The Cave
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.[18:94]
They said: "O Zul-qarnain! the Gog and Magog (People) do great mischief
on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier
between us and them?
* v.94 : What we are mainly concerned with is its interpretation. The Conqueror had now arrived among a people who were different in speech and race from him, but not quite primitive, for they were skilled in the working of metals, and could furnish blocks (or bricks) of iron, melt metals with bellows or blow-pipes, and prepare molten lead (xviii. 96). Apparently they were a peaceable and industrious race, much subject to incursions from wild tribes who are called Gog and Magog. Against these tribes they were willing to purchase immunity by paying the Conqueror tribute in return for protection. The permanent protection they wanted was the closing of a mountain gap through which the incursions were made.