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
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا
But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.
وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَـٰسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِٱلْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ ٱطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا
And you would think them awake, while they were asleep. And We turned them to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched his forelegs at the entrance. If you had looked at them, you would have turned from them in flight and been filled by them with terror.
سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءً ظَـٰهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
They [i.e., people] will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone."
وَأَمَّا مَنْ ءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًا فَلَهُۥ جَزَآءً ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرًا
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."