18. Surah Al-Kahf

الكهفThe Cave · 110 ayahsتفہیم القرآن انگلش

Read Surah Al-Kahf in the Quran reader
Ayahs 18:65–81

فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَاۤ اٰتَیْنٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِنَا وَ عَلَّمْنٰهُ مِنْ لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا Open ayah 18:65 in the Quran reader

and there they found one of Our servants upon whom We had bestowed Our mercy, and to whom We had imparted a special knowledge from Ourselves. 59

قَالَ لَهٗ مُوْسٰى هَلْ اَتَّبِعُكَ عَلٰۤى اَنْ تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا Open ayah 18:66 in the Quran reader

Moses said to him: 'May I follow you that you may teach me something of the wisdom which you have been taught?'

قَالَ اِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِیْعَ مَعِیَ صَبْرًا Open ayah 18:67 in the Quran reader

He answered: 'You will surely not be able to bear with me.

وَ كَیْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلٰى مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهٖ خُبْرًا Open ayah 18:68 in the Quran reader

For how can you patiently bear with something you cannot encompass in your knowledge?'

قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِیْۤ اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ صَابِرًا وَّ لَاۤ اَعْصِیْ لَكَ اَمْرًا Open ayah 18:69 in the Quran reader

Moses replied: 'You shall find me, if Allah wills, patient; and I shall not disobey you in anything.'

قَالَ فَاِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِیْ فَلَا تَسْئَلْنِیْ عَنْ شَیْءٍ حَتّٰۤى اُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا۠ Open ayah 18:70 in the Quran reader

He said: 'Well, if you follow me, do not ask me concerning anything until I myself mention it to you.'

فَانْطَلَقَا١ٙ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا رَكِبَا فِی السَّفِیْنَةِ خَرَقَهَا١ؕ قَالَ اَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ اَهْلَهَا١ۚ لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَیْئًا اِمْرًا Open ayah 18:71 in the Quran reader

Then the two went forth until, when they embarked on the boat, he made a hole in it, whereupon Moses exclaimed: 'Have you made a hole in it so as to drown the people in the boat? You have certainly done an awful thing.'

قَالَ اَلَمْ اَقُلْ اِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِیْعَ مَعِیَ صَبْرًا Open ayah 18:72 in the Quran reader

He replied: 'Did I not tell you that you will not be able to patiently bear with me?'

قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِیْ بِمَا نَسِیْتُ وَ لَا تُرْهِقْنِیْ مِنْ اَمْرِیْ عُسْرًا Open ayah 18:73 in the Quran reader

Moses said: 'Do not take me to task at my forgetfulness, and do not be hard on me.'

فَانْطَلَقَا١ٙ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا لَقِیَا غُلٰمًا فَقَتَلَهٗ١ۙ قَالَ اَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِیَّةًۢ بِغَیْرِ نَفْسٍ١ؕ لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَیْئًا نُّكْرًا Open ayah 18:74 in the Quran reader

Then the two went forth until they met a lad, whom he slew, where upon Moses exclaimed: 'What! Have you slain an innocent person without his having slain anyone? Surely you have done a horrible thing.'

قَالَ اَلَمْ اَقُلْ لَّكَ اِنَّكَ لَنْ تَسْتَطِیْعَ مَعِیَ صَبْرًا Open ayah 18:75 in the Quran reader

He said: 'Did I not tell you that you will not be able to patiently bear with me”'

قَالَ اِنْ سَاَلْتُكَ عَنْ شَیْءٍۭ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصٰحِبْنِیْ١ۚ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِنْ لَّدُنِّیْ عُذْرًا Open ayah 18:76 in the Quran reader

Moses said: 'Keep me no more in your company if I ever question you concerning anything after this. You will then be fully justified.

فَانْطَلَقَا١ٙ حَتّٰۤى اِذَاۤ اَتَیَاۤ اَهْلَ قَرْیَةِ اِ۟سْتَطْعَمَاۤ اَهْلَهَا فَاَبَوْا اَنْ یُّضَیِّفُوْهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِیْهَا جِدَارًا یُّرِیْدُ اَنْ یَّنْقَضَّ فَاَقَامَهٗ١ؕ قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَتَّخَذْتَ عَلَیْهِ اَجْرًا Open ayah 18:77 in the Quran reader

Then the two went forth until when they came to a town, they asked its people for food, but they refused to play host to them. They found in that town a wall that was on the verge of tumbling down, and he buttressed it, whereupon Moses said: 'If you had wished, you could have received payment for it.'

قَالَ هٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَیْنِیْ وَ بَیْنِكَ١ۚ سَاُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَاْوِیْلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ عَّلَیْهِ صَبْرًا Open ayah 18:78 in the Quran reader

He said: 'This brings me and you to a parting of ways. Now I shall explain to you the true meaning of things about which you could not remain patient.

اَمَّا السَّفِیْنَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسٰكِیْنَ یَعْمَلُوْنَ فِی الْبَحْرِ فَاَرَدْتُّ اَنْ اَعِیْبَهَا وَ كَانَ وَرَآءَهُمْ مَّلِكٌ یَّاْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِیْنَةٍ غَصْبًا Open ayah 18:79 in the Quran reader

As for the boat, it belonged to some poor people who worked on the river, and I desired to damage it for beyond them lay the dominion of a king who was wont to seize every boat by force.

وَ اَمَّا الْغُلٰمُ فَكَانَ اَبَوٰهُ مُؤْمِنَیْنِ فَخَشِیْنَاۤ اَنْ یُّرْهِقَهُمَا طُغْیَانًا وَّ كُفْرًاۚ Open ayah 18:80 in the Quran reader

As for the lad, his parents were people of faith, and we feared lest he should plague them with transgression and disbelief,

فَاَرَدْنَاۤ اَنْ یُّبْدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَیْرًا مِّنْهُ زَكٰوةً وَّ اَقْرَبَ رُحْمًا Open ayah 18:81 in the Quran reader

And we desired that their Lord should grant them another in his place a son more upright and more tenderhearted.

59. The name of this servant has been stated to be Khidr in all the authentic books of traditions. Thus there is no reason why it should be considered at all that his name was Elijah, as some people have asserted under the influence of the Israelite traditions. Their assertion is incorrect not only because it contradicts the assertion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) but it is also absurd because Prophet Elijah (peace be upon him) was born several hundred years after Prophet Moses (peace be upon him). Though the Quran does not mention the name of the attendant of Prophet Moses (peace be upon him), according to some traditions he was Joshua, the son of Nun, who succeeded him.
Ayah 18:82

وَ اَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلٰمَیْنِ یَتِیْمَیْنِ فِی الْمَدِیْنَةِ وَ كَانَ تَحْتَهٗ كَنْزٌ لَّهُمَا وَ كَانَ اَبُوْهُمَا صَالِحًا١ۚ فَاَرَادَ رَبُّكَ اَنْ یَّبْلُغَاۤ اَشُدَّهُمَا وَ یَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنْزَهُمَا١ۖۗ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ رَّبِّكَ١ۚ وَ مَا فَعَلْتُهٗ عَنْ اَمْرِیْ١ؕ ذٰلِكَ تَاْوِیْلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِعْ عَّلَیْهِ صَبْرًا٢ؕ۠ Open ayah 18:82 in the Quran reader

As for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and under it there was a treasure that belonged to them. Their father was a righteous man and your Lord intended that they should come of age and then bring forth their treasure as a mercy from your Lord; I did not do this of my own bidding. This is the true meaning of things with which you could not keep your patience." 60

60. In connection with this story, a very hard problem arises to which an answer must be found. Two of the three things done by Khidr are obviously against those commandments of the law which have always been in force since the creation of man. No law allows anyone the right to damage the property of another and kill an innocent person. So much so that if a man were to know by inspiration that some usurper would illegally seize a certain boat, and that a certain boy would be involved in a rebellion and unbelief, even then no law, sent down by Allah, makes it lawful that one should bore a hole in the boat and kill the innocent boy by virtue of his inspiration. If in answer to this, one were to say that Khidr committed these two acts by the commands of Allah, this does not solve the problem, for the question is not this:“By whose command did Khidr commit these acts”, but it is this:“What was the nature of these commands”? This is important because Khidr did these acts in accordance with divine command, for he himself says that these acts of his were not done by his own authority, but were moved by the mercy of Allah, and Allah Himself has testified this by saying:“We gave him a special knowledge from Ourselves”. Thus it is beyond any doubt that these acts were done by the command of Allah, but the question about the nature of the command remains there, for it is obvious that these commands were not legal because it is not allowed by any divine law, and the fundamental principles of the Quran also do not allow that a person should kill another person without any proof of his guilt. Therefore we shall have to admit that these commands belonged to one of those decrees of Allah in accordance with which one sick person recovers, while another dies: one becomes prosperous and the other is ruined. If the commands given to Khidr were of this nature, then one must come to the conclusion that Khidr was an angel (or some other kind of Allah’s creation) who is not bound by the divine law prescribed for human beings, for such commands as have no legal aspect, can be addressed to angels only. This is because the question of the lawful or the unlawful cannot arise about them: they obey the commands of Allah without having any personal power. In contrast to them, a man shall be guilty of a sin whether he does any such thing inadvertently by intuition or by some inspiration, if his act goes against some divine commandment. This is because a man is bound to abide by divine commandments as a man, and there is no room whatsoever in the divine law that an act may become lawful for a man merely because he had received an instruction by inspiration and had been informed in a secret way of the wisdom of that unlawful act. The above mentioned principle has been unanimously accepted by scholars of the divine law and the leaders of Sufism, Allamah Alusi has cited in detail the sayings of Abdul Wahhab Shiirani, Muhy-ud-Din ibn-Arabi, Mujaddid Alf Thani, Shaikh Abdul-Qadir Jilani, Junaid Baghdadi, Sirri Saqti, Abul-Hussain An-nuri, Abu Said-al- Kharraz, Ahmad ud-Dainauri and Imam Ghazzali to this effect that it is not lawful even for a sufi to act in accordance with that inspiration of his own which goes against a fundamental of law. (Ruh-ul-Maani, Vol. XVI, pp. 16-18). That is why we have come to the conclusion that Khidr must be an angel, or some other kind of Allah’s creation, exempted from human law, for he could not be the only exception to the above mentioned formula. Therefore we inevitably come to the conclusion that he was one of those servants of Allah who act in accordance with the will of Allah and not in accordance with the divine law prescribed for human beings. We would have accepted the theory that Khidr was a human being, if the Quran had plainly asserted that the servant to whom Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was sent for training, was a man. But the Quran does not specifically say that he was a human being but says that he was one of Our servants which does not show that he was necessarily a human being. Besides this, there is no tradition which specifically says that Khidr was a human being. In the authentic traditions related by Said bin Jubair, Ibn Abbas, Ubayy bin Kaab from the Prophet (peace be upon him), the Arabic word rajul has been used for Khidr, which though generally used for human beings, is not exclusively used for human beings. In the Quran itself, this word has been used for Jinns also (Surah Al-Jin, Ayat 6). It is also obvious that when a jinn or an angel or an invisible being will come before a human being, he will surely come in human shape and, in that form; he will be called a bashar (man), just like the angel who came before Mary in the shape of a human being (Surah Maryam, Ayat 17). Thus the word rajul, used for Khidr in the above mentioned tradition by the Prophet (peace be upon him), does not necessarily mean that he was a human being. Therefore we are quite justified in the light of the above discussion to believe that Khidr was one of the angels or some other kind of Allah’s creation who is not bound by the divine law prescribed for human beings. Some of the former scholars of the Quran have also expressed the same opinion which has been cited by lbn Kathir in his commentary on the authority of Mawardi.
Ayahs 18:83–85

وَ یَسْئَلُوْنَكَ عَنْ ذِی الْقَرْنَیْنِ١ؕ قُلْ سَاَتْلُوْا عَلَیْكُمْ مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًاؕ Open ayah 18:83 in the Quran reader

(O Muhammad), they ask you about Dhu al-Qarnayn. 61 Say: "I will give you an account of him." 62

اِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهٗ فِی الْاَرْضِ وَ اٰتَیْنٰهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَیْءٍ سَبَبًاۙ Open ayah 18:84 in the Quran reader

We granted him power in the land and endowed him with all kinds of resources.

فَاَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا Open ayah 18:85 in the Quran reader

he set out (westwards) on an expedition,

61. It is quite obvious that the conjunction wao joins this story with the previous story of Khidr. Thus it is a selfevident proof that the previous two stories of the sleepers of the cave and Moses and Khidr were also related in answer to the queries of the disbelievers of Makkah who, in consultation with the people of the Book, had put these questions to Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a test of his Prophethood. 62. The identification of Zul-Qarnain has been a controversial matter from the earliest times. In general the commentators have been of the opinion that he was Alexander the Great but the characteristics of Zul-Qarnain described in the Quran are not applicable to him. However, now the commentators are inclined to believe that Zul- Qarnain was Cyrus, an ancient king of Iran. We are also of the opinion that probably Zul-Qarnain was Cyrus, but the historical facts, which have come to light up to this time, are not sufficient to make any categorical assertion. Now let us consider the characteristics of Zul-Qarnain in the light of his story as given in the Quran. (1) The title Zul-Qarnain (the two-horned) should have been quite familiar to the Jews, for it was at their instigation that the disbelievers of Makkah put this question to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Therefore we must turn to the Jewish literature in order to learn who was the person known as the two-horned or which was the kingdom known as the two-horned. (2) Zul-Qarnain must have been a great ruler and a great conqueror whose conquests might have spread from the east to the west and on the third side to the north or to the south. Before the revelation of the Quran there had been several persons who were such great conquerors. So we must confine our research for the other characteristics of Zul-Qarnain to one of these persons. (3) This title should be applicable to such a ruler who might have constructed a strong wall across a mountain pass to protect his kingdom from the incursions of Gog and Magog. In order to investigate this thing, we will have to determine as to who were Gog and Magog. We will also have to find out when such a wall was built and by whom and to which territory it was adjacent. (4) Besides possessing the above mentioned characteristics, he should also be a God-worshiper and a just ruler, for the Quran has brought into prominence these characteristics more than anything else. The first of these characteristics is easily applicable to Cyrus, for according to the Bible, Prophet Daniel saw in his vision that the united kingdom of Media and Persia was like a two-horned ram before the rise of the Greeks. (Dan. 8: 3, 20). The Jews had a very high opinion of the twohorned one, because it was his invasion which brought about the downfall of the kingdom of Babylon and the liberation of the Israelites Please also refer to (E.N. 8 of Surah Al-Isra). The second characteristic is applicable to him to a great extent but not completely. Though his conquests spread to Syria and Asia Minor in the West and to Bakhtar (Balkh) in the East, there is no trace of any of his great expeditions to the North or to the South, whereas the Quran makes an explicit mention of his third expedition. Nevertheless, this third expedition is not wholly out of question for history tells us that his kingdom extended to Caucasia in the North. As regards to Gog and Magog, it has been nearly established that they were the wild tribes of Central Asia who were known by different names: Tartars, Mongols, Huns and Scythians, who had been making inroads on settled kingdoms and empires from very ancient times. It is also known that strong bulwarks had been built in southern regions of Caucasia, though it has not been as yet historically established that these were built by Cyrus. As regards to the last characteristic, Cyrus is the only known conqueror among the ancient rulers, to whom this may be applicable, for even his enemies have been full of praise for him for his justice, and, Ezra, a book of the Bible, asserts that he was a God worshiper and a God fearing king who set free the Israelites because of his God worship, and ordered that the Temple of Solomon should be rebuilt for the worship of Allah, Who has no partner. In the light of the above, we admit that of all the conquerors, who had passed away before the revelation of the Quran, Cyrus alone is the one to whom the characteristics of Zul-Qarnain are most applicable, but we need more evidence to determine specifically that Cyrus is definitely Zul-Qarnain. Anyhow, there is no other conqueror to whom the characteristics stated in the Quran are as much applicable as to Cyrus. Historically, it is enough to say that Cyrus was a Persian ruler, whose rise began about 549 B.C. In a few years, he conquered the kingdom of Media and Lydia and afterwards conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. After this no powerful kingdom was left to oppose him. His conquests extended to Sind and the territory known as Turkistan on one side, and to Egypt and Libya and to Thrace and Macedonia and to Caucasia and Khawarzam in the North. In fact, the whole civilized world was under his sway.
Ayahs 18:86–89

حَتّٰۤى اِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِیْ عَیْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَّ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا قَوْمًا١ؕ۬ قُلْنَا یٰذَا الْقَرْنَیْنِ اِمَّاۤ اَنْ تُعَذِّبَ وَ اِمَّاۤ اَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِیْهِمْ حُسْنًا Open ayah 18:86 in the Quran reader

until when he reached the very limits where the sun sets, 63 he saw it setting in dark turbid waters; 64 and nearby he met a people. We said: "O Dhu al-Qarnayn, you have the power to punish or to treat them with kindness." 65

قَالَ اَمَّا مَنْ ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهٗ ثُمَّ یُرَدُّ اِلٰى رَبِّهٖ فَیُعَذِّبُهٗ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا Open ayah 18:87 in the Quran reader

He said: 'We will chastise him who does wrong. Whereafter he will be returned to his Lord and He will chastise him grievously.

وَ اَمَّا مَنْ اٰمَنَ وَ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهٗ جَزَآءَ اِ۟لْحُسْنٰى١ۚ وَ سَنَقُوْلُ لَهٗ مِنْ اَمْرِنَا یُسْرًاؕ Open ayah 18:88 in the Quran reader

But as for him who believes and acts righteously, his will be a goodly reward and we shall enjoin upon him only mild commands.'

ثُمَّ اَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا Open ayah 18:89 in the Quran reader

Then he set out on another expedition,

63.“The setting place of the sun”does not mean the place of the setting of the sun. According to Ibn Kathir, it means that he marched to the west conquering one country after the other till he reached the last boundary of the land, beyond which there was ocean. 64.“He found it setting in a muddy spring”: If Zul Qarnain was Cyrus, then that place would be the western limit of Asia Minor and the black waters would be the Aegean Sea. This interpretation is supported by the use of the word ain instead of bahr in the Quran. 65.“We said”does not necessarily mean that Allah directly revealed to him these words, and that Zul-Qarnain was a Prophet or was the one who received inspiration from Allah, and the same is the reasonable conjecture. This concerns the time when Zul-Qarnain had taken possession of the land as a conqueror and the conquered people were utterly at your mercy. Then Allah posed a question before his conscience, as if to say: Now is the time of your trial. These people are utterly at your mercy, and you have the option either to behave unjustly towards them or to treat them generously.
Ayahs 18:90–92

حَتّٰۤى اِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلٰى قَوْمٍ لَّمْ نَجْعَلْ لَّهُمْ مِّنْ دُوْنِهَا سِتْرًاۙ Open ayah 18:90 in the Quran reader

until he reached the limit where the sun rises and he found it rising on a people whom We had provided no shelter from it. 66

كَذٰلِكَ١ؕ وَ قَدْ اَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَیْهِ خُبْرًا Open ayah 18:91 in the Quran reader

Thus was the state of those people, and We encompassed in knowledge all concerning Dhu al-Qarnayn.

ثُمَّ اَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا Open ayah 18:92 in the Quran reader

Then he set out on another expedition,

66. That is, when he advanced towards the east, conquering one country after the other, he reached a territory where the limits of the civilized world had come to an end and beyond which was the territory of barbaric people, who had no shelter at all of tents or buildings.”
Ayah 18:93

حَتّٰۤى اِذَا بَلَغَ بَیْنَ السَّدَّیْنِ وَجَدَ مِنْ دُوْنِهِمَا قَوْمًا١ۙ لَّا یَكَادُوْنَ یَفْقَهُوْنَ قَوْلًا Open ayah 18:93 in the Quran reader

until when he reached a place between the two mountains, 67 he found beside the mountains a people who scarcely understood anything. 68

67. The“two mountains”must have been parts of that mountain range which runs between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea as stated in (Ayat 96). This must be so because beyond them was the territory of Gog and Magog. 68. That is, it was difficult to communicate with them: their language was almost foreign to Zul-Qarnain and his companions, and, as they were quite barbaric, none could understand their language, nor were they acquainted with any foreign language.
Ayah 18:94

قَالُوْا یٰذَا الْقَرْنَیْنِ اِنَّ یَاْجُوْجَ وَ مَاْجُوْجَ مُفْسِدُوْنَ فِی الْاَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلٰۤى اَنْ تَجْعَلَ بَیْنَنَا وَ بَیْنَهُمْ سَدًّا Open ayah 18:94 in the Quran reader

They said: "O Dhu al-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog 69 are spreading corruption in this land. So shall we pay you taxes on the understanding that you will set up a barrier between us and them?"

69. As has already been pointed out in (E.N. 62), Gog and Magog were the wild tribes of North Eastern Asia which, from the very early times had been making inroads on settled kingdoms and empires in Asia and Europe and ravaging them. According to Genesis (Chapter 10), they were the descendants of Japheth, the son of Noah, and the Muslim historians have also accepted this. And according to the book of Ezekiel (Chapters 38, 39), they inhabited the territories of Meshech (Moscow) and Tubal (Tubalsek). According to the Israelite historian Josephus, they were the Scythians and their territory spread to the north and the east of the Black Sea. According to Jerome, Magog inhabited the territory to the north of Caucasia near the Caspian Sea.
Ayahs 18:95–97

قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّیْ فِیْهِ رَبِّیْ خَیْرٌ فَاَعِیْنُوْنِیْ بِقُوَّةٍ اَجْعَلْ بَیْنَكُمْ وَ بَیْنَهُمْ رَدْمًاۙ Open ayah 18:95 in the Quran reader

He answered: "Whatever my Lord has granted me is good enough. But help me with your labour and I will erect a rampart between you and them. 70

اٰتُوْنِیْ زُبَرَ الْحَدِیْدِ١ؕ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا سَاوٰى بَیْنَ الصَّدَفَیْنِ قَالَ انْفُخُوْا١ؕ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا جَعَلَهٗ نَارًا١ۙ قَالَ اٰتُوْنِیْۤ اُفْرِغْ عَلَیْهِ قِطْرًاؕ Open ayah 18:96 in the Quran reader

Bring me ingots of iron.' Then after he had filled up the space between the two mountain-sides, he said: '[Light a fire] and ply bellows.' When he had made it [red like] fire, he said: 'Bring me molten copper which I may pour on it.'

فَمَا اسْطَاعُوْۤا اَنْ یَّظْهَرُوْهُ وَ مَا اسْتَطَاعُوْا لَهٗ نَقْبًا Open ayah 18:97 in the Quran reader

Such was the rampart that Gog and Magog could not scale, nor could they pierce it.

70. That is, as a ruler it is my duty to protect you from the ravages of your enemies: therefore it is not lawful for me to levy any extra taxes on you for this purpose. The treasury that Allah has placed in my custody suffices for this purpose. You shall, however, have to help me with your manual labor.
Ayah 18:98

قَالَ هٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّیْ١ۚ فَاِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّیْ جَعَلَهٗ دَكَّآءَ١ۚ وَ كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّیْ حَقًّاؕ Open ayah 18:98 in the Quran reader

Dhu al-Qarnayn said: "This is a mercy from my Lord: but when the time of my Lord's promise shall come, He will level the rampart with the ground. 71 My Lord's promise always comes true." 72

71. That is, though I have built a very strong iron wall, as far as it was possible for me, it is not ever lasting, for it will last only as long as Allah wills, and will fall down to pieces when the time of my Lord’s promise shall come. Then no power in the world shall be able to keep it safe and secure. As regards to the time of Allah’s promise, it has two meanings. (1) It may mean the time of the destruction of the wall. (2) It may also mean the time of the death and destruction of everything destined by Allah at the end of the world i.e. the Hour of Resurrection. Some people have entertained the misunderstanding that the wall attributed here to Zul-Qarnain refers to the famous wall of China, whereas this wall was built between Derbent and Daryal, two cities of Daghestan in the Caucasus, the land that lies between the Black Sea and the Caspian. There are high mountains between the Black Sea and Daryal having deep gorges which cannot allow large armies to pass through them. Between Derbent and Daryal, however, there are no such mountains and the passes also are wide and passable. In ancient times savage hordes from the north invaded and ravaged southern lands through these passes and the Persian rulers who were scared of them had to build a strong wall, 50 miles long, 29 feet high and 10 feet wide, for fortification purposes, ruins of which can still be seen. Though it has not yet been established historically who built this wall in the beginning, the Muslim historians and geographers assign it to Zul-Qarnain because its remains correspond with the description of it given in the Quran. Ibn Jarir Tabari and Ibn Kathir have recorded the event, and Yaqut has mentioned it in his Mu jam-ul-Buldan that when after the conquest of Azerbaijan, Umar sent Suraqah bin Amr, in 22 A.H. on an expedition to Derbent, the latter appointed Abdur Rehman bin Rabiah as the chief of his vanguard. When Abdur Rehman entered Armenia, the ruler Shehrbraz surrendered without fighting. Then when Abdur Rehman wanted to advance towards Derbent, Shehrbraz informed him that he had already gathered full information about the wall built by Zul-Qarnain, through a man, who could supply all the necessary details and then the man was actually presented before Abdur Rehman. (Tabari, Vol. III, pp. 235-239; AIBidayah wan-Nihayah, Vol. VII, pp. 122-125, and Mujamul- Buldan, under Bab-ul-Abwab: Derbent). Two hundred years later, the Abbasid Caliph Wathiq (227- 233 A.H.) dispatched a party of 50 men under Sallam-ul- Tarjuman to study the wall of Zul-Qarnain, whose observations have been recorded in great detail by Yaqut in Mujam-ul-Buldan and by Ibn Kathir in AI-Bidayah. They write that this expedition reached Samarrah from where they reached Tiflis (the present Tbilisi) and then through As-Sarir and Al-Lan, they reached Filanshah, from where they entered the Caspian territory. From there they arrived at Derbent and saw the wall. (AIBidayah Vol. II, p. 111, Vol. VII, pp. 122-125; Mujam-ul-Buldan: under BabulAbwab). This clearly shows that even up till the third century of Hijrah the Muslim scholars regarded this wall of the Caucasus as the wall of Zul-Qarnain. Yaqut in his Mujam-ul-Buldan has further confirmed the same view at a number of places. For instance, under Khazar (Caspian) he writes: This territory belongs to the Turks, which adjoins the wall of Zul Qarnain just behind Bab-ul-Abwab, which is also called Derbent. In the same connection, he records a report by Ahmad bin Fadlan, the ambassador of Caliph Al- Muqtadar-billah, who has given a full description of the Caspian land, saying that Caspian is the name of a country whose capital is Itil (near the present Astrakhan) right through which flows River Itil, which joins the Caspian from Russia and Bulghar. Regarding Bab-ul-Abwab he says that this city is called both Al-Bab and Derbent, which is a highly difficult passage for the people coming from the northern lands towards the south. Once this territory was a part of the kingdom of Nausherwan, and the Persian rulers paid particular attention to strengthening their frontiers on that side. 72. Here the story of Zul-Qarnain comes to an end. Though this story has been related in answer to the questions put by the disbelievers of Makkah as a test along with the stories of the sleepers of the cave and Moses and Khidr, the Quran has utilized this story, too, for its own aim and object, as if to say: Zul Qarnain, about whose glory you have heard from the people of the Book, was not merely a conqueror, but also a believer of the doctrines of Tauhid and the life after death and acted upon the principles of justice and generosity. He was not a mean person like you who have been puffed up by the possession of petty estates, and give yourselves airs of superiority.
Ayahs 18:99–101

وَ تَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ یَوْمَئِذٍ یَّمُوْجُ فِیْ بَعْضٍ وَّ نُفِخَ فِی الصُّوْرِ فَجَمَعْنٰهُمْ جَمْعًاۙ Open ayah 18:99 in the Quran reader

And on that Day 73 We shall let some of them surge like waves against others, and the Trumpet shall be blown. Then We shall gather them all together.

وَّ عَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ یَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكٰفِرِیْنَ عَرْضَاۙ Open ayah 18:100 in the Quran reader

That will be the Day We shall place Hell before the unbelievers

اِ۟لَّذِیْنَ كَانَتْ اَعْیُنُهُمْ فِیْ غِطَآءٍ عَنْ ذِكْرِیْ وَ كَانُوْا لَا یَسْتَطِیْعُوْنَ سَمْعًا۠ Open ayah 18:101 in the Quran reader

Whose eyes had become blind against My admonition and who were utterly disinclined to hear it.

73.“That Day”:“The Day of Resurrection”. As if to continue the theme of life after death to which Zul-Qarnain referred as the time of my Lord’s promise, the Quran has added (verses 99-101) to it.
Ayahs 18:102–103

اَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِیْنَ كَفَرُوْۤا اَنْ یَّتَّخِذُوْا عِبَادِیْ مِنْ دُوْنِیْۤ اَوْلِیَآءَ١ؕ اِنَّاۤ اَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكٰفِرِیْنَ نُزُلًا Open ayah 18:102 in the Quran reader

Do the unbelievers, 74 then, believe that they can take any of My creatures as their guardians beside Me? 75 Verily We have prepared Hell to welcome the unbelievers.

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْاَخْسَرِیْنَ اَعْمَالًاؕ Open ayah 18:103 in the Quran reader

Say (O Muhammad!): 'Shall We tell you who will be the greatest losers in respect of their works?

74. This is the conclusion of the whole Surah and is not connected with the story of Zul-Qarnain only but with the subject matter of this Surah as a whole. That theme was enunciated at the beginning of the (Surah Ayats 1-8): The Prophet (peace be upon him) invited his people. (1) To give up shirk and adopt the doctrine of Tauhid instead. (2) To give up the worship of the world and to believe in the life of the Hereafter. But the chiefs of his people, who were puffed up with their wealth and grandeur, not only rejected his invitation but also persecuted and insulted those righteous people who had accepted his invitation. The discourse deals with the same themes and utilizes in an excellent manner the three stories which were related in answer to the questions put by the opponents of Islam as a test of his Prophethood. 75. That is, do they still stick to their presumption even after hearing all this and believe that their attitude will be profitable for them?
Ayah 18:104

اَلَّذِیْنَ ضَلَّ سَعْیُهُمْ فِی الْحَیٰوةِ الدُّنْیَا وَ هُمْ یَحْسَبُوْنَ اَنَّهُمْ یُحْسِنُوْنَ صُنْعًا Open ayah 18:104 in the Quran reader

It will be those whose effort went astray 76 in the life of the world and who believe nevertheless that they are doing good.

76. This verse has two meanings. The one is the same that we have adopted in the translation. The other meaning is this: Those who confined all their endeavors to the worldly life. That is, whatever they did, they did for this world without paying any regard to God and the Hereafter. As they considered the worldly life to be the real life, they made the success and prosperity in this world their sole aim and object. Even if they professed the existence of Allah, they never paid any heed to the two implications of this profession: to lead their lives in a way to please Allah and to come out successful on the Day they shall have to render an account of what they did in this world. This was because they considered themselves to be mere rational animals who were absolutely independent and free from every kind of responsibility and had nothing else to do but to enjoy the good things of the world like animals in a meadow.