And they ask you regarding Zul-Qarnain; say, “I shall recite his story to you.” 83 We had given him great power in the land and all kinds of resources. 84 So he followed a way. 85 until when he reached the very limits where the sun sets, he saw it setting in dark turbid waters; and nearby he met a people. We said: "O Dhu al-Qarnayn, you have the power to punish or to treat them with kindness." 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 And as for him who believeth and worketh righteously, unto him shall be a goodly hire, and anon we shall speak unto him of our affair something easy. 88 He again pursued a purpose. 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 This indeed was true. We knew all that he did there. 91 Then 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, "Dhu 'l-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are ravaging this land. Would you establish a barrier between us and them if we pay you a certain tax?" 94 He answered: "Whatever my Lord has granted me is good enough. But help me with your labour and I will erect a rampart between you and them. 95 Bring me blocks of iron to fill up the passage between the two mountains." He told them to ply their bellows until the iron became hot as fire. Then he told them to pour on it molten brass." 96 And thus [the rampart was built, and] their enemies were unable to scale it, and neither were they able to pierce it. 97 and he said, "This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will level it to dust. My Lord's promise is ever true!" 98 ۞ On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another: the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together. 99 And We shall set hell on that Day unto the infidels with a setting. 100 whose eyes had become blind against My admonition and who were utterly disinclined to hear it. 101