قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا 95
Translations
He said, "That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength [i.e., manpower]; I will make between you and them a dam.
Transliteration
Qala ma makkanni feehi rabbi khairun fa-a'inuni biquwwatin aj'al baynakum wa baynamhum radma
Tafsir (Explanation)
Dhul-Qarnayn responds to the people of Gog and Magog by affirming that what Allah has granted him is better than their military strength, and he requests their assistance with labor and materials to construct a wall (dam) between them and the invaders. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that Dhul-Qarnayn's statement reflects reliance on Allah's provision while acknowledging the need for human effort and cooperation, demonstrating the Islamic principle that divine blessing and human action work together.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Dhul-Qarnayn (identified by many scholars with the historical figure Cyrus the Great or a righteous ruler) in Surah Al-Kahf. The broader context involves Dhul-Qarnayn's journey and his encounter with two peoples seeking protection from Gog and Magog (Ya'juj wa Ma'juj). This story illustrates divine providence, leadership, and the balance between reliance on Allah and practical human effort.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned Ya'juj wa Ma'juj in several hadiths regarding the signs of the Hour. In Sahih Bukhari, there are accounts of the Prophet discussing the wall built by Dhul-Qarnayn and the eventual breaking through of this barrier. Thematically related is the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about the importance of seeking help and cooperation: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true strength lies not merely in military might but in Allah's guidance and blessing, yet this must be paired with practical effort and community cooperation. For modern readers, it emphasizes that seeking help from others and building collective solutions to shared problems is consistent with Islamic principles of trust in Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَأَمَّا ٱلْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُۥ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُۥ عَنْ أَمْرِى ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا
And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."
قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلَآ أَعْصِى لَكَ أَمْرًا
[Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allāh wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order."
وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِۦ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّىٓ أَحَدًا
And his fruits were encompassed [by ruin], so he began to turn his hands about [in dismay] over what he had spent on it, while it had collapsed upon its trellises, and said, "Oh, I wish I had not associated with my Lord anyone."
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا
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?"