They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story." 83 We established him in the land, and gave him the means to achieve all things. 84 He set out (westwards) on an expedition, 85 Until when he reached the place where the sun set, he found it going down into a black sea, and found by it a people. We said: O Zulqarnain! either give them a chastisement or do them a benefit. 86 He replied, "I shall punish the unjust ones among them and then they will return to their Lord, who will punish them more sternly". 87 And as for him who believeth and worketh righteously, unto him shall be a goodly hire, and anon we shall speak unto him of our affair something easy. 88 He then followed (another) road 89 until he reached the rising of the sun, he found it rising upon a nation for whom We provided no veil against it to shade them. 90 This indeed was true. We knew all that he did there. 91 He then followed (another) road 92 Until when he reached (a place) between the two mountains, he found on that side of them a people who could hardly understand a word. 93 They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them? 94 He said: "That (wealth, authority and power) in which my Lord had established me is better (than your tribute). So help me with strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier. 95 "Give me pieces (blocks) of iron," then, when he had filled up the gap between the two mountain-cliffs, he said: "Blow," till when he had made it (red as) fire, he said: "Bring me molten copper to pour over it." 96 Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through 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 ۞ Upon that day We shall leave them surging on one another, and the Trumpet shall be blown, and We shall gather them together, 99 On that Day We shall lay Hell bare before those who deny the truth, 100 who have turned a blind eye to My reminder and a deaf ear to My warning. 101