User talk:Azmak92

Dhul Qarnain and Spring of Dark/Muddy Warm Water
Before dive into the amazing story of Dhul Qarnain, let me share you few details about the lowest and the highest region on earth to understand how QURAN miraculously pointing those regions. (Will discuss in detail on this article)

Do you know Dead Sea is the lowest region on earth and Himalayas Mountain Range Contains Highest Peaks on earth...


 * Dead Sea - about 1,410 feet (430 metres) below sea level.


 * Mount Everest - An altitude of 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level.

What the scriptures says about Dhul Qarnain ???

As we all know ALMIGHTY ALLAH clearly stated that he blessed Dhul Qarnain to establish his power on the earth in Surah Al Kahf (Chapter 18).

"Indeed, We established him upon the earth, and We gave him from everything a way [i.e., means].."(Quran 18:84) إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا

Thereafter, ALLAH explains in a unique way ( in a poetic way) that even now many Muslim scholars struggling to understand the locations (eg: spring of dark muddy water )

Since the Israelites of Madina asked about Dhul Qarnain from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).... It's necessary to have a study on Old Testament to understand really who is Dhul Qarnain and How QURAN perfectly gives more details than what the Israelites of Madina inquired. Also we will compare Historical records to have some knowledge such as which time period he lived and ruled, the Capital City and the size of the Kingdom during his reign.

Who is DHUL QARNAIN according to Old Testament…????

"This is what Cyrus King of Persia says: "'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the LORD their God be with them.'"(2 chronicles 36:23)


 * According to Old Testament, Cyrus the Great was identified as Persian King who saved the Children of Israel from Slavery when he conquered Babylon in 6th Century BCE(around 529 BCE)… He was a Righteous King and his reigning Capital of the empire was Pasargadae.

According to Isaiah 45:1 of the Hebrew Bible, even referring to him as a messiah (lit. 'anointed one') and he is the only non-Jewish figure in the Bible to be called so. Evincing His sovereignty over all nations, God says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please” (Isaiah 44:28).

'''Why in Quran ALLAH identify Cyrus the Great as Dhul Qarnain???? ''' The name Dhul Qarnain was a Title name which means "He of the Two Horns"... This title name was familiar with Arabic speaking Jews of Madina… The Old Testament confirms it with the below mentioned verse…

"... I summon you by name and bestow on you a TITLE OF HONOR..." (Isaiah 45:4)

In Old Testament, in Arabic version of Daniel 8:20 the exact name Dhul Qarnain was mentioned as the king of Media and Persia in Daniel's vision.

Daniel 8:20

"The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia" (Daniel 8:20)

This chapter of Daniel's (Daniel 8) vision explains the raise and fall of two great empires… One is the empire of Cyrus the Great and the other is the empire of Alexander the Great.

When the Jews of Madina questioned Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regarding Cyrus the Great, they used his title name to test the Prophet and his Prophethood… Because, at the time no one in Arabia knew that title name except Arab Israelites. Then ALLAH revealed his revelation to his Prophet regarding Cyrus the Great in Surah Kahf (Chapter 18) with that same honorary title... With beautiful eloquent way more than what they inquired…

"They ask you about Dhul-Qarnain (i.e., the two-horned king). Say, “I shall now recite to you an account of him.”(18:83) وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَن ذِى ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ ۖ قُلْ سَأَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا

Then QURAN talks about the blessings which bestowed on to Cyrus the Great…

"Surely, We gave him power on earth and gave him means to (have) everything (he needs)."(Quran 18:84) إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ سَبَبًۭا

The Old Testament too confirms it through the below mentioned verse.

"...God of heaven, has given me 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵..."..." (2 chronicles 36:23)

Thereafter Quran points three directions of his travel in chapter 18…. First he travels to westward from Persian Kingdom (most probably from his capital of the kingdom Pasargadae)… let's have a look at those verses one after the other...

"Until, when he reached the setting of the sun [the west], he found it [as if] setting in a body of DARK WATERS, and he found near it a people. We said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."(Quran 18:86) حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا

"He said, “As for him who does wrong, we shall punish him, then he will be sent back to his Lord, and He will punish him with a severe punishment."(QURAN 18:87) قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًۭا نُّكْرًۭا

Note: Some Quran Translations translate this Arabic words عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ as spring of dark/murky muddy warm water (Will discuss this in detail as this is another most beautiful miracle which until now many Atheists, ex-muslims and some Christian Brothers mocking the Quran with fallacious arguments)

The above mentioned verses give 03 points of his first expedition...

He traveled Towards Setting of the Sun Which is Westward. Spring of Dark/Murky Muddy warm water Talks about a people and tells him either you punish them or adopt among them.. i.e. be good to them and forgive..


 * If Dhul Qarnain traveled from Persia (If from his Capital City of Pasargadae) towards the westward where the sun is setting. It's very obvious that the only place which meets all the criteria as Spring of Dark/Muddy warm water none other than Dead Sea…

Why Dead Sea is considered Spring of Dark/Muddy warm water????

Let me first share few satellite pictures of his expedition towards setting of the Sun and to have better understanding before go into further detail.

Pasargadae to Dead Sea⬆️

Dead Sea ⬆️

Black Sea ⬆️

You would easily see that dead sea is darker/murky than any other Seas in the region even darker than Black Sea…

Very recently, Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) had discovered freshwater SRINGS on Dead Sea Floor that feed into this rapidly dwindling body of water.

Their study reveals complex springs hundreds of feet long and as deep as 90 feet (30 meters). The springs appear from the sea floor through craters as large as 45 feet (15 meters) in diameter and 60 feet (20 meters) deep -- with steep, finely laminated walls and alternating layers of sediment and minerals.

Dead Sea Water Temperature Throughout the Year

Further, the climate at the Dead Sea remains warm and sunny all year-round. The temperature of the Dead Sea water rarely, if ever, drops below 20 degrees Celsius, and peaks at 32 degrees during the summer months (Red Sea has a yearly average high of 26°, and lows of 2°.) The surrounding climate is also particularly warm, even in winter. Due to the sea’s water mass and heat capacity, the sea temperatures are actually hotter than land during the winter, and cooler during the summer.

Muddy:(Link⬇️) Muddy Salty Lake This Dead Sea Mineral Mud has hydrating, beautifying, purgative and relieving properties and is known to relieve various symptoms of skin and musculoskeletal ailments. This mud is sold on various only retailers..

Further amazing is Dead Sea is the lowest region on earth...(430 meters from the sea level)... That Dhul Qarnain was talking to Israelites while he was in that area where ALLAH orders him to either punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness because even in Old Testament and New Testament confirms that they frequently went against prophets and commandments of God Almighty...

Bye the way, the Israelites of Madina are the one questioned about Dhul Qarnain from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)... Amazingly Dead Sea is located in the region of Israelites of Juden Dessert (Currently bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River.)

What's more mesmerizing me is the story of Dhul Qarnain is mentioned in the chapter "people of the cave (Kahf)"... The cave itself is just around 50km away from Dead Sea… The site, located in the village of Ar Rajib, about 10 km east of Amman.

Isn't it amazing all this informations are really harmonizes with Quran's Characteristics…

2) Dhul Qarnain and his expedition towards RISING OF THE SUN:

Pasargadae to Himalayan region ⬆️

"Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun."(QURAN 18:90) حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًۭا

The above verses gives 02 points: He Traveled towards rising of the Sun (Eastward) Rising on a people where no Covering protection against the sun

I already mentioned above Dhul Qarnain's expedition towards the lowest region on the earth.... Let's check his expedition towards the Highest region on the earth.

There is no cover from sun possibly indicates that Dhul Qarnain reaches near the highest region on the earth(most probably near Himalayas)...

That no cover from sun possibly means... it is very close to second layer of the atmosphere (The Stratosphere) and due to at higher altitudes, the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation increases because there is less atmosphere above to absorb the ultraviolet rays. If the atmosphere is thinner so there is less of a filter from UV radiation, that's why many climbers apply sun cream before before hiking on higher altitude to protect the skin from Sun burn. The same high altitude causes less oxygen which make it very difficult to live in those areas for whom are visiting that region except the indigenous people.

Mount Everest - An altitude of 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level

"...a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun"

ALMIGHTY ALLAH helped people of Himalayas to live on those highest place on the earth by mutating their genomes… Let's check what scientist says about Tibetans as an example… The scientists working with the largest-ever sample of Tibetan genomes have discovered seven new ways in which Tibetan genes have been tweaked to cope with high altitude, resulting in higher body mass index (BMI) and a boost in the body’s production of the vitamin folate.

(Link⬇️) Mutations may reveal how Tibetans can live on world’s highest plateau

When we examine all this evidences that proves how ALMIGHTY ALLAH indirectly shows that Dhul Qarnain reached the lowest region(Dead Sea) of the earth and the highest region on the earth(Himalayas)…

Note: The Himalayas stretch across the northeastern portion of India. They cover approximately 1,500 miles (2,400 km) and pass through the nations of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan and Nepal.

Well, someone can ask… Is there any historical records that Cyrus the Great made an expedition towards Himalayan Region other than the Quran…????

Let's check what newworldencyclopedia says...

According to the Behistun Inscription of Darius the Great, Cyrus' dominions must have comprised the largest empire the world had seen yet. At the end of Cyrus' rule, the Achaemenid Empire stretched from Asia Minor and Judah in the west, as far as the Indus River in the east.

(Indus river originating from Himalaya and flowing through China, India, Pakistan. Length, 3,200 km approx.)

What does the Old Testament says about Cyrus the Great's expedition to the East (Sun Rise)???

"so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other." (Isiah 45:6)

What Cyrus Cylinder says…???

"..I am Cyrus, king of the universe, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world..." Cyrus Cylinder

Even similar edict of Cyrus Cylinder were found in China written on bones… isn't it amazing??? ( click this for the Chinese Found Cyrus Edict )


 * A common question that many of you can ask… What about, there are some places in the world where the Sun does not set for months (eg: Such as Norway)... What about them??? Why can't it be the above mentioned location???

If Sun is not setting for months how could have possible to see the RISING OF THE SUN by Dhul Qarnain during his expedition????…. And does Quran talks about SUN NOT SETTING FOR MONTHS or NO COVERING PROTECTION/SHIELD AGAINST THE SUN???

3. The Third expedition of Dhul Qarnain

"Then followed he (another) way," (Quran 18:92) "Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech."(Quran 18:93) حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلا

Even though I am not willing to discuss Dhul Qarnain's third expedition as this opens up the story of Yajuj and Majuj(Gog and Magog)... Let me share you what I found…. Researchers now believe that another branch old silk roads were existed many thousands years back which are not in use now… it's very possible that ALMIGHTY ALLAH could have helped Dhul Qarnain to block one of them to protect from Yajuj Majuj and this needs more research to identify the location… would recommend you to read the below mentioned article for some understanding of lost silk roads.

(Link⬇️) '''Archaeologists Uncover Another Branch of the Silk Road ''' Even in China similar to edicts of Cyrus Cylinder were found written on bones…(this discussed above)... I hope further study on this would shed some light on the third expedition.

Bye the way, let me give you another comparison from Quran and Old Testament verse from Isiah regarding the blessings of power given to Dhul Qarnain.

"Bring me ingots of iron." Until, when he had leveled up between the two cliffs, he said, "Blow!" Until, when he made it a fire, he said, "Bring me, that I may pour out molten brass on it." (Quran 18:96) Dr. Ghali ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًۭا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًۭا

"I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron." (Isiah 45:2)

Cyrus Cylinder

The CYRUS CYLINDER discovered in the ruins of Babylon on March 1879… This was a very important discovery to understand some informations on Cyrus. This Cylinder was presumably written by a priest of Marduk in Babylonia. ( Marduk was considered chief god of the city of Babylon and the national god of Babylonia)

The text on the Cylinder was divided into six distinct parts (See below).

Lines 1–19: an introduction reviling Nabonidus, the previous king of Babylon, and associating Cyrus with the god Marduk;

Lines 20–22: detailing Cyrus's royal titles and genealogy, and his peaceful entry to Babylon;

Lines 22–34: a commendation of Cyrus's policy of restoring Babylon;

Lines 34–35: a prayer to Marduk on behalf of Cyrus and his son Cambyses;

Lines 36–37: a declaration that Cyrus has enabled the people to live in peace and has increased the offerings made to the gods;

Lines 38–45: details of the building activities ordered by Cyrus in Babylon

For further information regarding the Cyrus Cylinder please feel free to click here.

Was Cyrus the Great Polytheist???

There is great hesitation among Muslims to accept Cyrus the Great due to some controversies such as Cyrus Cylinder...

It was widely accepted in the past that Cyrus the Great was a Magian (Zoroastrian) follower…. Magian religion was considered monotheistic religion. In the QURAN ALMIGHTY ALLAH clearly differentiated the Magians from Polytheists in Chapter 22 verse 17… That too was not without reason…

In the Hadith Collections, it was mentioned regarding Magians, follow the sunna same as with the people of the book (Muwatta Malik / Book 17 / Hadith 619)

Yahya related to me from Malik from Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn Ali from his father that Umar ibn al-Khattab mentioned the magians and said, "I do not know what to do about them." Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf said, "I bear witness that I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'Follow the same sunna with them that you follow with the people of the Book. ' "

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، ذَكَرَ الْمَجُوسَ فَقَالَ مَا أَدْرِي كَيْفَ أَصْنَعُ فِي أَمْرِهِمْ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ أَشْهَدُ لَسَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏

My Conclusion:

His Edicts indicate that he had a more pluralistic approach by respecting different cultures and religious beliefs of newly conquered regions which he conquered throughout his reign… Due to that, even Michael H. Hart in his book "The Hundred" ranked Cyrus the Great as the 87 greatest man in history. Even in UN upon receiving the replica of Cyrus Cylinder, then-Secretary General Sithu U Thant praised the Cylinder as an “ancient declaration of human rights.”

If you read the edict of Cyrus the Great on Old Testament (Ezra 1) you would assume that he was blessed by the God of ABRAHAM and it's very similar to what is mentioned in Quran about Dhul Qarnain.

"This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah." (Ezra 1:2)

And If you read the Cyrus Cylinder(written by priest of Marduk) it would make you think that he was a worshipper of Babylonian god marduk…

It should be noted that part of this Edicts given by Cyrus the Great but presumably written by the relevant priests with their own wordings (more or less).

Even the Old Testament says that Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) worshipped pagan gods in 1Kings 11 … But we Muslims vehemently reject these stories… A Prophet who receives revelation from God of ABRAHAM can not or would not commit such sins.

The New Testament try to portrays Jesus (peace be upon him) as God in Flesh and part of TRINITY… Even though the same scriptures portrays Jesus (peace be upon him) as A Prophet, A Messiah and Son of man… Equating a Prophet or giving divinity to Messiah is against the teachings of God of ABRAHAM… it's against the core teachings of the scriptures itself(exodus 20:4, Numbers 23:19, Hosea 11:9)

Similarly, we can not or should not portray Cyrus the Great as Polytheist based on a single piece of evident (Cyrus Cylinder) written by a priest… Because, we don't judge Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) by 1 kings 11… We don't Judge Jesus (peace be upon him) by What John 1 teaches… and similarly we should not promptly come to conclusion based on a piece of Cylinder.

Azmak92 (talk) 10:04, 18 December 2020 (UTC)