulation of iron sheets - a wall - structured around the land of Yajooj and Majooj restraining even the mountains. Furthermore, molted copper was poured in to concrete the wall. The height of the wall is unmentioned but it is assumed that since Yajooj and Majooj were not able to climb or break through the wall - it is higher than the mountains.
Quranic prophecies about the nearing of the End of Times speak of the barbarians of Yajooj and Majooj (Gog and Magog) being set free.
Who was Zulqarnain? - Alexander or Cyrus?
There are strong theories about Dhul Qarnayn being either Alexander the Great or Cyrius/Darius because these are the 2 known great conquerors from the pre-Mohammad (saww) era. There are no solid conclusions whatsoever. The Alexander Romance; a collection of legends of Alexander the Great, depict similar stories as depicted in the Quran for Dhul Qarnayn i.e. the construction of The Gates of Alexander to restrain a barbaric tribal nation. However, Cyrus too is known to have constructed the Dariel Pass to restrain a barbaric nation.
The name Zulqarnain means "He of The Two Horns" or "He of The Two Ages/Generations". Quranic accounts narrate that Zulqarnain was a great, righteous ruler who rode all the way to the very west where the sun set and then all the way to the very east where the sun rose from. Of course, the riding here points to the idea of conquering land. And he also went to a third direction. Alexanderian theory, here, seems to lose out a bit because Alexander is known to have conquered all the way to the east and south. Whereas Cyrus is said to have conquered on his expeditions to the east and the west and the north (a third direction). Also, the Quranic view of Zulqarnain is of a believer of One God. Alexander was Greek and a believer in polytheism therefore. And Cyrus the King of Persia, was a Zoroastrian. Zoroastrianism was a new religion of the time and the prophet Zoroaster was a preacher of the concept of monotheism - One God.
Zulqarnain in Surah Kahaf (The Cave)
The great conqueror is mentioned in the Holy Quran; in particular in Surah Kahf which has great merits of being recited on a Friday. Why is the story mentioned in the Holy Quran? It is Allah's narration for Prophet Mohammad (sallalahu alehe wa'alihi wasallam) in order to aware him of the hidden tales of history and to enhance his knowledge so he is able to answer the trivial questions of the non-believers when they tested the prophet (saww).
Allah (swt) speaks to Prophet Mohammad (saww) and narrates:
"They will ask thee of Dhu'l-Qarneyn. Say: "I shall recite unto you a remembrance of him."
Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road. And he followed a road. Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: "O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness." He said: "As for him who doeth wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with awful punishment!"
"But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, and We shall speak unto him a mild command."
Then he followed a road
Till, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom.
So (it was). And We knew all concerning him.
Then he followed a road
Till, when he came between the two mountains, he found upon their hither side a folk that scarce could understand a saying.
They said: "O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them?"
He said: "That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank."
"Give me pieces of iron" - till, when he had leveled up (the gap) between the cliffs, he said: "Blow!" - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: "Bring me molten copper to pour thereon."
And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it).
He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true."
From the Quranic narrative we know that Zulqarnain was a great conqueror who lived before the time of Prophet Mohammad (saww) and was blessed with great power in the land, by Allah (swt). He conquered lands; having being blessed by material and physical strength, and established the word of Allah (swt) - One God. As he reached the east - where the sun rises from - he came across a nation who requested his help in putting an end to the barbaric people of Yajooj and Majooj (Gog and Magog) who inhabited a land behind two mountains. Yajooj and Majooj are humans; as narrations tell and they are from the progeny of Prophet Noah (a.s.)'s son Yafith ibn Nooh. They used to come down the mountain sides and unleash anarchy and chaos for the nation that had lodged the request before Zulqarnain. They offered a deal to present him with tribute; financial/material most probably, in return for his favor. To this he replied that he was already blessed and enriched by Allah (swt) and required only the help of labor to restrain the Yajooj and Majooj.
The strategy used by Zulqarnain to restrain the Yajooj and Majooj is described to be an encapsulation of iron sheets - a wall - structured around the land of Yajooj and Majooj restraining even the mountains. Furthermore, molted copper was poured in to concrete the wall. The height of the wall is unmentioned but it is assumed that since Yajooj and Majooj were not able to climb or break through the wall - it is higher than the mountains.
Quranic prophecies about the nearing of the End of Times speak of the barbarians of Yajooj and Majooj (Gog and Magog) being set free.
"But when Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj are let loose and they rush headlong down every hill" (Quran 21:97)
http://www.islam.tc/prophecies/yajooj.html
http://www.islam.tc/prophecies/yajooj.html
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