Dhu'l-Qarnayn: Biography, Facts and Career

Dhu'l-Qarnayn (Arabic: ذُو ٱلْقَرْنَيْن, romanized: Dhū l-Qarnayn IPA: [ðu‿l.qarˈnajn]; lit. "The Owner of Two-Horns") is a leader who 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 (يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ, Yaʾjūj wa-Maʾjūj). 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 (یوم القيامة, Yawm al-Qiyāmah). Most historians agree that the Quranic story originates from legends of Alexander the Great current in the Middle East, with the Quranic presentation of Dhu al-Qarnayn as a prophet-king reminiscent of the Syriac Alexander Legend. Dhu'l-Qarnayn has most popularly been identified by Western and traditional Muslim scholars as Alexander the Great. Historically, some tradition has parted from this identification in favor of others, like pre-Islamic Arabian kings such as the (mythical) Sa'b Dhu Marathid of Himyar or the historical figure al-Mundhir III ibn al-Nu'man of the Lakhmid kingdom (d. 554). Cyrus the Great has also gained popularity among modern Muslim commentators.

Quick facts about Dhu'l-Qarnayn

• Full name: Dhu'l-Qarnayn
• Known as: Royal
• Wikidata ID: Q1207846

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.