Zulqarnain (Cyrus)

Zulqarnain, also known as Cyrus in the Biblical narrative, is mentioned in the Quran (Surah 18). The word Zulqarnain means “the two horned”. According to the Quran, he travelled first to the western end of the world where he witnessed the Sun setting in a muddy spring. Following this, he travelled to the farthest end of the east where he watched the sun rise from the deep waters of the ocean. Finally, he went to the northern end of the world and reached a mountain where he saw people being oppressed by Yajuj and Majooj (Gog and Magog), the two wild tribes of Central Asia, generally known as Scythians, Parthians, Tartars, Huns and Mongols. The Quran attributes such qualities to Zulqarnain that characterise a ruler which include extraordinary strength and a strong sense of justice. He was the founder of the first Persian Empire known as Achaemenid Empire. Under his command, the empire reached its zenith and spread over a huge area from the Mediterranean to the Indus and towards the north into central Asia. Zulqarnain is often likened to Alexander who too stands out in history as a man of similar qualities. That is how both of them are remembered with the epithets of “the great”. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a benefactor of both the Babylonians and the Jews.

References: Do qaran guzre isi fikr-e sukhan mein roz-o-shab/Rekhte ke fun mein Hatim aaj Zulqarnain hai (Sheikh Zahuruddin Hatim) source: Rekhta website

Also see: https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/yusuf-zulekha-ebooks

Zulqarnain, also known as Cyrus in the Biblical narrative, is mentioned in the Quran (Surah 18). The word Zulqarnain means “the two horned”. According to the Quran, he travelled first to the western end of the world where he witnessed the Sun setting in a muddy spring. Following this, he travelled to the farthest end of the east where he watched the sun rise from the deep waters of the ocean. Finally, he went to the northern end of the world and reached a mountain where he saw people being oppressed by Yajuj and Majooj (Gog and Magog), the two wild tribes of Central Asia, generally known as Scythians, Parthians, Tartars, Huns and Mongols. The Quran attributes such qualities to Zulqarnain that characterise a ruler which include extraordinary strength and a strong sense of justice. He was the founder of the first Persian Empire known as Achaemenid Empire. Under his command, the empire reached its zenith and spread over a huge area from the Mediterranean to the Indus and towards the north into central Asia. Zulqarnain is often likened to Alexander who too stands out in history as a man of similar qualities. That is how both of them are remembered with the epithets of “the great”. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as a benefactor of both the Babylonians and the Jews.

References: Do qaran guzre isi fikr-e sukhan mein roz-o-shab/Rekhte ke fun mein Hatim aaj Zulqarnain hai (Sheikh Zahuruddin Hatim) source: Rekhta website

Also see: https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/yusuf-zulekha-ebooks