Thus was the state of those people, and We encompassed in knowledge all concerning Dhu al- Qarnayn.

Then he set out on another expedition

until when he reached a place between the two mountains, he found beside the mountains a people who scarcely understood anything.

They said: "O Dhu al-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption in this land. So shall we pay you taxes on the understanding that you will set up a barrier between us and them?"

He answered: "Whatever my Lord has granted me is good enough. But help me with your labour and I will erect a rampart between you and them.

Bring me ingots of iron." Then after he had filled up the space between the two mountain-sides, he said: "(Light a fire) and ply bellows." When he had made it (red like) fire, he said: "Bring me molten copper which I may pour on it."

Such was the rampart that Gog and Magog could not scale, nor could they pierce it.

Dhu al-Qarnayn said: "This is a mercy from my Lord: but when the time of my Lord's promise shall come, He will level the rampart with the ground. My Lord's promise always comes true."

And on that Day We shall let some of them surge like waves against others, and the Trumpet shall be blown. Then We shall gather them all together.

That will be the Day We shall place Hell before the unbelievers

whose eyes had become blind against My admonition and who were utterly disinclined to hear it.

Do the unbelievers, then, believe that they can take any of My creatures as their guardians beside Me? Verily We have prepared Hell to welcome the unbelievers.

Say, (O Muhammad): "Shall We tell you who will be the greatest losers in respect of their works?

It will be those whose effort went astray in the life of the world and who believe nevertheless that they are doing good.

Those are the ones who refused to believe in the revelations of their Lord and that they are bound to meet Him. Hence, all their deeds have come to naught, and We shall assign no weight to them on the Day of Resurrection.

Hell is their recompense for disbelieving and their taking My revelations and My Messengers as objects of jest.

As for those who believe and do good works, the Gardens of Paradise shall be there to welcome them;

there they will abide for ever, with no desire to be removed from there."

Say: "If the sea were to become ink to record the Words of my Lord, indeed the sea would be all used up before the Words of my Lord are exhausted, and it would be the same even if We were to bring an equal amount of ink."

Say (O Muhammad): "I am no more than a human being like you; one to whom revelation is made: 'Your Lord is the One and Only God.' Hence, whoever looks forward to meet his Lord, let him do righteous works, and let him associate none with the worship of his Lord."