Alexander or Cyrus in the Quran?

Salaams, Tom

I agree with Rami and iip. ZalQarnain could not have been Cyrus or Alexander.

The message, of the verses 83-101 of Surah 18 Al-Kahaf, is:

This, in reality, is a message to those who hold power, for example the rulers, the judges and the kings that they must do the right. The verses tell us that this king was a powerful man, possibly a king and had all the resources in his time and he went into various lands of different people. He did not attack everyone and instead of making them fight a war with the two warring factions, the Yajooj and Majooj, he built a barrier for the safety of the people and he did it for the pleasure of the Lord Almighty. In an earlier verse, he even went into a land and just left the people alone without attacking them or interfering in their affairs. He did all good as he was blessed, which he acknowledges by saying, "Haaza rahmat-um-mir-rabbi", which simply means "I have been blessed by my Lord.", therefore, he did the best he can.

It is thus an exhortation to all rulers and judges. Unfortunately, on a lighter note, the modern-day rulers of Muslim countries have never understood this passage, even though they might have recited or heard it many times.

BMZ

There are many contradictions, regarding this theory.

Dhu�l-Qarnayn who is mentioned in the Qur�aan is not Alexander the Macedonian or Greek who built Alexandria. This Alexander is the one who died at the age of 33, as mentioned in the Christian books. He lived 323 years before the birth of the Isa (peace be upon him).

Dhu�l-Qarnayn who is mentioned in the Qur�aan lived at the time of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him), and it is said that he became Muslim at the hands of Ibraaheem (peace be upon him), and he went on pilgrimage to the Ka�bah walking. The scholars differed concerning him, as to whether he was a Prophet or a righteous slave and just king, but they agree that he was a Muslim, a monotheist (believer in Tawheed) and one who was obedient to Allaah.