And they ask thee of Zul Qarnain. Say thou: I shall recite unto you of him some mention. 83 We established him in the land, and gave him the means to achieve all things. 84 So he followed a way 85 Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness. 86 He said: "I shall punish whosoever is wicked. He will then be sent back to his Lord who will inflict on him a terrible punishment. 87 As for those who believe and do good, they will receive virtuous rewards and We will tell them to do only what they can. 88 Then he followed the road, 89 Till he reached the point of the rising sun, and saw it rise over a people for whom We had provided no shelter against it. 90 Thus indeed it was. We had full knowledge of him. 91 Then followed he (another) way, 92 until, when he reached between the two barriers, he found this side of them a people scarcely able to understand speech. 93 They said, "Dhu 'l-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are ravaging this land. Would you establish a barrier between us and them if we pay you a certain tax?" 94 He replied: 'That which my Lord has given me is better, therefore help me with all your power, and I will build a barrier between you and between them. 95 Bring me ingots of iron." Then after he had filled up the space between the two mountain-sides, he said: "(Light a fire) and ply bellows." When he had made it (red like) fire, he said: "Bring me molten copper which I may pour on it." 96 So they were unable either to scale it or pierce it. 97 He said: 'This is a mercy from my Lord. But when my Lord's promise is come, He will make it dust. The promise of my Lord is true' 98 ۞ And We will leave them that day surging over each other, and [then] the Horn will be blown, and We will assemble them in [one] assembly. 99 On that Day We shall lay Hell bare before those who deny the truth, 100 whose eyes were covered against My remembrance, and they were not able to hear. 101