قَالُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا 94
Translations
They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?"
Transliteration
Qāloo yā dhā al-qarnayni inna Yajūja wa-Majūja mufsidūn fī al-ard fa-hal najʿal laka kharja ʿalā an tajʿal baynana wa-baynahum sadda
Tafsir (Explanation)
The people appeal to Dhul-Qarnayn (often identified with Alexander the Great or a righteous king), informing him that Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) are corruptors spreading devastation in the land, and they offer him payment (tribute) if he will construct a barrier between them and their enemies. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that this demonstrates the people's desperation and recognition of Dhul-Qarnayn's power and resources. The offer of compensation shows their willingness to invest significantly in their own security and protection.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Al-Kahf regarding Dhul-Qarnayn's journey and his encounter with a people threatened by Yajuj and Majuj. The Surah was revealed in Mecca and addresses themes of trial, knowledge, and divine power. The story serves as a parable about seeking protection through righteous means and the reality of apocalyptic threats mentioned in Islamic eschatology.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding Yajuj and Majuj: 'Every day they make a hole in the wall and when they see the light, they return saying we will breach it tomorrow. But Allah will return it to its former state until the Day of Resurrection' (Sahih Bukhari 3348). Additionally, the Prophet mentioned the wall's construction in eschatological contexts (Sahih Muslim 2880).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that facing collective threats requires both community cooperation and seeking capable leadership while maintaining trust in Divine will. It reminds believers that protection from societal corruption is a shared responsibility that may require material investment and strategic planning under righteous guidance.