And they ask thee of Zul Qarnain. Say thou: I shall recite unto you of him some mention. 83 We granted him power in the land and endowed him with all kinds of resources. 84 and he followed a way 85 until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and nearby he found a nation. 'ThulKarnain' We said, 'you must either punish them or show them kindness' 86 He said: "I shall punish whosoever is wicked. He will then be sent back to his Lord who will inflict on him a terrible punishment. 87 But as for him who believes and acts righteously, his will be a goodly reward and we shall enjoin upon him only mild commands." 88 Then followed he (another) way, 89 To the extent that when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising upon a nation for which We had not kept any shelter from it. 90 Thus it was. And surely We have encompassed all that was with him in knowledge 91 Then he followed (another) course. 92 after this to the middle of two mountains where he found a people who could hardly understand a single word. 93 'ThulKarnain' they said, 'Look, Gog and Magog are corrupting the earth. Build for us a barrier between us and them, and we will pay you a tribute' 94 He said: "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): Help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them: 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." 96 Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it. 97 He said: this is a mercy from my Lord; then when the promise of my Lord cometh, He shall make it powder, and the promise of my Lord is ever true. 98 ۞ On that day, We will let them surge on one another, and the Horn shall be blown, and We will gather them all together. 99 On that Day We shall lay Hell bare before those who deny the truth, 100 The ones whose eyes were covered from My remembrance, and who could not bear to hear Truth. 101