The Story of Dhul-Qarnayn

Dhul-Qarnayn is a figure mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf. He was a righteous king given power over the earth. He traveled to the east and west, establishing justice.

His Journeys Dhul-Qarnayn traveled to the place where the sun sets and found a people. He was given choice: punish them or treat them with goodness. He chose to punish the wrongdoer and reward the righteous. Then he traveled to where the sun rises and to a place between two mountains.

Gog and Magog Between two mountains, he found a people who could barely understand speech. They said: "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?" (18:94)

The Barrier Dhul-Qarnayn built a barrier of iron and molten copper between the two mountains. Gog and Magog could not scale it or penetrate it. He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level." (18:98) — Until the appointed time, the barrier holds.

The Lesson Allah gives power to whom He wills. Dhul-Qarnayn used his power for justice and to protect the weak. His story reminds us that worldly power, when guided by faith, can be a force for good.