They ask you concerning Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, “I will rehearse to you something of his story.” (18:83)

Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends. (18:84)

One (such) way he followed, (18:85)

Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: “O Dhul-Qarnayn! (you have authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness.” (18:86)

He said: “Whoever does wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of (before). (18:87)

“But whoever believes, and works righteousness, he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as We order it by our Command.” (18:88)

Then followed he (another) way, (18:89)

Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun. (18:90)

(He left them) as they were: We completely understood what was before him. (18:91)

Then followed he (another) way, (18:92)

Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a people who scarcely understood a word. (18:93)

They said: “O Dhul-Qarnayn! The Ya’juj and Ma’juj (People) do great mischief on earth: shall we then render you tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them? (18:94)

He said: “(the power) in which my Lord has establishedme is better (than tribute): Help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them: (18:95)

“Bring me blocks of iron.” At length, when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountain-sides, He said, “Blow (with your bellows)” then, when he had made it (red) as fire, he said: “Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead.” (18:96)

Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it. (18:97)

He said: “This is a mercy from my Lord: But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and the promise of my Lord is true.” (18:98)

On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another: the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together. (18:99)