Dhul-Qarnayn in Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah: A Scholarly Investigation
✒ Written by: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Ṭāhir
Allah ﷻ mentions Dhul-Qarnayn in Surah al-Kahf, describing him as a man to whom divine power and worldly means were granted. Among the early scholars (Salaf) and general commentators of the Qur’an, there is consensus that he was a human being, not an angel. The differences lie in whether he was a prophet, a king, or a righteous servant of Allah endowed with resources and strength.
It is important to note that there is no authentic ḥadīth, statement of a Companion, or a reliable scholarly narration that supports the idea that Dhul-Qarnayn was an angel.
According to a narration by Abū Ṭufayl ʿĀmir ibn Wāthilah رضي الله عنه, someone asked Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه:
“Was Dhul-Qarnayn a prophet?”
Sayyidunā ʿAlī replied:
“He was a righteous servant of Allah. He loved Allah, so Allah loved him. He showed sincerity to Allah, so Allah bestowed good upon him. Allah sent him to his people. He was struck on the head twice, and hence he was named Dhul-Qarnayn (the one with two horns).”
(Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī: 15/370 – Authentic chain)
In another narration, someone asked:
“Was Dhul-Qarnayn a prophet or a king?”
Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه replied:
“He was neither a prophet nor a king, but a righteous man.”
(Tafsīr ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 3/234 – Authentic chain)
✔ Imām Qatādah ibn Diʿāmah رحمه الله (Tābiʿī):
“Dhul-Qarnayn was from Rome and a righteous man.”
(al-ʿAẓamah by Abū al-Shaykh: 4/1445 – Ḥasan chain)
✔ Wahb ibn Munabbih رحمه الله (Tābiʿī):
“Dhul-Qarnayn was a king.”
(al-ʿAẓamah by Abū al-Shaykh: 4/1444 – Ḥasan chain)
✔ Imām Ibn al-ʿArabī رحمه الله (543 AH):
“He was a king.”
(Aḥkām al-Qurʾān: 3/243)
✔ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله (775 AH):
“The correct view is that he was among the just kings. Some say he was a prophet or a messenger, but the strangest opinion is that he was an angel.”
(al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah: 2/537)
✔ ʿAllāmah al-Sakhāwī رحمه الله (902 AH):
“The most correct opinion is that Dhul-Qarnayn was one of the just kings.”
(al-Ajwibah al-Marḍiyyah: 2/856)
Imām Abū al-Shaykh al-Aṣbahānī رحمه الله transmitted some Israelite reports stating that Dhul-Qarnayn was a king born in a household in Egypt and died a natural death.
(al-ʿAẓamah: 4/1443–1484)
“Dhul-Qarnayn was a righteous king. Allah liked his actions, so He mentioned him in His Book. He was aided by divine help, and Khidr عليه السلام was his minister.”
(Tārīkh Dimashq: 17/339; al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah: 2/538 – Weak chain)
Some attribute to ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه the view that Dhul-Qarnayn was an angel. However:
✔ This narration is not authentic: The chain is disconnected and weak. Khālid ibn Maʿdān, although reliable, is known for mursal narrations.
(Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ: 4/537)
✔ Even if authentic, the statement might only mean that his name resembled that of an angel, and ʿUmar رضي الله عنه disapproved of such associations.
(Rūḥ al-Maʿānī: 8/346)
✔ Dhul-Qarnayn was a righteous and just king to whom Allah ﷻ granted worldly means and strength.
✔ The claim that he was an angel is baseless and has no valid support in Qurʾān, ḥadīth, or statements of the Salaf.
✔ The best course is to accept what the Qurʾān mentions and draw guidance and lessons from his story rather than engaging in speculative theology.
May Allah ﷻ grant us guidance and firmness upon the truth.
وما توفيقي إلا بالله، عليه توكلت وإليه أنيب
“My success is only through Allah. Upon Him I rely, and to Him I turn in repentance.”
✒ Written by: Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Ṭāhir
◈ Dhul-Qarnayn: Mention in the Qur’an and Scholarly Views
Allah ﷻ mentions Dhul-Qarnayn in Surah al-Kahf, describing him as a man to whom divine power and worldly means were granted. Among the early scholars (Salaf) and general commentators of the Qur’an, there is consensus that he was a human being, not an angel. The differences lie in whether he was a prophet, a king, or a righteous servant of Allah endowed with resources and strength.
It is important to note that there is no authentic ḥadīth, statement of a Companion, or a reliable scholarly narration that supports the idea that Dhul-Qarnayn was an angel.
◈ Statement of Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه
According to a narration by Abū Ṭufayl ʿĀmir ibn Wāthilah رضي الله عنه, someone asked Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه:
“Was Dhul-Qarnayn a prophet?”
Sayyidunā ʿAlī replied:
“He was a righteous servant of Allah. He loved Allah, so Allah loved him. He showed sincerity to Allah, so Allah bestowed good upon him. Allah sent him to his people. He was struck on the head twice, and hence he was named Dhul-Qarnayn (the one with two horns).”
(Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī: 15/370 – Authentic chain)
In another narration, someone asked:
“Was Dhul-Qarnayn a prophet or a king?”
Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه replied:
“He was neither a prophet nor a king, but a righteous man.”
(Tafsīr ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 3/234 – Authentic chain)
◈ Views of the Tābiʿīn and Other Scholars
✔ Imām Qatādah ibn Diʿāmah رحمه الله (Tābiʿī):
“Dhul-Qarnayn was from Rome and a righteous man.”
(al-ʿAẓamah by Abū al-Shaykh: 4/1445 – Ḥasan chain)
✔ Wahb ibn Munabbih رحمه الله (Tābiʿī):
“Dhul-Qarnayn was a king.”
(al-ʿAẓamah by Abū al-Shaykh: 4/1444 – Ḥasan chain)
✔ Imām Ibn al-ʿArabī رحمه الله (543 AH):
“He was a king.”
(Aḥkām al-Qurʾān: 3/243)
✔ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله (775 AH):
“The correct view is that he was among the just kings. Some say he was a prophet or a messenger, but the strangest opinion is that he was an angel.”
(al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah: 2/537)
✔ ʿAllāmah al-Sakhāwī رحمه الله (902 AH):
“The most correct opinion is that Dhul-Qarnayn was one of the just kings.”
(al-Ajwibah al-Marḍiyyah: 2/856)
◈ Israelite Narrations and Their Evaluation
Imām Abū al-Shaykh al-Aṣbahānī رحمه الله transmitted some Israelite reports stating that Dhul-Qarnayn was a king born in a household in Egypt and died a natural death.
(al-ʿAẓamah: 4/1443–1484)
◈ View of Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما
“Dhul-Qarnayn was a righteous king. Allah liked his actions, so He mentioned him in His Book. He was aided by divine help, and Khidr عليه السلام was his minister.”
(Tārīkh Dimashq: 17/339; al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah: 2/538 – Weak chain)
◈ Clarification of the Statement Attributed to ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه
Some attribute to ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه the view that Dhul-Qarnayn was an angel. However:
✔ This narration is not authentic: The chain is disconnected and weak. Khālid ibn Maʿdān, although reliable, is known for mursal narrations.
(Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ: 4/537)
✔ Even if authentic, the statement might only mean that his name resembled that of an angel, and ʿUmar رضي الله عنه disapproved of such associations.
(Rūḥ al-Maʿānī: 8/346)
❖ Summary of the Discussion
✔ Dhul-Qarnayn was a righteous and just king to whom Allah ﷻ granted worldly means and strength.
✔ The claim that he was an angel is baseless and has no valid support in Qurʾān, ḥadīth, or statements of the Salaf.
✔ The best course is to accept what the Qurʾān mentions and draw guidance and lessons from his story rather than engaging in speculative theology.
❖ Concluding Supplication
May Allah ﷻ grant us guidance and firmness upon the truth.
وما توفيقي إلا بالله، عليه توكلت وإليه أنيب
“My success is only through Allah. Upon Him I rely, and to Him I turn in repentance.”
