The Promised Messiah & Dhu'l Qarnain
Born in 1835 in Qadian, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) is the Messiah and Mahdi that was promised by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) as the reformer who would revive Islam in the latter days. He was completely in love with the Best of Creation (saw), and being his most devoted servant, he defended Islam in a time when it was being attacked from all sides and, through the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, laid the foundation for it to prosper once again. One of the titles that Allah Almighty bestowed upon the Promised Messiah (as), was Dhu'l Qarnain.
Of all the people mentioned in the Holy Quran by name, Dhu'l Qarnain is perhaps one of the least well known. The proof of this man's greatness lies in the following words of the Holy Quran: "We said, O Dhu'l Qarnain...", the implication being that he was the subject of divine revelation (Holy Quran, 18:87). Allah the Almighty describes him as a king who was blessed with the attributes of benevolence, generosity, and wisdom. Interpreters of the Holy Quran (Mufassireen) have attempted to study the lives of various historical figures to discern who this person could be.
Here, I will present proofs in favour of Dhu'l Qarnain being the famous Persian King, Cyrus the Great, who founded the Achaemenid Empire and was the first ruler of a united Persia. We will then analyse the significance of the title of Dhu'l Qarnain bestowed upon the Promised Messiah (as) in light of the current age.
Dhu'l Qarnain in the Holy Quran
The narration of Hazrat Dhu'l Qarnain can be found in Chapter 18 of the Holy Quran, Surah Al-Kahf, in verses 84-102 (click here). The chronological events presented can be summarised as follows:
- He was established in the Earth by Allah Almighty himself, who made provisions for him to achieve his goals, and was a recipient of divine revelation.
- He travelled westward to a land where the sun was setting in murky water, where he encountered a nation. Allah Almighty addresses him and gave him the authority to rule over them and adjudicate as he saw fit. He proclaimed that he would punish those among them who were guilty of wrongdoing, but the righteous would be treated with kindness and mercy.
- He then travelled back East where he encountered a people who had no shelter against the sun.
- He then again travelled to a region between these two ends (East and West), where he met a people who, although were not able to speak his language, were able to convey to him that they were in distress due to the offences of Gog and Magog. He was then able to help them by constructing fortifications reinforced by iron and copper to keep the warring barbarians at bay.
The Identity of Dhu'l Qarnain
In light of the narration above, the lives of two candidates are analysed here who are often thought to be Dhu'l Qarnain: Alexander the Great of Macedon and Cyrus the Great of Persia. However, before moving on, I would like to accredit the Review of Religions (RoR) July 2004 edition, in which the article on Dhu'l Qarnain served as one of the inspirations for this piece. The article skilfully presents historical events in light of the narration presented in the Holy Quran above, making sound deductions to reach a conclusion regarding the identity of Dhu'l Qarnain.
This essay will attempt to compliment the RoR piece regarding the identity of Dhu'l Qarnain by further expounding on the historical literature available on the two candidates mentioned above, clarifying potential doubts and concerns, and presenting the thoughts of Hazrat Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mehmood Ahmad (ra), Khalifatul Masih the Second.
Alexander the Great
Early life and conquests
Alexander was born to King Philip ll of Macedon in 356 BC. When Philip was assassinated by his own bodyguard, Pausanias, Alexander ascended to the throne at the age of just 20. He inherited his father's expansionist policy, whose conquests brought stability and riches to his country. When Philip was killed, he was contemplating a war with the Persian Empire, which had been weakened by the recent death of Artaxerxes lll.
Alexander shared his father's imperialist vision, but he first needed to make sure everything was in order in Greece before he could act. He quelled local rebellions and then turned his attention to the East, embarking on what would soon become one of the most legendary campaigns in all of history.
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Pompeii, House of the Faun, Alexander Mosaic |
Alexander crossed Byzantium into Western Turkey, where he first encountered the Persians. After multiple successful battles with the Persian Army throughout modern day Turkey and a notably long siege at the ancient city of Halicarnassus, Alexander marched southwards, besieging and capturing Tyre and Gaza. He then took Egypt with little to no resistance before once again turning his attention to the East. Crossing first the Euphrates and then the Tigris, he became King of Persia when Darius lll was killed while he was fleeing.
Alexander's thirst for expansion surpassed even that of his father's; he had no intention of stopping at Persia. His armies kept pressing, first to the northeast where he conquered what was left of the Persian Empire in what is now modern day Central Asia, and then crossing the Hindu Kush mountains to take Punjab. In the space of less than 13 years, he had built one of the largest empires in history. In the spring of 323 BC, Alexander was in Babylon preparing to conquer what was left of Arabia, when he suddenly fell ill and died. His premature death was followed by a civil war within his empire.
Alexander is not the Dhu'l Qarnain of the Holy Quran
Based on the aforementioned events of Alexander's conquests, it is extremely unlikely that he is Dhu'l Qarnain. The path of Dhu'l Qarnain described in the Holy Quran is inconsistent with that of Alexander's, as the former would have first travelled to the West, whereas Alexander marched to the East. There is no substance to the argument that the consolidation of Greece can be equated to the Holy Quran's description of "Until, when he reached the setting of the sun...", as Alexander would not have had to travel very far to reach the West, since he was already there.
Even more important than the debate over navigation is the stark contrast in the character of Alexander and that of the noble Dhu'l Qarnain. It is a well-documented fact of history that Alexander massacred entire populations, sometimes even when they had surrendered. Such acts are inconceivable for the Friends of Allah Almighty, who are blessed with His attributes of mercy, forgiveness, and compassion.
Let us take the siege of Tyre as an example. After 7 long and gruelling months of siege warfare, Alexander and his army finally entered the city. What ensued was a spectacle of bloodlust and murder. Innocent people were indiscriminately slaughtered, but it did not stop there. It is said that the Macedonians crucified some 2000 survivors along the coast of the city. In his book "Makers of History: Alexander the Great", Jacob Abbott writes the following about this incident:
"The boldness, the perseverance, the indomitable energy which he himself and all his army manifested, during the seven months of their Herculean toil, attracted the admiration of the world. And yet we find our feelings of sympathy for his character, and interest in his fate, somewhat alienated by the indications of pride, imperiousness, and cruelty which begin to appear. While he rises in our estimation as a military hero, he begins to sink somewhat as a man"
A bold and powerful final sentence. While there can be no doubt that Alexander was one of the most successful and intelligent military commanders in history, his conduct and character in times of decisiveness and moral dilemmas falls short of a man who can be considered a candidate for Dhu'l Qarnain. Based on the proofs provided here, it can confidently be said that Alexander the Great is not the Dhu'l Qarnain described in the Holy Quran.
Cyrus the Great
Early life and conquests
Cyrus was born in c. 600 BC to King Cambyses l of Anshan and Mandane, daughter of King Astyages of Media. He eventually ascended to the throne of Anshan, a small nation compared to the might of the Median empire ruled by his maternal grandfather, which would soon become his first conquest.
There are two different sources on Cyrus' invasion and eventual conquest of Media, namely The Histories by Herodotus and The Nabonidus Chronicles, which is a surviving, albeit damaged, text from ancient Babylon with information on the rise of Cyrus and the Achaemenid Empire. According to the former it was Cyrus who initiated the invasion, but the chronicle deems Astyages the aggressor. Irrespective of who initiated the war, the victory was a decisive result in favour of the Persians. Cyrus, having ascended to the throne, showed mercy to his captured grandfather by sparing him and "granting him a princely style of life".
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Nabonidus Chronicles of Babylon |
After this successful campaign, at some point in the next 9 years or so, Cyrus marched on the Greek Lydian Kingdom, modern day Western Turkey. Initial battles and skirmishes with the Lydians proved indecisive as the armies were locked in a stalemate. Croesus, the King of Lydia, had made allies of other Mediterranean states such as Sparta and Egypt. He prepared to take advantage of the cold winter by retreating and consolidating his army, and waiting for reinforcements to arrive. It was then that Cyrus attacked, taking the Greeks completely by surprise. The unexpected offence proved a stroke of genius, as allowing the consolidation of the Lydian army could have proved detrimental to the Persian cause. Cyrus then went to the East and secured what was left of Central Asia as well.
With Asia Minor and Central Asia secured, Cyrus could now turn his attention to the Neo-Babylonian empire in the south, which comprised of much of Iraq, Iran, and Northern Arabia. It is reported that the inhabitants of the capital city of Babylon were extremely unhappy with the rule of the king, Nabonidus. According to some sources, he did not even reside in the city, having placed his son Belsarusur as his regent (the Biblical Belshazzar). Cyrus the Great marched on the city as a liberator.
There are various descriptions of the besiegement and eventual capture of Babylon, and it is challenging to pinpoint exactly which account is most accurate. According to the Nabonidus Chronicles, there was an initial skirmish outside the city walls which ended in a massacre of Babylonian troops (more on this later), forcing Nabonidus to retire to the safety of the city. According to Herodotus, there was also a skirmish outside the city, but it was eventually taken due to another stroke of genius.
The city was surrounded by walls reaching at least 80 feet in length, and was entrenched within the Euphrates itself. The river flowed into moats dug around the walls before exiting to the South and converging on its natural course. It must have been a spectacle to behold. Cyrus and his generals recognised that a head-on assault on the city would prove ineffective and result in mass casualties. The moats were simply too deep for infantry to cross on foot. They instead devised a shrewd plan. The Persians went to the north of the city where the river flowed into the moats, and digging, redirected it into the basin. This lowered the levels of the moat so that the Persian army could cross on foot. The storming of the city was additionally timed on a day when many of the Babylonians would have been drunk due to a local festival, and so, the city was taken with little to no resistance. Once again, the King, Nabonidus, was spared.
The events described above are much more consistent with those presented in the Holy Quran. Cyrus marched west and conquered Lydia in Asia Minor. He and his army would have been on the shores of first the Caspian and then the Black Sea, consistent with the Quranic description of finding the sun setting in murky water. He also travelled to the east, particularly to the plains of Central Asia where he would have met people who markedly have slight eyes to protect from the intense sun of the open plains. This leaves only the question of the fortifications of iron and copper.
Tafsir-e-Kabeer
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra), writing in Tafseer-e-Kabeer, or the "Great Commentary", has written extensively about the identity of Dhu'l Qarnain, especially with regards to the fortifications he constructed to protect against the attacks of Gog and Magog according to the Holy Quran.
Firstly, Huzoor identifies Gog and Magog being the inhabitants of the areas north of Persia from the Bible (Ezekiel 38:2). The Bible continues to say that the Persians will be put against them (Ezekiel 38:5). Huzoor explains that the implication of this prophecy is that the people of Gog and Magog must have ruled over the land of Persia, but they were to be cast out by a Persian King.
This explanation is exactly in line with the history of the Scythians, a Eurasian nomadic equestrian tribe, who at one point formed a vast empire that consisted of Media. Indeed, we can see from history that some of the early kings of Media were Scythians. There is also evidence that the Scythian and Median languages were extremely similar and mutually comprehensible. The Scythians were eventually cast out and the empire was inherited by the local Medians (who undoubtedly would have carried Scythian blood due to inter-marriages). Whatever the nature of the tussles between the Scythians and Medians, it was Cyrus who eventually drove the ruling Median class out altogether, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the Bible.
From the context provided, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) infers that the fortifications in question are those that are present at Derbent. Huzoor cites that there was a large wall present here, reinforced by doors of iron and check-posts at regular intervals according to Encyclopedia Britannica. In modern times, these gates are referred to as "The Gates of Alexander" as part of a larger series of fortifications (also known as the Caspian Gates) . This name however is irrational, as Alexander would not have had the time to construct such a large wall given the timeline of his 13-year campaign. Huzoor explains that this is probably due to an error of later Muslim scholars who mistakenly believed Alexander to be Dhu'l Qarnain.
It is however important to note that the gates or fortifications mentioned in the Holy Quran are described as being between two mountains, whereas the gates in question are between the Caucus Mountains to the West and the Caspian Sea to the East. Perhaps the words of the Holy Quran "the two mountains" can be interpreted as being two large obstacles or barriers, in which case the description is consistent with Derbent.
From the historical context provided here i.e., the early success of the Scythians in forming a large empire and ruling Persia, the consistent attacks of the Scythians via the Caucus passes, the conquest of Media by Cyrus, and the subsequent reduction in reports of Scythian attacks after Cyrus came to power, Huzoor infers that it must have been Cyrus who constructed the fortifications at Derbent. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) has also explained that many years later, when one of the successors of Cyrus, Darius l invaded Scythian Europe, he did so via the Bosphorus Straits at the Black Sea, leaving the Caucus passes unattended. This would not have been possible for a king of Darius' military prowess, unless the passes were already protected by fortifications i.e., the gates had already been constructed.
Cyrus the Great is Dhu'l Qarnain
Based on the historical evidence provided above, it can be deduced that the Dhu'l Qarnain of the Holy Quran is Cyrus the Great, King of Persia. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) is in complete agreement with this. The travels and conquests of Cyrus as recorded in historical literature are exactly those that are described in the Noble Quran.
Further to the consistency of the Quranic account of Dhu'l Qarnain and the conquests of Cyrus the Great, there is the excellent example of his character as a king and man, vouchsafed by historians that have studied him. Let us take the conquest of Babylon as an example. There is no doubt regarding the benevolence displayed by Cyrus once he entered the city. He was welcomed as a liberator, and he treated the subjects like one. He was fair and just, allowing the people to retain their customs and traditions, even returning pictures of their gods that had been seized during battle.
Most notably, he liberated the Jews from captivity, who had been enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar ll, and restored them to Jerusalem. He even reconstructed the Temple of Jerusalem. It is for these reasons, that the Old Testament gave him the title of "Messiah", and he is mentioned in the Bible more than 30 times. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) has very aptly pointed out that, in this way, not only has the Promised Messiah (as) received the title of Dhu'l Qarnain, but Dhu'l Qarnain has received the title of Messiah.
Writing about Cyrus the Great in his biography Cyropaedia many decades later, Xenophon, the prominent Greek general, historian, and student of Socrates, says the following:
"He honoured his subjects and cared for them as if they were his own children and they, on their part, revered Cyrus as a father."
Some clarifications
In the Nabonidus Chronicles, there is a mention of the Persian army massacring a number of Babylonian troops who continued to resist after the initial skirmish outside Babylon. It has already been mentioned that the unjust killing of innocents is inconsistent with the merciful nature of Dhu'l Qarnain as described in the Holy Quran. As such, this incident either refers to Babylonian soldiers who simply refused to lay down arms to stop fighting and unless they were dealt with, would have continued to harm the Persians, or this is a fabrication and there was a skirmish outside the city but no massacre i.e., the two armies fought a minor battle outside the city but having tasted defeat, the Babylonians retreated to the safety of the walls. The latter is likely more accurate and is also consistent with the account of Herodotus.
Secondly, the Cyrus Cylinder, which is an ancient Babylonian account of the Fall of Babylon, is a cuneiform text written by Babylonian priests and attributed to Cyrus the Great himself. The cylinder cites the name of "Marduk", the supreme deity of a polytheistic Babylonian religion, as the inspiration for Cyrus' liberation of the city. While it is true that Cyrus the Great permitted the people of various regions in his empire to retain their religion, culture, and language, it is not possible that he could have adopted a polytheistic religion or custom, even for the sake of political propaganda (as some modern historians allege).
Cyrus the Great was a follower of Zarathustra, and was thus a devout Zoroastrian (for more on this, click here). He believed in One Supreme God, which is reinforced by the fact that no matter how benevolent and generous, the Old Testament would never have bestowed the title of "Messiah" onto a man who was not monotheistic. There are two explanations then for the Cylinder. The first is that King Cyrus had nothing to do with it at all i.e., it was written by Babylonian priests and attributed to him, perhaps without his knowledge and maybe even after his demise. The second explanation is he is the true source of the text, however he used the words Ahura Mazda instead of Marduk, the former being the God of Zoroaster. Irrespectively, there can be no doubt that he was a devout monotheist.
The Promised Messiah (AS) as Dhu'l Qarnain
The Promised Messiah (as) has beautifully explained that the parables related in the Holy Quran are not only historical events that serve as lessons for the believers, but Allah Almighty in His infinite wisdom structures within them grand prophecies pertaining to the future. The prophecy of Dhu'l Qarnain is thus fulfilled in the form of the Imam Mahdi promised by the Seal of the Prophets (saw) in different ways.
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Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (as) |
The first matter addressed in the topic of Dhu'l Qarnain is the ample provision made for him by Allah Almighty by which he would accomplish his goals. The same is the case for the Promised Messiah (as), as the impeccable timing of the mass production of printing presses, the invention of the radio, and the first successful manned flight by the Wright brothers all happened during his lifetime. These bounds in technological and scientific progress are not mere coincidence, but are divinely inspired events to support the Imam Mahdi (as) and his revival of the religion of the Holy Prophet (saw).
Huzur (as) then explains that the path of Dhu'l Qarnain to the West has to do with the Western world in the modern day, particularly Christianity, and the sun setting in murky water is representative of their poor moral state and their insatiable desire for material and worldly gains and riches. This will result in them being bereft of true spirituality and nearness to God. The second people who Dhu'l Qarnain will turn to, who will have no respite or shelter from the sun, is a reference to the Muslims of the time of the Imam Mahdi (as). Unlike the people of the West, the Sun of Truth will not have set on them, but their interpretation of it will be so misconstrued, radical, and extreme, that instead of being a means of salvation, the light will only serve to burn them as a scorching blaze.
Finally, Dhu'l Qarnain will follow another way and find himself at a critical junction between two mountains or great barriers, with the people caught in between these barriers being in great fear. This is interpreted by the Promised Messiah (as) as the powers of state and darkness (the two mountains) combining to present a terrifying spectacle. The people in question will find it difficult to understand him at first, as they were previously following the teachings erroneously, but they will eventually be guided to the right path. The fortifications that he will construct will be the conclusive arguments and books that he will write in the defence of Islam, by means of which his followers will be able to defend the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and the Holy Quran.
It is also worth noting that the words Yajooj and Majooj are derived from the Arabic Ajeej, which means fire. So the people who are referred to with these two names are also the people of the West according to the Promised Messiah (as). This is demonstrated in history in the way that these people have manipulated and utilised fire with locomotives, combustion engines, and eventually even the atomic bomb.
Huzur (as) then beautifully explains that the words "bring me blocks of iron" means that Dhu'l Qarnain will urge the people to hold fast to the arguments and explanations that he has provided so that they may endure the onslaught of the enemy. Then he will implore them to kindle within their hearts the burning fire which is the love and passion that yearns for God's nearness, just as iron starts to mimic the flames that burn it at a certain temperature. We can see with our own eyes and give testament to how these prophecies have fulfilled themselves since the advent of the Promised Messiah (as), first through his own being, and then through the divine establishment of successorship which is Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya.
Conclusion
As stated in the beginning, the purpose of this essay was to supplement the literature already present regarding the events of Dhu'l Qarnain's life through historical evidence, shedding light on his identity through conclusive proofs that are in alignment with the Quranic symbols, and then demonstrating how this parable manifests itself in the form of a grand prophecy through the writings of the Promised Messiah (as). In this way, we can begin to attain a full view of the information present on the topic, which is sure to be extended greatly in the future.
Many kings and queens throughout history have been referred to as "the Great", however there are few that can claim that their title of greatness has been reinforced by the Supreme God. So magnificent were the conquests and travels of King Cyrus of Persia, that Allah Almighty used his tale as a grand prophecy for the one promised by the Holy Prophet of Islam, may peace and blessings be upon him.
Thus we see that just as the Promised Messiah (as) has stated, the stories and parables of the Holy Quran are not just tales of old which have some moral lessons, but Allah Almighty in His infinite wisdom has contained within them prophecies of the future, which in this case, we are seeing unfold before our very eyes.
References
- Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (as), Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya (Part 5), Volume 5, pp.146-155
- Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mehmood Ahmad (ra), Tafsir-e-Kabeer Urdu, Volume 6, pp. 588-606
- Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rh) (1998), Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge, and Truth, pp. 171-178
- Ahmad, F. (2004), Cyrus the Great, Review of Religions July Edition 2004, pp. 50-62
- Briant, P. (2002), From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire, pp.40-44
- Brosius, M. (2021), A History of Ancient Persia; The Achaemenid Empire, pp.17-30
- Abbott, J., Makers of History: Alexander the Great, pp.70
- Rattini, K.B. (2019), Who was Cyrus the Great?, National Geographic (found here)
- Livius.org (2020), Alexander the Great (found here)
- Livius.org (2020), Cyrus the Great (found here)
- Klein, C. (2022), How Cyrus the Great Turned Persia Into a Superpower, History.com (found here)
- Turchin, P. (2023), The Scythian Empire, (found here)
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