They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story." 83 We established him in the land, and We gave him a way to everything; 84 So he followed a course. 85 Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allah) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness." 86 He replied: 'The evildoer we shall punish. Then he shall return to his Lord and He will punish him with a stern punishment. 87 But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, and We shall speak unto him a mild command. 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 (He left them) as they were: We completely understood what was before him. 91 Then he followed the road, 92 Until, when he reached between two mountains, he found, before (near) them (those two mountains), a people who scarcely understood a word. 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, "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 So they were unable either to scale it or pierce it. 97 He said: 'This is a mercy from my Lord. But when my Lord's promise is come, He will make it dust. 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 And on that Day We shall present Hell to the disbelievers, plain to view, 100 (Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from remembrance of Me, and who had been unable even to hear. 101