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Al-Kahf - 18:91
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كَذَلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا
So (it was)! And We knew all about him.
Mujahid and As-Suddi said, "This means that Allah knew everything about him and his army, and nothing was hidden from Him, even though they came from so many different nations and lands. For,
لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ شَىْءٌ فِي الااٌّرْضِ وَلَا فِى السَّمَأءِ
Truly, nothing is hidden from Allah, in the earth or in the heaven.
(3:5)
Al-Kahf - 18:92
His Journey to the Land of Ya'juj and Ma'juj, and building the Barrier
Allah says of Dhul-Qarnayn:
ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
Then he followed (another) way.
Al-Kahf - 18:93
حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ
Until, when he reached between two mountains
Meaning, he traveled from the east of the earth until he reached a place between the two mountains which were next to one another with a valley in between, from which Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) will emerge into the land of the Turks and spread mischief there, destroying crops and people.
Ya'juj and Ma'juj are among the progeny of Adam, peace be upon him, as was recorded in the Two Sahihs;
إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ يَا ادَمُ
فَيَقُولُ لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ
فَيَقُولُ ابْعَثْ بَعْثَ النَّارِ
فَيَقُولُ وَمَا بَعْثُ النَّارِ
فَيَقُولُ مِنْ كُلِّ أَلْفٍ تِسْعُمِايَةٍ وَتِسْعَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَوَاحِدٌ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ
فَحِينَيِذٍ يَشِيبُ الصَّغِيرُ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا فَقَالَ إِنَّ فِيكُمْ أُمَّتيْنِ مَا كَانَتَا فِي شَيْءٍ إِلاَّ كَثَّرَتَاهُ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوج
"Allah said:"O Adam."
Adam said, "Here I am at Your service."
Allah said, "Send forth the group of Hellfire."
Adam said, "What is the group of Hellfire?"
Allah said:"Out of every thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine will go to Hell and one will go to Paradise."
At that time young men will turn grey and every pregnant female will drop her load. Among you are two nations who never come to anything but they overwhelm it with their huge numbers. (They are) Ya'juj and Ma'juj."
وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لاَّ يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلاً
He found before them a people who scarcely understood a word
He could not understand their speech, because they were so isolated from other people.
Al-Kahf - 18:94
قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الاْاَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا
They said:"O Dhul-Qarnayn! Verily, Ya'juj and Ma'juj are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute"
Ibn Jurayj reported from Ata' from Ibn Abbas that; this meant a great reward, i.e., they wanted to collect money among themselves to give to him so that he would create a barrier between them and Ya'juj and Ma'juj.
عَلَى أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا
In order that you might erect a barrier between us and them
Dhul-Qarnayn said with kindness, righteousness and good intentions.
Al-Kahf - 18:95
قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ
He said:"That in which my Lord had established me is better (than your tribute)
Meaning, the power and authority that Allah has given me is better for me than what you have collected.
This is like when Suleiman (Solomon), peace be upon him, said:
أَتُمِدُّونَنِ بِمَالٍ فَمَأ ءَاتَـنِى اللَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّأ ءَاتَـكُمْ
Will you help me in wealth What Allah has given me is better than that which He has given you!
(27:36)
Similarly, Dhul-Qarnayn said: 'What I have is better than what you want to give me, but help me with strength, i.e., with your labor and construction equipment,
فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ
So help me with strength,
أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا
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