Transliteration:( Hattaaa izaa balagha bainas saddaini wajada min doonihimaa qawmal laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa )
"Until he reached [207] between two mountains, where he found a people who could hardly understand anything [208]."
While continuing his northerly journey, Dhul-Qarnayn reached a narrow pass between two imposing mountains. This region marked the boundary of civilization, beyond which lived the tribes of Yajuj and Majuj (Gog and Magog)—known for their destructive invasions.
These tribes would regularly emerge through the mountain pass, wreaking havoc and bloodshed in the surrounding lands. This place, according to classical exegesis, is believed to be near the eastern frontier of present-day Turkey.
The people living near this pass were so isolated that they could hardly communicate verbally. Their dialect was unintelligible, making spoken communication extremely difficult.
As a result:
They used gestures and signs to express themselves
Neither they could understand others, nor could others understand them
Despite the language barrier, they successfully conveyed their fear of Yajuj and Majuj and sought Dhul-Qarnayn’s help, as mentioned in the upcoming verse.
This reflects not only the vast reach of Dhul-Qarnayn’s governance but also his patience and ability to serve even the most remote and vulnerable communities.
The tafsir of Surah Kahf verse 93 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Kahf ayat 92 which provides the complete commentary from verse 92 through 96.
(18:93) until when he reached a place between the two mountains,[67] he found beside the mountains a people who scarcely understood anything.[68]
67. The “two mountains” must have been parts of that mountain range which runs between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea as stated in (Surah Al-Kahf, Ayat 96). This must be so because beyond them was the territory of Gog and Magog.
68. That is, it was difficult to communicate with them: their language was almost foreign to Zul-Qarnain and his companions, and, as they were quite barbaric, none could understand their language, nor were they acquainted with any foreign language.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics