303 Page Notes

18  Surah Al-Kahf (continued)

Page 303 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 303 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 303 of the Quran marks the conclusion of the profound narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn (Surah Al-Kahf, verses 84–97). This passage details his massive westward and eastward expeditions, his encounter with a vulnerable population trapped between two mountains, and his subsequent engineering of a massive iron and copper barrier to lock away the destructive forces of Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog) (Abrahem Masuwd et al., 2020).

Prophetic traditions (Hadith and Sunnah) strongly expand upon these verses, providing critical context regarding why these verses were revealed, the nature of Dhul-Qarnayn, and the apocalyptic future of the barrier he built.

1. The Context of Revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul)

The very reason this narrative was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad is grounded in a specific historical interaction. According to prophetic history, the polytheists of Makkah sent emissaries to the Jewish rabbis of Madinah to ask for a way to test if Muhammad was a true prophet (Philips, 2020). The rabbis instructed them to ask three questions, one of which directly corresponds to these verses:

"Ask him about a traveler who reached the furthermost points of the East and West..." (Philips, 2020).

When the Prophet was asked, Surah Al-Kahf was revealed—commencing at verse 83 ("And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about Dhul-Qarnayn...") and detailing his journeys through verse 97 (Abrahem Masuwd et al., 2020).

2. Hadiths Regarding the Identity and Character of Dhul-Qarnayn

Verses 84–86 highlight that God established Dhul-Qarnayn's power on earth and gave him the means to achieve all things (Abrahem Masuwd et al., 2020). Classical Islamic scholarship has long debated whether he was an angel, a prophet, or a righteous king (Sukdaven & Ahmed, 2017).

A relevant narrative from the Sunnah regarding his status comes from a sound (Sahih) declaration of the Prophet Muhammad, emphasizing humility regarding unseen history:

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "I do not know whether Tubba’ was a prophet or not, and I do not know whether Dhul-Qarnayn was a prophet or not." — Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 4674, Authenticated by Al-Albani)

This Sunnah establishes the baseline theological boundary that Dhul-Qarnayn's precise spiritual rank remains a matter known definitively only to God, though his status as an empowered, just ruler is fixed by the text of the Quran itself.

3. Hadiths Regarding the Barrier of Yajuj and Majuj (Verses 94–97)

The final segment of page 303 describes how Dhul-Qarnayn poured molten copper over massive blocks of iron to create a seamless wall, trapping Yajuj and Majuj so tightly that "they were unable to pass over it, nor were they able to pierce it" (Surah Al-Kahf, 18:97).

The Sunnah provides extensive commentary on the current state of this barrier and how it will eventually collapse in the end times.

The Hole in the Wall

The Prophet Muhammad explicitly referenced the verse 97 barrier during his lifetime, warning that a breach had begun to appear.

Zaynab bint Jahsh narrated: The Prophet awoke from his sleep with a flushed face, saying, "La ilaha illallah (There is no god but Allah)! Woe to the Arabs from an evil that has drawn near. Today, a hole like this has been opened in the barrier of Yajuj and Majuj." And he made a circle with his thumb and forefinger. — Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 3346) & Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2880)

The Daily Digging of the Barrier

Verses 97 and 98 note that the barrier is unpiercible until the promise of God arrives. The Hadith literature explains the physical dynamic of this phenomenon, showing how the barrier is preserved daily through a linguistic omission on the part of Yajuj and Majuj.

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said regarding the barrier: "Every day they dig until they are almost able to see the rays of the sun, then the one in charge of them says: 'Go back, and you will resume digging tomorrow.' Then Allah restores it as strong as it was before. This continues until their time arrives and Allah wills to send them out. They will dig until they see the sun, and the one in charge of them will say: 'Go back, and you will resume digging tomorrow, if Allah wills (Insha'Allah).' They will return the next day and find it exactly as they left it. They will then break through it and emerge upon the people..." — Sunan Ibn Majah (Hadith 4080) & Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 3153, Authenticated by Al-Albani)

4. Practical Sunnah Connection: Friday Recitation

While verses 84–97 detail the historical actions of Dhul-Qarnayn, the overarching Sunnah regarding Surah Al-Kahf provides a direct spiritual incentive for reading these exact pages regularly.

The Prophet recommended reciting Surah Al-Kahf every Friday, acting as a spiritual shield:

• Light for the Week: "Whoever reads Surah al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), a light will shine for him from beneath his feet to the clouds of the sky... and he will be forgiven between the two Fridays." (Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi, Authenticated).

• Protection from the Dajjal: Reciting the narrative provides protection from end-times trials, directly mirroring how Dhul-Qarnayn’s wall protected the weak from the chaos of Yajuj and Majuj.

References

Abrahem Masuwd, M., Syamsuddin, S., & Setio, R. (2020). The Oracle of Gog and Magog: A Social-Rhetorical Interpretation of The Prophetic Discourse in Al-Kahf 83-101. Nun: Jurnal Studi Alquran dan Tafsir di Nusantara, 5(2), 1–25. 

Philips, A. A. B. (2020). Tafseer Soorah al-Kahf. International Open University.

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Sukdaven, M., & Ahmed, S. (2017). Is Dhul Qarnayn, Alexander the Great? Reflecting on Muhammad Rāghib al-Ṭabbākh's contribution on a translated manuscript discovered in Timbuktu on Dul Qarnayn. Verbum et Ecclesia, 38(1), 1–7.