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.”
فَمَا اسطاعوا أَن يَظهَروهُ وَمَا استَطاعوا لَهُ نَقبًا
As a result, they were unable to climb it or to tunnel through it.
قالَ هـٰذا رَحمَةٌ مِن رَبّي ۖ فَإِذا جاءَ وَعدُ رَبّي جَعَلَهُ دَكّاءَ ۖ وَكانَ وَعدُ رَبّي حَقًّا
He declared, “This is a mercy from my Lord. However, when my Lord’s promise is fulfilled, He will reduce it to rubble. The promise of my Lord is always true.”
وَتَرَكنا بَعضَهُم يَومَئِذٍ يَموجُ في بَعضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي الصّورِ فَجَمَعناهُم جَمعًا
On that Day, We will let them surge like waves into each other. Then the Trumpet will be blown, and We will gather them all together.
وَعَرَضنا جَهَنَّمَ يَومَئِذٍ لِلكافِرينَ عَرضًا
On that Day, We will expose Hell in full view for the unbelievers.
الَّذينَ كانَت أَعيُنُهُم في غِطاءٍ عَن ذِكري وَكانوا لا يَستَطيعونَ سَمعًا
Those whose eyes were covered from My remembrance, and were unable to hear.
أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذينَ كَفَروا أَن يَتَّخِذوا عِبادي مِن دوني أَولِياءَ ۚ إِنّا أَعتَدنا جَهَنَّمَ لِلكافِرينَ نُزُلًا
Do those who disbelieve presume they can take My servants as protectors instead of Me? We prepared Hell as a reception for the unbelievers.