Bulbul hummed,
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father, or their dog, just died! *)
Shama' then said, "Thank you my sister bulbul! What a beautiful voice! Now, we will continue our discussion. So, are there any of you who wants to share?" Bulbul said, "I want to know about Dhul-Qarnayn. O Almond, tell us about the story!"
Almond said, "O my brothers and sisters! The first thing you all should pay attention to, is knowing Allah, Most High, through His signs. It is obvious that anyone who sees how the sky has been raised and the earth laid out, and observes how perfectly different things - especially his own body - have been made, knows that every construction must have a maker and everything built must have a builder.
The righteous man is the Muslim who adheres firmly to the Deen revealed by Allah, and the righteous nation is the nation which accepts this Deen and adheres to it. Both the Muslim individual and the Muslim ummah will be tested with various kinds of trials. Trials may be stirred up within the ummah by whims and desires, division and dispute, or they may come from the enemies of this ummah who conquer and humiliate it. The trials that stem from divisions and disputes may reach such an extent that Muslims draw swords against one another, and people are killed, blood is shed, sanctities are violated and wealth is stolen.
Some of these tribulations are intense and difficult, and others are light. One of the main reasons why tribulations and calamities happen is the lack of knowledge and the prevalence of ignorance which resulted in every news being taken for granted, abandoning Islam, committing sins and acts of disobedience, and violating sanctities."
Bulbul asked, "How to save oneself from tribulation?" Almond said, "Many of the Sabaabah tried to find out about the tribulations that would befall this ummah, and to learn the way to save themselves from them. Among these Sabaabah, Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan, radhiyallahu 'anhu, used to ask the Prophet (ﷺ) a great deal about tribulations so that he would not fall prey to them. In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is narrated that Hudhayfah said: "The people used to ask the Messenger of Allah about good things, but I used to ask him about bad things, for fear that they might catch up with me. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, we were in ignorance and evil, then Allah brought this Islam to us. Will there be any evil after this?' He said, 'Yes.' I said, 'And after that, evil will there be any good?' He said, 'Yes, but it will be tainted with dakhan (a little evil).' I said, 'What will its dakhan be?' He said, 'There will be people who guide others with something other than my guidance. You will approve of some of their actions and disapprove of others.' I said, 'Will there be any evil after that good?' He said, 'Yes, there will be callers at the gates of Hell, and whoever responds to their call will be thrown into it.' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, describe them to us.' He said, 'They will be of us and they will speak our language.' I said, 'What do you command me to do if that should happen in my lifetime?' He said, 'Adhere to the jamaa 'ah of the Muslims and their Imam.' I said, 'What if there is no jamaa 'ah and no Imam?' He said, 'Then keep away from all those groups, even if you have to bite onto the root of a tree, until death catches up with you whilst you are in that state."'
Almond paused, and said, "The story of Dhul-Qarnayn deals with the trials of power. What happens when a person becomes powerful? It is a documented historical fact that in the history of humanity, almost every single person of power and every single nation of power desired more power and every super power desired even more power than it had. Allah Subhanahu ww Ta'ala never allowed any nation or any person of power to flourish in this world, because every single nation that tried to gain more and more power, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala brought about their own demise at their own hands.
There is nothing that is more destructive to a person's ego than power, because power gives you fame, power gives you wealth, power gives you fortune, power gives you access to everything else. When a man had a power, they are all underneath him. Look at the scandals that we see around us, involving money, deception, involving this and that, even bloodshed. Power corrupts and that is genegral rule. Such as the nature of power, therefore, our beloved Prophet (ﷺ), warned us to be careful when it comes to power. But, in the other hand, the Prophet told us that one of those who will be sheltered under the shade of Allah, is the just ruler who act in accordance with the command of Allah.
Allah wants to give us an example of one such ruler, the story of a righteous king whom Allah had blessed with power and he was still righteous, and so, Allah helped him. Allah have given Dhul-Qarnayn great power, so that he had all that kings could have of might, armies, war equipment and siege machinery.’ So he had dominion over the east and the west, all countries and their kings submitted to him, and all the nations, Arab and non-Arab, served him. Some of them said, he was called DhulQamayn, the one with two horns, because he reached the two “ Horns" of the sun, East and West, where it rises and where it sets. There were some Sahaabah said that he was blessed with knowledge. Another Sahaabah, said that Allah gave him the means of all things, meaning the means and power to conquer all areas, regions and countries, to defeat enemies, suppress the kings of the earth and humiliate the people of Shirk. He was given all that a man like him would need. And Allah knows best!"
Woodpecker asked, "Was he a prophet?" Almond said, "Allah praised Dhul-Qarnain in the Glorious Qur'an for his justice. He ruled over the easts and wests and many regions where he subjected their peoples and ruled them with perfect justice. It is reported that Abdullah Ibn 'Amr, said that Dhul-Qarnain was a Prophet. In other narration, Ibn 'Abbas, transmitted a report that goes to the saying that Dhul-Qarnain was a good king whose work was praised in Allah's Book; he was made victorious; and Al-Khidr was his minister, leader of his army, and his consultant. Furthermore, in the book of at-Tabari, it was mentioned that Dhul-Qarnayn was Sikandar or Alexander the Greek, but we know that he was a polytheist. Approximately three hundred years before Prophet 'Isa, peace be upon him, there is a king known as Sikandar or Alexander the Greek or Iskandar al-Maqduni. He is identified with the appellations of the Greek, the Macedonian, the Roman etc. He was the one who had Arastu or Aristotle as his minister, who fought a war against Darius the younger, the Persian kings, and who is the founder of Alexandria and who conquered his country after killing him. Ibn Kathir, the great scholar of Hadith and history, clarified that this Alexander was not the Dhul-Qarnayn mentioned in the Quran.
Another said that he was The Cyrus or Khorus the Great, the founder of The Achaemenid Empire or the First Persian Empire. Others said, Dhul-Qarnain mentioned in the Quran is Abu Bakr ibn Samma ibn 'Umar ibn Ifriqis al-Himyari, the one who conquered the East and West of the Earth. According to Ibn Kathir, the most likely opinion is that he was just a king. Dhul-Qarnain has been mentioned by the Quran is no more than, "He was a righteous anda pious king." He is a pious man and a follower of the true religion of his time. Things that are not claimed by the Quran nor explained by Hadith, are things we have not been obligated to fix and clarify on our own for that responsibility does not rest on our shoulders, some are more competent. Thus, whichever saying turns out to be regarded as more weighty, worthy and sound, the aim of the Qur'an will stand achieved after all. And Allah knows best!"
Bulbul asked, "Is it true that he has two horns?" Almond said, "Some said that he had two curly locks of hair, therefore, he was called Dhul-Qarnayn. There was someone who also said that he had marks on his head that resembled those of horns. It appears in some narratives that he had wound marks on both sides of his head, therefore, he was identified as Dhul-Qarnayn. Some others said that he ruled countries of the East and West, therefore, he was named Dhul-Qarnayn. The East and West, where the sun rises and where it sets. According the Sahaabah and Tabi'in, that he followed different routes to achieve what he wanted. He followed a route until he reached the furthest point that could be reached in the direction of the sun's setting, which is the West of the earth. He saw the setting in a spring of Hami'ah, meaning he saw the sun as if it were setting in the ocean. This is something which everyone who goes to the coast can see, it looks as if the sun is setting into the sea but in fact it never leaves its path in which it is fixed, following the Divine Law.
And he found near it, a people. Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish them or else adopt among them a way of goodness." Allah gave him power over them and gave him the choice: if he wanted to, he could kill the men and take the women and children captive, or if he wanted to, he could set them free, with or without a ransom. Then Dhul-Qarnayn prounced his ruling, ""As for one who persists in his Kufr and in associating others in worship with his Rabb, we will punish him, by killing him. Then he will be returned to his Rabb, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment. But as for one who who follows us in our call to worship Allah Alone with no partner or associate and does righteousness, he will have a reward of Paradise, and we will speak to him from our command with ease."
The second expedtion, Dhul-Qarnayn traveled from the West of the earth towards the East. Every time he passed a nation, he subjugated the people and called them to Allah. If they obeyed him, all well and good, otherwise he would humiliate them and take their wealth and possessions. From every nation he took what his armies needed to fight the next nation. When he reached the place where the sun rises, he found a nation, they had no buildings or trees to cover them and shade them from the heat of the sun. They were in a land where nothing grew, so when the sun rose they would go into tunnels until it had passed its zenith, then they would come out to go about their daily lives and earn themselves a living. Even though they came from so many different nations and lands, Allah knew everything about him and his army, and nothing was hidden from Him.
Then he traveled again, in the third expedtion, between from the two mountains which were next to one another with a valley in between, from which Gog and Magog will emerge. Until, when he reached a pass between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand his speech, because they were so isolated from other people.
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?" They wanted to collect money among themselves to give to him so that he would create a barrier between them and Gog and Magog. Dhul-Qarnayn said with kindness, righteousness and good intentions, "The power and authority that Allah has given me is better for me than what you have collected. What I have is better than what you want to give me, but help me with sterngth, with your labor and construction equipment. I will make between you and them a dam. Bring me sheets of iron."
He put the blocks on top of one another, starting at the bottom, until he reached the tops of the mountains, filing the width and height of the gap. The 'Ulemas differed about the precise width and height. He lit a fire until the whole thing was burning hot, then te said, "Bring me Qitran to pour over them."
Gog and Magog could not climb over the barrier or penetrate its lower portion. They could not dig through it. After it was built, Dhul-Qarnayn said, "This is a mercy from my Rabb; but when the promise of my Rabb comes, He will make it level, and ever is the promise of my Rabb, true."
Woodpecker asked, "Who are these Ya’juj and Ma'juj?" Almond said, "The verdict of the research scholars of Islamis this, that they are ordinary people of this world and like the other off-spring of man. They are not a notion with supernatural eating habits. They may be said to be the original people from whom the nations of Europe and Russia came, because their neighbours called the Mog and Yochi, the Greeks called them Mek and Meygog and Logog.The Hebrew and Arabic equivalent of it was Yajooj and Majooj. And even though Yajooj and Majooj were Mongolian or Tatari, the Tatari people who settled at the pass after having left their original habital and became civilized in spite of being of the same origin, there were much differences between them and the people this side of the pass. These were the people who asked Dhul-Qarnayn to erect a barrier between them and the tribes of Gog and Magog.
So, Gog and Magog are among the progeny of Prophet Adam, alayhissalam. In Sahih Al-Bukhari, there is a hadith, narrated from Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah will say (on the Day of Resurrection), 'O Adam.' Adam will reply, 'Labbaik wa Sa`daik', and all the good is in Your Hand.' Allah will say: 'Bring out the people of the fire.' Adam will say: 'O Allah! How many are the people of the Fire?' Allah will reply: 'From every one thousand, take out nine-hundred-and ninety-nine.' At that time children will become hoary headed, every pregnant female will have a miscarriage, and one will see mankind as drunken, yet they will not be drunken, but dreadful will be the Wrath of Allah." The companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Who is that (excepted) one?" He said, "Rejoice with glad tidings; one person will be from you and one-thousand will be from Gog and Magog." The Prophet (ﷺ) further said, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, hope that you will be one-fourth of the people of Paradise." We shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" He added, "I hope that you will be one-third of the people of Paradise." We shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" He said, "I hope that you will be half of the people of Paradise." We shouted, "Allahu Akbar!" He further said, "You (Muslims) (compared with non Muslims) are like a black hair in the skin of a white ox or like a white hair in the skin of a black ox (i.e. your number is very small as compared with theirs).
This wall of Gog and Magog, its strength was such that those people could not break it down, neither scale over it. Seeing the sturdiness of the barrier and its firmness, Dhul-Qarnayn thanked Allah, saying that all this was a mercy from Allah who used him for this service. He also mentioned that at that time the wall was quite strong and firm that Gog and Magog could not come through, bpt he said further, "I do not make this claim that this wall will forever remain like that but it will only remain like that for as long as Allh will allow it to be so. When he no longer intends that it shall be like that it will be broken down and like anything the wall too will perish.
In Sahih Al-Bukhari, narrated from Zainab bint Jahsh, radiallahu ‘anhuma, that the Prophet (ﷺ) once came to her in a state of fear and said, "None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. Woe unto the Arabs from a danger that has come near. An opening has been made in the wall of Gog and Magog like this," making a circle with his thumb and index finger. Zainab bint Jahsh said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Shall we be destroyed even though there are pious persons among us?" He said, "Yes, when the evil person will increase."
Now there remains the area of geographical and racial investigation as to questions like - Where is the wall of Dhul-Qarnayn located? Who are these people called Gog and Magog? Where do they live now? Here, it can be said that no Islamic 'Aqidah depends on knowing this, nor does the understanding of any verse of the Quran hinge on it. But, the religious scholars of the Muslim Ummah, only in order to answer the absurdities dished out by antagonists and to provide additional insight, have discussed this subject in details. It would be better if we ask directly to 'Ulama who have mastered this field."Reference :
Almond then said, "O my brothers and sisters, this is a naseehah for all us. Whoever studies Islamic history will see that the malady referred to by the Prophet (ﷺ) is one of the greatest trials that have befallen the Muslims. The affairs of this ummah are being controlled by tyrants and oppressors who cannot bear to hear any opinion which goes against their own. According to the hadith, recorded in At-Tabaraani, narrated by Mu'aawiyah, the Prophet said: (ﷺ), "There will be leaders after me who will speak and no one will refute them. They will rush into the Fire like monkeys." The fatal mistakes which lead to corruption in life are the appointment of unqualified people to positions of leadership and authority who direct the affairs of life according to their whims and desires, overlooking good people who would direct matters in the best way.
Verilly, become a ruler, aim to spread the kalimas of Allah, to uphold the Tawheed and inviting to return to Allah. Two Horns can be meant, East and West, two opposite sides. East and West are places where the sun rises and where the sun sets. The sun can be likened to a ruler. The ruler may choose to stand on the side of the rising sun, be a just ruler, or choose to stand on the sunset, become a despotic ruler. The ruler may choose, becomes the morning sun that refreshes his people and becomes as a shade for them, or becomes the rays of the intense afternoon sun, which does not overshadow his people, who will immerse his people into destitute and disbelieve, then ultimately, to the direction of destruction. Can we imagine, what kind of a ruler, who does not have a people? And Allah know best."
"Say, 'O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent. You cause the night to enter the day, and You cause the day to enter the night; and You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give provision to whom You will without account'." - [QS.3:26-27]
- Dr. 'Umar S. Al-Ashqar, The Minor Resurrection, IIPH
- Maulana Hifzur Rahman Soeharwy, Qasasul Ambiyaa, Idara Impex
- The History of Al-Tabari Volume IV : The Ancient Kingdoms, translated by Moshe Perlmann, SUNY Press
*) Credited to Leonard Cohen, "Everybody Knows", performed by Sigrid.
