DHU'L-QARNAYN (the two-horned one)

SURAH 18 * AL-KAHF

Excerpt of:  DHU'L QARNAYN (ALEXANDER THE GREAT)

An historical figure identified as Dhu'l Qarnayn (the two-horned one).  His career combined knowledge with power, and he is introduced in the Qur'an as a model for strong faith and genuine humility.  Regardless of whether he was Greek, Persian, Chinese or Yemeni, we are told that God had given Dhu'l Qarnayn substantial means and considerable power. He was knowledgeable, sincere, wise and fair and was clearly in charge of a vast kingdom.   

God opened the door of victory for him and he used it to good advantage.  His conquest took him to the remotest coast to the west where he came across people of  mixed faith.

Dhu'l Qarnayn then went eastward where he encountered primitive communities living on the open land and wearing no clothes.  Another expedition took him to a place between two mountain chains inhabited by similarly primitive and helpless people, continually being raided by their marauding neighbours. They sought his help to protect them and keep their predators at bay. "They said:  'Dhu'l Qarnayn!  Gog and Magog are ravaging this land.  May we pay you to build a rampart between us and them?':" (94).  Recognising God's generosity towards him, he told them that he needed no payment, but requested that they lend him their labour to construct a barrier that would keep their plundering neighbours away.  He said:"'Lend me your manpower and I will raise a rampart between you and them'" (95).

Dhu'l Qarnayn's engineering genius is demonstrated by the way he constructed the dam.  He used a molten mixture of iron, brass and rock to erect a massive wall, rising to the mountain tops. ''' They (the enemies) could neither scale it nor dig their way through it.  He  (Dhu'l Qarnayn) said, 'This is of the grace of my Lord...'" (97-98) 

     

THE QUR'AN: THE BLESSED BOOK

When you recite the Qur'an and contemplate its meanings, you take a positive step toward achieving happiness.  Allah described the Qur'an as being guidance, light, and a cure for what is in the breasts of men.  He also described it as being a Mercy,

((There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (ie. the Qur'an, ordering all that is good and forbidding all that is evil), and a healing for that (disease of ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy and differences, etc) which is in your breasts...)):  Surah 10 * Yunus (Jonah) : 57

((Do they not then think deeply in the Qur'an, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?)): Surah  47 * Muhammad : 24

((Do they not then consider the Qur'an carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely found therein much contradiction.)):  Surah 4 * Al-Nisa' (Women) : 82

(((This is) a Book (the Qur'an)  which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses.)) : Surah 38 Sad : 29

Reciting the Qur'an is blessed, as are acting upon it and turning to it for judgement and guidance.

A righteous person (and many have had a similar experience) once said:

"I felt that a cloud of depression and anxiety was hanging over me.  I picked up the Qur'an and I read it for a period of time.  Then, by Allah, the depression and anxiety disappeared and happiness along with tranquility took their place."

((Verily, this Qur'an guides to that which is most just and right...)) :  Surah 17 * Al - Isra' (The Night Journey) : 9

((And thus  We have sent to you (O' Muhammad) Rooh (an Inspiration, and a Mercy) of our Command)) : Surah 42 * Al - Shura (Counsel) :  52 

SURAH 80 * 'ABASA (HE FROWNED)

In brief: 

THE PROPHET WAS BUSY ONE DAY addressing a group of prominent dignitaries from the Quraysh tribe, in the hope that their joining the small community of Muslims would influence a large number of Arabs to turn to Islam too.  A blind man, called 'Abd Allah ibn Umm Maktum interrupted him, demanding his attention and asking to talk to the Prophet.  Muhammad was perturbed, and it showed on his face.  He ignored the blind man and continued his appeal to the Makkan notables.

This is the background to the surah which says:

He (Muhammad) frowned and turned away when the blind man came towards him.  But how would you (Muhammad) know that he might not be reformed, or that he might not take heed and benefit from your admonition? (1-4).

The Prophet appreciated the reproach and thereafter became more deferential and accommodating towards Ibn Umm Maktum.  He would call him "the man my Lord cesured me about!"  It also became Muhammad's practice to leave Ibn Umm Maktum in charge of Madinah whenever he had to leave it  for any reason.