وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَن ذِى ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ ۖ قُلْ سَأَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا 83
Translations
And they ask you, [O Muḥammad], about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, "I will recite to you about him a report."
Transliteration
Wa yas'aloonaka 'an dhil-qarnayn, qul sa'atloo 'alaykum minhu dhikra
Tafsir (Explanation)
The people question the Prophet Muhammad about Dhul-Qarnayn, and Allah commands him to respond by reciting what He will reveal concerning this figure. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah introduces the narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn (commonly identified with Alexander the Great or a righteous king of his era), whose story serves as a test of faith and an illustration of divine wisdom in dealing with nations and kingdoms. The phrase 'I will recite to you a mention of him' indicates that Allah will provide a detailed account that contains lessons for believers.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in response to questions posed by the Quraysh and Jewish scholars in Mecca, who sought to test the Prophet's knowledge by asking him about obscure historical figures. Surah Al-Kahf as a whole was revealed during a critical period in Mecca to strengthen the believers' faith amid persecution, and this narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn is part of the surah's theme of testing faith and divine providence.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (4725): The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have mentioned various nations and peoples in relation to knowledge of the unseen that Allah revealed to him. Additionally, hadith collections discuss how the Quraysh and their allies posed these questions to test the Prophet's authenticity.
Themes
Key Lesson
When faced with challenging questions or doubts about our faith, we should trust in Allah's guidance and wisdom rather than rely solely on human speculation. The Quran provides answers to profound questions through narratives that serve both historical and spiritual purposes, teaching us to seek understanding through revelation rather than idle curiosity.
Related Ayahs
فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا
And they found a servant from among Our servants [i.e., al-Khiḍr] to whom We had given mercy from Us and had taught him from Us a [certain] knowledge.
أَفَحَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَن يَتَّخِذُوا۟ عِبَادِى مِن دُونِىٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ إِنَّآ أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ نُزُلًا
Then do those who disbelieve think that they can take My servants instead of Me as allies? Indeed, We have prepared Hell for the disbelievers as a lodging.
قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِىَ صَبْرًا
[Al-Khiḍr] said, "Did I not say that with me you would never be able to have patience?"
وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا كَمَآءٍ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَٱخْتَلَطَ بِهِۦ نَبَاتُ ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحُ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا
And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allāh is ever, over all things, Perfect in Ability.