سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ

Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 96

The Cave · Meccan · Juz 16 · Page 303

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ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا ﴿96﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

"Give me pieces (blocks) of iron;" then, when he had filled up the gap between the two mountain-cliffs, he said: "Blow;" then when he had made them (red as) fire, he said: "Bring me molten copper to pour over them."

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

ءَاتُونِى ātūnī Bring me
زُبَرَ zubara sheets
ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ l-ḥadīdi (of) iron
حَتَّىٰٓ ḥattā until
إِذَا idhā when
سَاوَىٰ sāwā he (had) leveled
بَيْنَ bayna between
ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ l-ṣadafayni the two cliffs
قَالَ qāla he said
ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ unfukhū Blow
حَتَّىٰٓ ḥattā until
إِذَا idhā when
جَعَلَهُۥ jaʿalahu he made it
نَارًۭا nāran fire
قَالَ qāla he said
ءَاتُونِىٓ ātūnī Bring me
أُفْرِغْ uf'righ I pour
عَلَيْهِ ʿalayhi over it
قِطْرًۭا qiṭ'ran molten copper

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah 96) { اٰتُوْنِيْ زُبَرَ الْحَدِيْدِ حَتّٰۤى اِذَا سَاوٰى …: ’’ زُبَرَ ‘‘ ’’ زُبْرَةٌ ‘‘} is the plural, just as {’’ غُرْفَةٌ ‘‘} is the plural of {’’غُرَفٌ‘‘}, meaning large pieces of iron. Providing large pieces of iron equal to the height between the mountains, lifting them up, and joining them together seems impossible even in our advanced era, but if we look at the pyramids of Egypt, we have to admit that the knowledge of cranes (for pulling and lifting heavy objects) was far ahead thousands of years before us. Thus, after Dhu al-Qarnayn joined large pieces of iron equal to the edges of the mountains, he ordered them to be heated until red-hot to make them one solid mass, and arranged for copper to be melted. When the iron bricks and plates became entirely fire, he said, now bring the molten copper so that I may pour it over. In this way, it became a very thick, strong, and smooth wall of iron and copper, as high as the mountains, over which neither Gog nor Magog could climb, nor could they make a hole in it. What sciences were used in making this wall thousands of feet high, how much iron and copper was consumed, how the iron was heated to red-hot at such a height, how so much copper was kept molten until it was brought up to such a height, and when the wall was so thick and red-hot, how molten copper was poured while standing near it, and then how long this work took to complete—all this is now known only to Allah Almighty. In this entire process, Dhu al-Qarnayn himself participated in the work, even working with his own hands. This is the same Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him), that he personally participated in the construction of the Ka'bah, the building of Masjid Nabawi, and the digging of the trench.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

96. 1 That is, the gap between the tops of the two mountains was filled with small sheets of iron.

96. 2 Molten lead, or iron, or copper. That is, by heating the iron sheets thoroughly and pouring molten iron, copper, or lead over them, the mountain pass or path became so strong that it became impossible for Yajuj and Majuj to cross it or break through to reach the human settlements on the other side.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

96. "Bring me sheets of iron." When he had filled up the gap between the two mountains, he said: "Blow (with bellows)!" When he had made it (red) as fire, he said: "Bring me molten copper to pour over it [78]."

[78]
The Barrier of Dhul-Qarnayn:

First, large iron sheets were layered one upon another, and when their height reached the tops of both sides of the mountain pass, the people were commanded to blow strongly with bellows. For this task, wood and coal were used. When the iron became red like fire, molten copper was poured from above, which solidified in the crevices of the iron sheets and became firmly fixed. All of this together formed a structure like a mountain. Apparently, the construction of such a wall seems astonishing and, especially in that era, appears to be an extraordinary event. However, if we look at the pyramids of Egypt and their period of construction, it becomes evident that in those times there existed such construction tools that today we cannot even imagine.
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