The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 295
8 DHULQARNAIN I will now set out the meanings of the verses in Surah Al- Kahf which relate the story of Dhulqarnain, and the prophecy they contain about me, of which I have been in- formed by God Almighty. I do not deny the meaning of these verses which relates to the past, but what has been revealed to me is about the future. Prophecy about the Promised Messiah in Sūrah Al-Kahf The Holy Qur'an is not a book of old stories. Every event mentioned in it is a prophecy, and the story of Dhulqar- nain contains the prophecy about the time of the Prom- ised Messiah. The Holy Qur'ān says: وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ ، قُلْ سَاتْلُوا عَلَيْكُمْ مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا 209 'They enquire from thee about Dhulqarnain. Tell them that for the moment I shall relate to only you a little about him. ' Then it says: إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَ أَتَيْنَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا 210 'We shall establish him on earth, i. e. , the Promised Mes- siah, who will also be known as Dhulqarnain, in such a way that no one will be able to harm him; and We shall provide him with all the means for achieving his purpose and shall make everything easy and plain for him. ' 209 Al-Kahf, 18:84 [Publisher] 210 Al-Kahf, 18:85 [Publisher]