They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story." 83 Behold, We established him securely on earth, and endowed him with [the knowledge of] the right means to achieve anything [that he might set out to achieve]; 84 With these he traveled 85 Until when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he perceived it setting in a miry spring, and he found beside it a nation. We said: Zul Qarnian! either chastise them or take in respect of them the way of kindness. 86 He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment. 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 Thereafter he followed a way. 89 until he reached the rising of the sun, he found it rising upon a nation for whom We provided no veil against it to shade them. 90 So it is; and Our knowledge encompasses all that he possessed. 91 He travelled 92 Until when he arrived between the two mountains, he found beside them a people who well-nigh understood not a word. 93 They said: O Zulqarnain! surely Gog and Magog make mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute on condition that you should raise 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 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 Thereafter they could neither scale it, nor could they pierce 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 ۞ AND ON that Day" We shall [call forth all mankind and] leave them to surge like waves [that dash] against one another; and the trumpet [of judgment] will be blown, and We shall gather them all together. 99 On that Day We shall lay Hell bare before those who deny the truth, 100 whose eyes were covered against My remembrance, and they were not able to hear. 101