Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Kahf Verse 94

Mufti Taqi Usmani

They said, “O Dhul-Qarnain, the (tribes of) Ya’jūj and Ma’jūj (Gog and Magog) are mischief-makers on the earth. So, should we assign a tax for you on condition that you make a barrier between us and them?”

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

They pleaded, “O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Surely Gog and Magog[[ Gog and Magog are two wild peoples who were sealed off by a barrier built by Ⱬul-Qarnain to stop them from raiding their peaceful neighbours. There are many speculations as to their location, but none is supported by reliable sources. Their coming out is mentioned in {21:96}-97 as one of the major signs of the final Hour. ]] are spreading corruption throughout the land. Should we pay you tribute, provided that you build a wall between us and them?”

Ruwwad Translation Center

They said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption in the land. Can we give you some payment in return for you to construct a barrier between us and them?”

A. J. Arberry

They said, 'O Dhool Karnain, behold, Gog and Magog are doing corruption in the earth; so shall we assign to thee a tribute, against thy setting up a barrier between us and between them?'

Abdul Haleem

They said, ‘Dhu ’l-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are ruining this land. Will you build a barrier between them and us if we pay you a tribute?’

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

`They said: O Zul-Qarnain verily Yajuj and Majuj are working corruption in the land; shall we then pay thee tribute on condition that thou place between us and them a barrier!

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

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?

Abul Ala Maududi

They said: "O Dhu al-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption in this land. So shall we pay you taxes on the understanding that you will set up a barrier between us and them?"

Ahmed Ali

They said: 'O Dhu'l-Qarnain, Gog and Magog are oppressing the land. May we pay you some tribute so that you could build a rampart between us and them?"

Ahmed Raza Khan

They said, “O Zul-Qarnain – indeed Yajuj and Majuj* are spreading chaos in the land – so shall we assign for you a consideration upon the condition that you set up a wall between us and them?” (* Gog and Magog.)

Ali Quli Qarai

They said, ‘O Dhul Qarnayn! Indeed Gog and Magog are causing disaster in this land. Shall we pay you a tribute on condition that you build a barrier between them and us?’

Ali Ünal

They said: "O Dhu’l-Qarnayn! Gog and Magog are causing disorder in this land. May we pay you a tribute so that you set a barrier between us and them?"

Amatul Rahman Omar

They said, `Dhul-Qarnain! Gog and Magog (-respectively the ancestors of the present Teutonic and Slavonic races) are playing havoc in this country. Shall we pay you tribute on condition that you set up a barrier between us and them?´

English Literal

They said: "You (owner) of the two horns/powers/glories, that Yagog and Magog (are) corrupting in the earth/Planet Earth, so do we make/put for you (a) royalty/retainer/expense/tribute on that you put/create between us and between them a barrier/obstacle ?"

Faridul Haque

They said, "O Zul-Qarnain - indeed Yajuj and Majuj * are spreading chaos in the land – so shall we assign for you a consideration upon the condition that you set up a wall between us and them?" (* Gog and Magog.)

Hamid S. Aziz

Until when he reached the point between the two mountains, he found below them a people who could scarcely under-stand speech.

Hilali & Khan

They said: "O Dhul-Qarnain! Verily! Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them?"

Maulana Mohammad Ali

Until, when he reached (a place) between the two mountains, he found on that side of them a people who could hardly understand a world.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

They said: O Zulqarnain! surely Gog and Magog make mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute on condition that you should raise a barrier between us and them

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them?

Muhammad Sarwar

They said, "Dhu 'l-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are ravaging this land. Would you establish a barrier between us and them if we pay you a certain tax?"

Qaribullah & Darwish

'ThulKarnain' they said, 'Look, Gog and Magog are corrupting the earth. Build for us a barrier between us and them, and we will pay you a tribute'

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

They said: "O Dhul-Qarnayn! Verily, Ya'juj and Ma'juj are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them"

Wahiduddin Khan

They said, "O Dhu'l-Qarnayn! Gog and Magog are causing corruption in the land, so may we pay you tribute on condition that you set a barrier between us and them?"

Talal Itani

They said, “O Zul-Qarnain, the Gog and Magog are spreading chaos in the land. Can we pay you, to build between us and them a wall?”

Tafsir jalalayn

They said, `O Dh'l-Qarnayn, truly Gog and Magog (read Ya'jj wa-Ma'jj or Yjj wa-Mjj; these two are non-Arabic names of two tribes and are therefore indeclinable) are causing corruption in the land, plundering and oppressing [us] when they come forth to attack us. So shall we pay you a tribute, some [form of] payment (a variant reading [for kharjan] is kharjan), on condition that you build between us and them a barrier?, an obstruction, so that they will not be able to reach us.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الاْاَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا

They said;"O Dhul-Qarnayn! Verily, Ya'juj and Ma'juj are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute"

Ibn Jurayj reported from Ata' from Ibn Abbas that;

this meant a great reward, i.e., they wanted to collect money among themselves to give to him so that he would create a barrier between them and Ya'juj and Ma'juj.

عَلَى أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا



in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them"

Dhul-Qarnayn said with kindness, righteousness and good intentions