Recitation by Shaykh Salah Bukhatir
part 3
ayat 79 - ayat 110
RELIGIOUS FAITH IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH ASCETICISM and renunciation of worldly power and possessions. However, in fact, this is a mistaken image of true faith and religious life since reclusive, inward-looking faith is usually of little benefit to society.
The fourth and final story in this surah involves an historical figure identified as Dhu'l-Qarnayn [the two-horned one]. His career combined knowledge with power, and he is introduced in the Qur'an as a model for strong faith and genuine humility. Regardless of whether he was Greek, Persian, Chinese or Yemeni, we are told that God had given Dhu'l-Qarnayn substantial means and considerable power. He was knowledgeable, sincere, wise, and fair and was clearly in charge of a vast Kingdom.
They will ask thee of Dhu'l-Qarneyn. Say: I shall recite unto you a remembrance of him. (83) Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road. (84) And he followed a road (85)
God opened the door of victory for him and he used it to good advantage. His conquests took him to the remotest coast in the West where he came across a people of mixed faith. God said to him:
"O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness. "(86) He said: "As for him who doeth wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with awful punishment! (87) But as for him who believeth and doeth right, good will be his reward, and We shall speak unto him a mild command." (88)
A fair and benevolent treatment.
Dhu'l-Qarnayn then went eastward where he encoutered primitive communities living on the open land and wearing no clothes. Another expedition took him to a place between two mountain chains inhabited by similarly primitive and helpless people, continually being raided by their marauding neighbors. They sought his help to protect them and keep their predators at bay. "They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them? "(94). Recognizing God's generosity towards him, he told them that he needed no payment, but requested that they lend him their labor to construct a barrier that would keep their plundering neighbors away. He said: "That wherein my Lord hath established me is better (than your tribute). Do but help me with strength (of men), I will set between you and them a bank. "(95)
Dhu'lQarnayn's engineering genius is demonstrated by the way he constructed the dam. He used molten mixture of iron, brass and rock to erect a massive wall, rising to the mountain tops. "And (Gog and Magog) were not able to surmount, nor could they pierce (it). (97) He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord cometh to pass, He will lay it low, for the promise of my Lord is true." (98)
It saddens me to see that Muslims today have not carried on this tradition of engineering and technical skills. When it comes to scientific and practical innovation and application, the Muslims have been left far behind. Unfortunately, our energies and skills are wasted in 'innovation' in religious matters which has brought us confusion and discord and hampered our material progress and scientific advancement.
Verse fifty nine of this surah and verse 58 of surah al-Isra' speak of widespread cataclysmic events towards the end of time which will cause detruction of the world and civilization itself and we may well ponder the question whether this will coincide with the re-emergence of such pillaging and terrifying hordes as Gog and Magog, reference to whom is made also in the Torah. Furthermore, we in al-Anbiya', verses 96 and 97, that:
Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of every mound, And the True Promise draweth nigh; then behold them, staring wide (in terror), the eyes of those who disbelieve! (They say): Alas for us! We (lived) in forgetfulness of this. Ah, but we were wrong-doers! (al-Anbiya': 96-97)
Al-Kahf concludes in a similar vein to that with which it opens: Asserting and enhancing the principles of tawhid and refuting all allegations subscribing offspring and partners to God. Towards the end it says: "Do the disbelievers reckon that they can choose My bondmen as protecting friends beside Me? Lo! We have prepared hell as a welcome for the disbelievers " (102). In the opening passage, it was indicated that human beings were created to excel in their work and that this would be their main purpose in life:
Lo! We have placed all that is in the earth as an ornament thereof that We may try them: which of them is best in conduct. (7)
Commentary by Shaykh Dr Yasir Qadhi
part 19 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4PPwrvFTTk
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