Abul Kalam Azad and the mystery of ‘Dhul Qarnain'

By Muhammad Talha Amin Baruah

Dhul Qarnain, meaning "the two-horned one," is a mysterious figure mentioned in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. Though described as a just and powerful king, his true identity remains a topic of debate. Historians from Muslim, Christian, and Jewish backgrounds have all tried to solve this mystery, but the most compelling explanation comes from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first education minister. This article explores Azad’s evidence and analysis regarding the real identity of Dhul Qarnain.

According to Abul Kalam Azad, Dhul Qarnyn is none other then the great persian king 'Cyrus'. Azad had historically and archaeologically proved this. Abul Kalam argued that the theory of Alexander being Dhul Qarnyn has no basis. According to him, Alexander was a polythiest and follower of Aristotle, while Dhul Qarnyn was a monothiest. Azad quoted that everything which the Quran tells us about Dhul Qarnyn applies perfectly to Cyrus the great.

In 1838, a marble statue of Cyrus was found in the ruins of Passar Gadae. The statue had two horns on Cyrus's head, representing his unification of Media and Persia. thus, it become slight clear that Cyrus is indeed Dhul Qarnyn.

Azad in his book on Dhul Qarnyn, he writes that Zoroaster was a contemporary of Dhul Qarnyn and that Dhul Darnyn is none other than Cyrus the great. Cyrus was a Zoroastrian. Abul Kalam differentiates the Zoroastrians with the Magians, as per him, Zoroaster corrected people from the deviated Magian beliefs but later Zoroastrianism was corrupted by these Magians. Abul Kalam states that the real Zoroastrianism is based on truthfulness of action and speech, which is in accordance to Islamic beliefs. He further gave multiple evidences that true Zoroastrianism is not duothiest but monothiest. To justify this claim he used inscriptions issued by Darius, the cousin of Cyrus. In every inscription of Darius he only mentions 'Ahura Mazda' as God but never mentions any other. He also attributes the same greatness to Ahura Mazda which muslims say regarding Allah. Azad also implies that early muslim empires used to give the Zoroastrians the status of 'people of the book' (which is a name given to followers of previous prophets in Islam).

Abul Kalam also used the Old testament to justify that Cyrus was a monothiest. Isaiah chapter 45 verse 1 says : "Thus said the Lord to his anointed Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him... " Clearly the old Testament which is claimed to be monotheistic, narrates Cyrus was guided by God. It's narrated in the Old Testament that Cyrus saved the jews at Babylon. He is said to have marched towards Caucasus region and have built an iron dam there. Azad than uses a map to point the place and also tell us that the place known as Agean sea where Cyrus went was where water had receded from the mud and it was evening time so Cyrus saw the sun set. Azad brings the verse from Quran here "until he [Dhul Qarnyn] reached the setting of the sun, which appeared to him to be setting in a spring of murky water, where he found some people....." (18:86). Azad mentions that many renowned Greek historians including Herodotus said that Cyrus had gone to this place only to rescue the people who were facing tyranny from a barbaric tribe. Cyrus built a wall there and the barbaric tribes were no longer able to harm the people in the region. The barbaric tribes were specifically two.

Azad referenced two great Greek historians - Herodotus and Xenophon, both wrote that Cyrus was a wise, just, tolerant and generous ruler.

Abul Kalam Azad refuted the theories that the dam of Ma'rib was the wall that Dhul Qarnyn created. Azad mentioned that Ma'rib dam is built of stones and its purpose was just to serve agriculture, irrigating lands and hold floodwater. He also rejects the theory that the great wall of China is the wall built by Dhul Qarnyn since the great wall of China is over the plains hills and valleys. According to Abul Kalam Azad, the dam created by Dhul Qarnyn is in Danial gorge, Georgia. He mentions that the gorge is an iron barrier that matched the description of the Dam created by Dhul Qarnyn. Azad further uses early historian's opinion, first he mentions that Al Qurtubi opined the location to be near Armenia and Azerbaijan. Ibn Kathir said the same. Thirdly he mentions about a dream of Abbasid caliph Al Wathiq in which Al Wathiq saw Gog and Magog coming out of Danial Gorge. Azad assessed the verse from Quran - "until he (Dhul Qarnyn) reached between two mountains. He found in front of them a people who could hardly understand language." (18:93) According to Azad, the two mountains are the Caucasus mountains since on the right of Caucasus mountains which blocks the road to its eastern edge, and to the left, the Black Sea, which blocks the road to its western edge. In the middle, the mountain range seems to be towering. There was no way out for attackers from the north except a central strait in these mountains, which the attackers could cross and launch raids.

References :

1. Mabahith fi al-Tafsir al-Mawdu‘i, by Mustafa Muslim, page 314
2. Tafsir Al-Sha‘rawi, by Al-Sha‘rawi, volume 14 page 8975
3. Al-Asas fi al-Sunnah wa Fiqhiha, by Saeed Hawwa, volume 2 page 845-846, volume 3 page 1125-1126, Volume 6 page 3222