Surely We established him in the land, and gave him the means to all things.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Indeed, We established him upon the earth, and We gave him from everything a way [i.e., means].
— Saheeh International
So he travelled a course,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
So he followed a way
— Saheeh International
until he reached the setting ˹point˺ of the sun, which appeared to him to be setting in a spring of murky water, where he found some people. We said, “O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Either punish them or treat them kindly.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Until, when he reached the setting of the sun [i.e., the west], he found it [as if] setting in a body of dark water,1 and he found near it a people. We [i.e., Allah] said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."
— Saheeh International
He responded, “Whoever does wrong will be punished by us, then will be returned to their Lord, Who will punish them with a horrible torment.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
He said, "As for one who wrongs,1 we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
— Saheeh International
As for those who believe and do good, they will have the finest reward, and we will assign them easy commands.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he will have a reward of the best [i.e., Paradise], and we [i.e., Dhul-Qarnayn] will speak to him from our command with ease."
— Saheeh International
Then he travelled a ˹different˺ course
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Then he followed a way
— Saheeh International
until he reached the rising ˹point˺ of the sun. He found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no shelter from it.1
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Until, when he came to the rising of the sun [i.e., the east], he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made against it any shield.
— Saheeh International
So it was. And We truly had full knowledge of him.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Thus.1 And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge.
— Saheeh International
Then he travelled a ˹third˺ course
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Then he followed a way.
— Saheeh International
until he reached ˹a pass˺ between two mountains. He found in front of them a people who could hardly understand ˹his˺ language.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech.
— Saheeh International
They pleaded, “O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Surely Gog and Magog1 are spreading corruption throughout the land. Should we pay you tribute, provided that you build a wall between us and them?”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog1 are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?"
— Saheeh International
He responded, “What my Lord has provided for me is far better. But assist me with resources, and I will build a barrier between you and them.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength [i.e., manpower]; I will make between you and them a dam.
— Saheeh International
Bring me blocks of iron!” Then, when he had filled up ˹the gap˺ between the two mountains, he ordered, “Blow!” When the iron became red hot, he said, “Bring me molten copper to pour over it.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Bring me bars of iron" - until, when he had leveled [them] between the two mountain walls, he said, "Blow [with bellows]," until when he had made it [like] fire, he said, "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper."
— Saheeh International
And so the enemies could neither scale nor tunnel through it.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
So they [i.e., Gog and Magog] were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.
— Saheeh International