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Dhu al-Qarnayn
Figure in the Quran / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dhu al-Qarnayn, (Arabic: ذُو ٱلْقَرْنَيْن, romanized: Dhū l-Qarnayn, IPA: [ðuː‿l.qarˈnajn]; lit. "The Two-Horned One") appears in the Qur'an, Surah al-Kahf (18), Ayahs 83–101, as one who travels to the east and west and sets up a barrier between a certain people and Gog and Magog (Arabic: يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ, romanized: Yaʾjūj wa-Maʾjūj).[1] Elsewhere, the Qur'an tells how the end of the world will be signaled by the release of Gog and Magog from behind the barrier. Other apocalyptic writings predict that their destruction by God in a single night will usher in the Day of Resurrection (Arabic: یوم القيامة, romanized: Yawm al-Qiyāmah).[2]
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Dhu al-Qarnayn has most popularly been identified by Western and traditional Muslim scholars as Alexander the Great.[3][4][5][6] Historically, some tradition has parted from this identification[7][8] in favor of others,[9] like the pre-Islamic Arabian kings Sa'b Dhu Marathid[10][11] or al-Mundhir ibn Imru al-Qays.[9] Cyrus the Great has also gained popularity among modern Muslim commentators.[4]