And they ask thee of Zul Qarnain. Say thou: I shall recite unto you of him some mention. 83 We established him in the land, and gave him the means to achieve all things. 84 So he followed a certain road 85 Until when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he perceived it setting in a miry spring, and he found beside it a nation. We said: Zul Qarnian! either chastise them or take in respect of them the way of kindness. 86 He said: as for him who doeth wrong, presently we shall torment him, and thereafter he shall be brought back to his Lord, and He shall torment him with a torment formidable. 87 But he who believes and does the right will have an excellent reward, and we shall make things easy for him." 88 Then he followed the road, 89 Till he reached the point of the rising sun, and saw it rise over a people for whom We had provided no shelter against it. 90 thus [We had made them, and thus he left them; and We did encompass with Our knowledge all that he had in mind 91 Then he followed a way 92 Till he reached a place between two mountains, and found this side of it a people who understood but little of what was spoken. 93 They said: "O Dhul-Qarnain! Verily! Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them?" 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." 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 he constructed the barrier which) neither Gog nor Magog were able to climb nor were they able to dig a tunnel through the iron and brass barrier. 97 [Dhul-Qarnayn] said, "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level, and ever is the promise of my Lord true." 98 ۞ And on that Day We shall let some of them surge like waves against others, and the Trumpet shall be blown. Then We shall gather them all together. 99 On that Day We shall lay Hell bare before those who deny the truth, 100 Unto those whose eyes had been under a covering from My remembrance, nor had they been able to hear. 101