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 Then he followed a way. 85 to the West where he found the sun setting into a warm source (spring) of water and a people living near by. We asked him, "Dhu 'l-Qarnayn, you may punish them or treat them with kindness?" 86 He said: As to him who is unjust, we will chastise him, then shall he be returned to his Lord, and He will chastise him with an exemplary chastisement: 87 But as for him who believes, and does righteousness, he shall receive as recompense the reward most fair, and we shall speak to him, of our command, easiness.' 88 Then followed he (another) way, 89 until he came to the rising-place of the sun, where he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no 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 [And he marched on] till, when he reached [a place] between the two mountain-barriers, he found beneath them a people who could scarcely understand a word [of his language]. 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 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 Give me pieces of iron - till, when he had levelled up (the gap) between the cliffs, he said: Blow! - till, when he had made it a fire, he said: Bring me molten copper to pour thereon. 96 And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (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 into dust; and the promise of my Lord is true." 98 ۞ And on that Day [i.e. the Day Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) will come out], We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another, and the Trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together. 99 We will fully expose the view of hell on that Day to the disbelievers, 100 those whose eyes had been veiled against any remembrance of Me because they could not bear to listen [to the voice of truth]! 101