The Fourth Trial: The Authority of Dhū al-Qarnayn

That is a very prominent verse to dwell upon. And the last story remaining is that of Dhū al-Qarnayn, beginning at verse 75, which is the start of the sixteenth juzʾ — still a continuation of the story of Mūsā and Khiḍr (peace be upon them).

That said: what is the lesson of each of these stories, exactly, in relation to faith and materialism? They are all upon materialism; but in what respect, exactly? Considered deeply, the story of the Kahf, of the people of the Kahf, is rather about firmness of faith, firmness upon faith in the face of persecution, danger and aggression. The story, or the example, of the man with the gardens was plainly about wealth: about being misguided or deluded by wealth, and supposing it will help and give the security a man needs — though he was, supposedly, a man of faith. The third, the story of Mūsā and Khiḍr (peace be upon them), and its chief lesson, is discussed below. And then there is the story of Dhū al-Qarnayn; and again the main substance of that story is likewise bound up with the tension between faith and materialism.

As for the story of Mūsā (peace be upon him) with Khiḍr (peace be upon him): he was to tell him the reasons, and from verse 79 he tells him the reasoning, which has already been given above and need not be discussed again. He gave him his reasons for the three acts.

Now, from wa yasʾalūnaka ʿan dhī al-qarnayn, qul sa-atlū ʿalaykum minhu dhikrā, verse 83, the last story begins; and after it there is only a rounding-up and counsel, to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and concerning Allah (swt).

There were three questions that had been asked before. The people of Makkah had gone to the Banū Isrāʾīl, they being people of the Book, and said: give us some questions to ask. And these were three of them: the rūḥ, this, and the Kahf. The Qur'an reveals two of them in detail; upon the rūḥ a general answer was given, as was covered earlier. And this is Dhū al-Qarnayn: they ask about Dhū al-Qarnayn; say: I shall recite to you the mention of it, the account of it; I shall let you know.

The matter is that this was a very long time ago, and some have even argued that this is the time of Pangaea — that is, when the continents were together. Allah knows best; the research to determine it has not been done here. But some say this is when all the continents were one, a great supercontinent, called Pangaea, so many million years ago, when the Morocco of today would be beside New Jersey, literally a few miles away, set next to each other if the jigsaw is put together. Either way, and whatever it may be — for that is the discussion, and it has been taken from there — it need not be so.

For what is said of Dhū al-Qarnayn is that Allah (swt) gave him — and one of the truly particular things about Dhū al-Qarnayn is that he was, so to speak, the super king, the supreme ruler over everything, with everything seemingly under his control, and very powerful. But apart from being powerful and having everything at his disposal, the thing of real interest in him, which sets him apart — and this is the lesson to be drawn here — is that he was a man of faith, a man of consideration, a man of care: the true marks of one who holds rule and is a ruler.

To give the story in brief: he first took a course westward — this is learned from verse 86 — going towards maghrib al-shams, the place where the sun sets; and he found a people there, and there was an exchange with them.

After that he went east — the west being taken care of first, and then the east. And then it says again that he took another path; he was going upon these expeditions, it appears.