We established his power in the land, and gave him the means to achieve everything

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He travelled on a certain road

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then, when he came to the setting of the sun, he found it [seemed to be] setting into a muddy spring. Nearby he found some people and We said, ‘Dhu ’l-Qarnayn, you may choose [which of them] to punish or show kindness to.’

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He answered, ‘We shall punish those who have done evil, and when they are returned to their Lord He will punish them [even more] severely

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while those who believed and did good deeds will have the best of rewards: we shall command them to do what is easy for them.’

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He travelled on

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then, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no shelter from it

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And so it was: We knew all about him

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He travelled on

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then, when he reached a place between two mountain barriers, he found beside them a people who could barely understand him

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They said, ‘Dhu ’l-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are ruining this land. Will you build a barrier between them and us if we pay you a tribute?’

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He answered, ‘The power my Lord has given me is better than any tribute, but if you lend me your strength, I will put up a fortification between you and them

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bring me lumps of iron!’ and then, when he had filled the gap between the two mountainsides [he said], ‘Work your bellows!’ and then, when he had made it glow like fire, he said, ‘Bring me molten metal to pour over it!’

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Their enemies could not scale the barrier, nor could they pierce it

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