From: "waqas_ghazi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 20:12:19 -0000
Subject: Who was Dhulqarnain?
Who was Dhulqarnain?
In Surah Kahf, there are two answers given to the questions which were asked
from the Prophet SAW by Quraish of Mecca, on advice of Jews of Medina. One of
the things that the Jews advised the Quraish to ask was about the person named
Dhulqarnain. This proves that he was mentioned in the Jewish scriptures or was
told about by the Prophets of Bani Israel. It is almost in the end of the Surah
that the answer is given.
It is mentioned in the Quran as follows:
018.083 They ask thee concerning Dhulqarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you
something of his story."
018.084 Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways
and the means to all ends.
018.085 One (such) way he followed,
018.086 Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a
spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Dhulqarnain!
(thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness."
018.087 He said: "Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be
sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of
(before).
018.088 "But whoever believes, and works righteousness, - he shall have a
goodly reward, and easy will be his task as We order it by our Command."
018.089 Then followed he (another) way,
018.090 Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a
people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun.
018.091 (He left them) as they were: We completely understood what was before
him.
018.092 Then followed he (another) way,
018.093 Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found,
beneath them, a people who scarcely understood a word.
018.094 They said: "O Dhulqarnain! The Gog and Magog (People) do great
mischief on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou
mightest erect a barrier between us and them?
018.095 He said: "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better
(than tribute): Help me therefore with strength (and labor): I will erect a
strong barrier between you and them:
018.096 "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."
018.097 Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it.
018.098 He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord: But when the promise of my
Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and the promise of my Lord is
true."
The translation of the 16 ayaat above needs a lot of explanation. But the
purpose at hand is to explain who Dhulqarnain was.
The literal meaning of Dhulqarnain is "the two horned." There are many
Tafasir of the Quran which suggest that Dhulqarnain was actually Alexander the
great. It is not true. The traits of the person described in the ayaat do not
fit Alexander's personality. Alexander was not a believer in One God, rather he
believed in the Greek concept of god, according to which god has wives and
children (the Greek mythology). Alexander was also a homosexual whereas it is
impossible that Allah Will Praise a person with such a filthy trait. Alexander
started his mission from west to east whereas the ayaat above indicate that
Dhulqarnain moved from east to west first.
Dhulqarnain was actually an Iranian king. He reigned in 600-700 B.C. the word
Dhulqarnain, which means "the two horned" has a lot of significance. The lace
w:st="on">Persian empirelace> was divided into two different parts or powers,
Faras and Nidjia. When it was divided, it wasn't considered as a significant
power of the world. Dhulqarnain was the person who united these two parts and
powers and into one single superpower, the Great Persian Empire, which lasted
till the caliphate of Hadrat Umar. The Greek scriptures also confirm with the
Quranic ayaat above. There are three victories described in the Quran that
Allah Blessed Dhulqarnain with. The Greeks agree with this historical fact as
well. Dhulqarnain was a very humble, brave, pious and just ruler, as portrayed
by the Quran. Zoroastrianism is the religion that was practiced in Iran or
Persia as it was then known. It is also called the religion of fire-worship.
There is duality in Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrians believe in two
gods, the wise god or god of virtue, and the vice god or the god of sins. But
Dhulqarnain is portrayed as a monotheist, who believed in one Allah. He turned
to Allah in time of need, not two gods. Today, it is proven by Dr. Zakir Naik
that the scriptures of Zoroastrianism also give the same concept of God as
Islam. There is also other historical evidence why Dhulqarnain believed in one
God, Allah.
Nebuchad Nazar attacked Palestine and killed 0.6 million Jews and captivated
0.6 million and took them to Iraq. It is a fact, mentioned in Hadith as well as
in Torah or Old Testaments that there was always a Prophet present amongst the
Bani Israel. Even when they were captives in Iraq, they still had Prophets
amongst them. Ibrahim Zartusht, is a personality of Iran. He worked for the
Islaah of Bani Israel. There is evidence that Dhulqarnain was also inspired by
the teachings of Ibrahim Zartusht.
Dhulqarnain attacked Iraq and freed the Bani Israel captivated there.Iraq was
a very strong nation then. But Dhulqarnain was Helped by Allah and he freed
Bani Israel and also preached the correct beliefs in them. In Torah, there is a
mention of a sheep or a ram with two horns, that would come to the rescue of
Bani Israel (thus the meaning "the two horned" Dhulqarnain). Dhulqarnain is
called "Khoras" or "Kaikhoras" in Jewish scriptures and "Iersh" in Zoroastrian
scriptures. Dhulqarnain is also the founder of the Great Persian Empire.
Written by:
Waqas Ghazi
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.
Keep us on the right path.
The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those
upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.[the Holy
Quran- Sura # 1,Aayat 1-7] - AMEEN
"Say: we believe in God and in what has been revealed to us, and what was
revealed to Abraham, Isma'il: Isaac, Jacob and The Tribes, and in (the Books)
given to Moses, Jesus and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction
between one and another, among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam)."
(Qur'an, Al-Imran 3:84)
"So,verily,with every difficulty,there is relief."-[THE HOLY QURAN,094.005]
"If Allah is your protector,none can overcome you,and if He forsakes you, then
who can help you? Trust Allah and have faith in His sovereign power"[Qur'an,
Al-Imran, Surah 3:160]
"Faint not nor grieve for you will overcome them if you are(indeed)
believers."[Qur'an, Aal -e-imraan-3, Aayat 139]
"And say "O my Lord! I seek refuge with Thee from the suggestions of the Evil
Ones.And I seek refuge with Thee O my Lord! lest they should come near me."
[Qur'an, AL-MUMENOON 023.097-98]
"O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and
deed)." [Qur'an, Al-Tauba,009.119]
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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