حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًا 90
Translations
Until, when he came to the rising of the sun [i.e., the east], he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made against it any shield.
Transliteration
Hatta idha balagha matla'a ash-shamsi wajadaha tatlu'u 'ala qawmin lam naj'al lahum min doonihaa sitrah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Dhul-Qarnayn's journey eastward until he reached the point where the sun rises over a people who had been given no protection from its intense heat. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a people living near the equator or in extremely hot regions, exposed to the sun's rays without shelter, dwelling in harsh geographical conditions. The verse emphasizes the diversity of Allah's creation and the varied circumstances in which different peoples live across the earth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn (often identified with Alexander the Great or a righteous king) in Surah Al-Kahf, a Meccan surah. The broader context describes his three journeys: westward to the setting sun, eastward to the rising sun, and northward to build the wall against Gog and Magog. This verse is thematically connected to demonstrating Allah's power over creation and the vast diversity of His world.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific ayah, related narrations discuss the signs of the Hour and the emergence of Gog and Magog (mentioned later in the same surah). Sahih Bukhari contains hadiths about Dhul-Qarnayn and the wall, though they provide limited additional detail beyond the Quranic account.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us of the remarkable diversity of Allah's creation and how different peoples adapt to vastly different environmental conditions, encouraging appreciation for the complexity and wisdom of divine providence in sustaining all humanity.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ فَإِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَنِى فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِى عَن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا
He said, "Then if you follow me, do not ask me about anything until I make to you about it mention [i.e., explanation]."
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ ٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِـَٔادَمَ فَسَجَدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُۥ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُۥٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِى وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّۢ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ بَدَلًا
And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from [i.e., disobeyed] the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِـِٔينَ فِيهَا عَلَى ٱلْأَرَآئِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ ٱلثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا
Those will have gardens of perpetual residence; beneath them rivers will flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and will wear green garments of fine silk and brocade, reclining therein on adorned couches. Excellent is the reward, and good is the resting place.
وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُۥ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا
And there was for him no company to aid him other than Allāh, nor could he defend himself.