Al-Kahf 86: When he reached the place in which the sun was setting, he found it to set on dark clay. Near it, he encountered a nation. Upon this, We Said: “Oh Dhul’qarnayn, you will either punish them, or you will treat them with goodness.”
Contents
Explanation
Translation
When he reached the place in which the sun was setting, he found it to set on dark clay. Near it, he encountered a nation. Upon this, We Said: “Oh Dhul’qarnayn, you will either punish them, or you will treat them with goodness.”
Tafsir
When Zulqarnayn came to the place where the sun sets, this means that when Zulqarnayn came to the Atlantic Ocean in the west, it was evening and he saw the sun setting in the blue waters of the sea. It is as if the sun is buried in a black clay.
When people look at the horizon on land or sea, they see the sky as if it is joined to the earth. The earth is round and its rotation around its axis creates day and night. In the evening, when the sun sets over the oceans, when one looks at the sun, it looks as if it is sinking into the black ooze of the oceans. It is near this ocean that he comes across a people. They do not recognize Allah and the Prophet. Allah (swt) said to Zulqarnayn: "O Zulqarnayn! We said, "You will either torment them or you will choose to do good to them.") That is, you will introduce the existence and unity of Allah to these people. You will make them aware of Allah, the Creator of the worlds and of themselves. We said, 'You will inform those who do not know Allah of the punishment of Allah and those who do know Allah that Allah will reward them.
What is said in the video
Verse 86 of Surah Al-Kahf. At last, when he reached the place where the sun sets, he found it setting in a black mud. Near it, there, he came upon a people. Thereupon We said: O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you will punish them, or regarding them you will choose the way of doing good. When Dhul-Qarnayn came to the place where the sun sets, what is meant is that when Dhul-Qarnayn came to the Atlantic Ocean in the west, since it was toward evening, he sees the sun setting in the blue waters of the sea. It is as if the sun is sinking into a black mud. When people look at the horizon at sea or on land, they see the sky as if joining the earth. The world is round, and by its turning around itself night and day come about.
When evening comes and the sun sets in the oceans, if one looks at the sun, the sun in the oceans presents the sight as if it were sinking into a black mud. It is beside this ocean that he comes upon a people. They know neither Allah nor a prophet. Allah Almighty to Dhul-Qarnayn: O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you will punish them, or the way of doing good toward them (?). That is, you will make the existence and oneness of Allah known to these people. You will inform them about Allah, who created the worlds and themselves. To those who do not know Allah you will make known the punishment of Allah Almighty, and to those who know Him, that Allah rewards them, He said.