قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا 95
Translations
He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength [i.e., manpower]; I will make between you and them a dam.
Transliteration
Qala ma makkanni feehi rabbi khairun fa-a'inuni biquwwatin aj'al baynakum wa baynamhum radma
Tafsir (Explanation)
Dhul-Qarnayn responds to the people of Gog and Magog by affirming that what Allah has granted him is better than their military strength, and he requests their assistance with labor and materials to construct a wall (dam) between them and the invaders. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Dhul-Qarnayn's statement reflects reliance on Allah's provision while acknowledging the need for human effort and cooperation, demonstrating the Islamic principle that divine blessing and human action work together.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn (identified by many scholars with the historical figure Cyrus the Great or a righteous ruler) in Surah Al-Kahf. The broader context involves Dhul-Qarnayn's journey and his encounter with two peoples seeking protection from Gog and Magog (Ya'juj wa Ma'juj). This story illustrates divine providence, leadership, and the balance between reliance on Allah and practical human effort.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned Ya'juj wa Ma'juj in several hadiths regarding the signs of the Hour. In Sahih Bukhari, there are accounts of the Prophet discussing the wall built by Dhul-Qarnayn and the eventual breaking through of this barrier. Thematically related is the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about the importance of seeking help and cooperation: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true strength lies not merely in military might but in Allah's guidance and blessing, yet this must be paired with practical effort and community cooperation. For modern readers, it emphasizes that seeking help from others and building collective solutions to shared problems is consistent with Islamic principles of trust in Allah.
Related Ayahs
فَمَا ٱسْطَـٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًا
So they [i.e., Gog and Magog] were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.
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.
إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
[Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance."
وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا۟ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَآ إِذًا شَطَطًا
And We bound [i.e., made firm] their hearts when they stood up and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression.