Dhul-Qarnayn

Dhul-Qarnayn (the Two-Horned) is a figure narrated in the Quran (Surah al-Kahf 18:83-98) as a powerful and righteous king whom Allah established on earth and gave the means to accomplish all things. His story was revealed in response to the Qurayshi challenge — they asked the Prophet ﷺ about a man who traveled all over the earth, having been advised by Jews of Medina who knew of such a figure from their scriptures. Dhul-Qarnayn made three great journeys. First, he traveled west until he reached 'a setting place of the sun' — a muddy spring, interpreted as a large body of dark water at the western edge of the known world — and found a people whom he judged: those who did wrong would be punished, those who believed would receive good reward. Second, he traveled to the east until he reached 'a rising place of the sun' — the furthest eastern lands. Third, he traveled between two mountain barriers until he found a people who could barely speak his language (perhaps due to extreme remoteness). They told him of Ya'juj and Ma'juj who were causing destruction in their land and offered tribute if he would build a barrier. Dhul-Qarnayn refused payment and built the great iron and molten copper barrier that sealed them. He declared: 'This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level, and the promise of my Lord is ever true.' His identity has been debated by scholars for centuries. The majority of classical Islamic scholars identify him with a pre-Islamic king who was both powerful and righteous — some say Cyrus the Great of Persia, others say Alexander the Great of Macedon, others say a South Arabian king. The Quran presents him primarily as a moral example: worldly power used righteously, in the service of justice and protection of the weak.