Dhul-Qarnayn, “He of the Two Horns”, is a figure mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf of the Quran, where he is described as a great and righteous ruler who built a long wall that keeps Gog and Magog from attacking the people of the West.
Surah Al-Kahf is a portion of the Quran that contains a secret map for the explorer. We live in an age of exploration, so let the map be known to the explorers, that they might be rightly guided.
Why is a tailor interested in cartography and exploration? Because the expedition is dangerous and requires a garment that will protect the body from strange fire. The secret beauty of the surah can clothe the People of Understanding with a powerful garment, a garment of strength to navigate the waves of Time itself, a Prophetic garment of light, a garment to protect the traveler from the alien dangers above and below.
The worshipers examine the verses with little understanding. They read it as children read. They read “Dhul-Qarnain” and debate who he was. Was he Alexander? Cyrus? They read about his journey from west to east, and his construction of the barrier to defend the eastern people from Gog and Magog, and debate the geographies of the narrative. Some say Magog is the Mongols at Central Asia. Other match Magog to more contemporary politics. These attempts are folly.
