حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ مَغرِبَ الشَّمسِ وَجَدَها تَغرُبُ في عَينٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَها قَومًا ۗ قُلنا يا ذَا القَرنَينِ إِمّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فيهِم حُسنًا

Upon reaching the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a vast muddy spring, and he found people there. We said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, you can either punish or treat them with kindness.”

قالَ أَمّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلىٰ رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذابًا نُكرًا

He answered, “As for those who commit wrongdoings, we will punish them. Then, they will be returned to their Lord, subjecting them to an even more severe punishment.

وَأَمّا مَن آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صالِحًا فَلَهُ جَزاءً الحُسنىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقولُ لَهُ مِن أَمرِنا يُسرًا

However, those who believe and perform righteous deeds will receive the finest rewards, we will command them in an easy way.”

ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

He then continued on his way.

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ مَطلِعَ الشَّمسِ وَجَدَها تَطلُعُ عَلىٰ قَومٍ لَم نَجعَل لَهُم مِن دونِها سِترًا

Upon reaching the rising point of the sun, he found it rising over a people for whom We had not provided any form of protection against it.

ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

Subsequently, he embarked on another expedition.

حَتّىٰ إِذا بَلَغَ بَينَ السَّدَّينِ وَجَدَ مِن دونِهِما قَومًا لا يَكادونَ يَفقَهونَ قَولًا

Upon reaching a pass between two mountains, he encountered people who could hardly understand any language.

قالوا يا ذَا القَرنَينِ إِنَّ يَأجوجَ وَمَأجوجَ مُفسِدونَ فِي الأَرضِ فَهَل نَجعَلُ لَكَ خَرجًا عَلىٰ أَن تَجعَلَ بَينَنا وَبَينَهُم سَدًّا

They implored, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, Gog, and Magog are wreaking havoc in the land; could we possibly compensate you to build a barrier between us and them?’

قالَ ما مَكَّنّي فيهِ رَبّي خَيرٌ فَأَعينوني بِقُوَّةٍ أَجعَل بَينَكُم وَبَينَهُم رَدمًا

He replied, “The strength my Lord has granted me is sufficient. Assist me, and I will erect a fortification between you and them.”

آتوني زُبَرَ الحَديدِ ۖ حَتّىٰ إِذا ساوىٰ بَينَ الصَّدَفَينِ قالَ انفُخوا ۖ حَتّىٰ إِذا جَعَلَهُ نارًا قالَ آتوني أُفرِغ عَلَيهِ قِطرًا

“Bring me blocks of iron.” Once he had filled the space between the two sides, he said, “Light it up!” Once it was red-hot, he directed, “Bring me molten copper to pour over it.”