They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story." 83 Say: "I will cite before you his commemoration." We gave him authority in the land and means of accomplishing every end. 84 And he followed a road 85 Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness. 86 He said: "As for him (a disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah) who does wrong, we shall punish him; and then he will be brought back unto his Lord; Who will punish him with a terrible torment (Hell). 87 But as for him who believes and does righteous deeds - he will have the ultimate good [of the life to come] as his reward; and [as for us,] we shall make binding on him [only] that which is easy to fulfill." 88 He then followed (another) road 89 to the East where he found the sun rising upon a people whom We had exposed to its rays. 90 It was so, for We were fully informed about him. 91 Thereafter he followed a way. 92 when he reached between the two barriers he found on one side of them a nation who could barely understand speech. 93 They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them? 94 He said, "What My Lord has given me is better [than any tribute]. Help me with a force of labourers and I will erect a barrier between you and them: 95 Bring me ingots of iron!" Then, after he had [piled up the iron and] filled the gap between the two mountain-sides, he said: "[Light a fire and] ply your bellows!" At length, when he had made it [glow like] fire, he commanded: "Bring me molten copper which I may pour upon it." 96 Thus they were not able to mount it, nor were they able to burrow through it. 97 He said: This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true. 98 ۞ And on that Day We shall let some of them surge like waves against others, and the Trumpet shall be blown. Then We shall gather them all together. 99 On that Day We shall lay Hell bare before those who deny the truth, 100 Those whose eyes had been within a cover [removed] from My remembrance, and they were not able to hear. 101