They will ask thee of Dhu'l-Qarneyn. Say: I shall recite unto you a remembrance of him. 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 until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of murky water and near it he found some people. We said, "Dhu'l-Qarnayn! You can either punish them or else you can treat them with gentleness." 86 He replied, "I shall punish the unjust ones among them and then they will return to their Lord, who will punish them more sternly". 87 But he who believes and does the right will have an excellent reward, and we shall make things easy for him." 88 He then followed (another) road 89 Until, when he came to the rising place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We (Allah) had provided no shelter against the sun. 90 Even so! and We had a full knowledge of what he had. 91 Then followed he (another) way, 92 until when he reached a place between the two mountains, he found beside the mountains a people who scarcely understood anything. 93 They said: "O Dhu al-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption in this land. So shall we pay you taxes on the understanding that you will set up a barrier between us and them?" 94 He said: That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank. 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, but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass He will make it level with the ground, and the promise of my Lord is ever true. 98 ۞ And on that day we shall let some of them surge against others, and the Trumpet will be blown. Then We shall gather them together in one gathering. 99 On that day we shall present hell to the disbelievers, plain to view, 100 Whose eyes were veiled against My warning, and they could not hear. 101