سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 94
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿94﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
They said: "O Dhul-Qarnain! Verily Ya’jûj and Ma’jûj (Gog and Magog) are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them?"
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
قَالُوا۟
qālū
They said
يَـٰذَا
yādhā
O Dhul-qarnain
ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ
l-qarnayni
O Dhul-qarnain
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
يَأْجُوجَ
yajūja
Yajuj
وَمَأْجُوجَ
wamajūja
and Majuj
مُفْسِدُونَ
muf'sidūna
(are) corrupters
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the land
فَهَلْ
fahal
So may
نَجْعَلُ
najʿalu
we make
لَكَ
laka
for you
خَرْجًا
kharjan
an expenditure
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
[on]
أَن
an
that
تَجْعَلَ
tajʿala
you make
بَيْنَنَا
baynanā
between us
وَبَيْنَهُمْ
wabaynahum
and between them
سَدًّۭا
saddan
a barrier
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.
94. They said: "O Dhul-Qarnayn! [76] Verily, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption in this land. Shall we pay you a tribute so that you may build a barrier between us and them?"
[76]
The Third Expedition of Dhul-Qarnayn to the North. Who are Gog and Magog?
The direction of Dhul-Qarnayn’s third journey is not mentioned in the Quran, but it is generally assumed that it was towards the north, and in the north he reached the mountainous region of the Caucasus. Dhul-Qarnayn and his companions did not understand the language of those people, nor did those people understand their language. In such situations, communication must have taken place through an interpreter, or sometimes the meaning can be conveyed through gestures. According to Muslim historians, Gog and Magog refers to the wild tribes of the far northeastern region, who used to attack the civilized nations of Europe and Asia through these very mountain passes, and whom historians consider to be the descendants of Yafith, the son of Prophet Nuhؑ. Impressed by the good conduct of Dhul-Qarnayn, these people pleaded that Gog and Magog constantly attack and trouble them; if possible, he should block the pass between the two mountains, and whatever expenses are incurred in this regard, they are willing to pay, or he may impose a tax on them in return, which they would continue to pay.
[76]
The Third Expedition of Dhul-Qarnayn to the North. Who are Gog and Magog?
The direction of Dhul-Qarnayn’s third journey is not mentioned in the Quran, but it is generally assumed that it was towards the north, and in the north he reached the mountainous region of the Caucasus. Dhul-Qarnayn and his companions did not understand the language of those people, nor did those people understand their language. In such situations, communication must have taken place through an interpreter, or sometimes the meaning can be conveyed through gestures. According to Muslim historians, Gog and Magog refers to the wild tribes of the far northeastern region, who used to attack the civilized nations of Europe and Asia through these very mountain passes, and whom historians consider to be the descendants of Yafith, the son of Prophet Nuhؑ. Impressed by the good conduct of Dhul-Qarnayn, these people pleaded that Gog and Magog constantly attack and trouble them; if possible, he should block the pass between the two mountains, and whatever expenses are incurred in this regard, they are willing to pay, or he may impose a tax on them in return, which they would continue to pay.
