They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story." 83 We established him in the land and gave him means to all things. 84 So he followed a way. 85 Until when he reached the place where the sun set, he found it going down into a black sea, and found by it a people. We said: O Zulqarnain! either give them a chastisement or do them a benefit. 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 As for he who believes and does good works he shall receive a fine reward in recompense and we shall speak to him with a mild command' 88 Then he followed the road, 89 to the East where he found the sun rising upon a people whom We had exposed to its rays. 90 Thus indeed it was. We had full knowledge of him. 91 Then he followed (another) course. 92 Until, when he came between two mountains, he found before them a nation that did not appear to understand any speech. 93 They said: 'O Dhu'l-Qarnain, Gog and Magog are oppressing the land. May we pay you some tribute so that you could build a rampart between us and them?" 94 He said: "That (wealth, authority and power) in which my Lord had established me is better (than your tribute). So help me with strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier. 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 So they were unable either to scale it or pierce it. 97 Said [the King]: "This is a mercy from my Sustainer! Yet when the time appointed by my Sustainer shall come, He will make this [rampart] level with the ground: and my Sustainer's promise always comes true!" 98 ۞ And We will leave them that day surging over each other, and [then] the Horn will be blown, and We will assemble them in [one] assembly. 99 And on that Day We shall place hell, for all to see, before those who denied the truth 100 whose eyes were covered against My remembrance, and they were not able to hear. 101