The Wall of Dhul-Qarnayn: Construction, Destruction and The Emergence of Gog and Magog 

Surah Al-Kahf 18:98 records Dhul-Qarnayn’s statement after building a wall to prevent Gog and Magog, where he emphasizes that the wall is a mercy from Allah, but when Allah’s promise arrives, it will be completely destroyed.

This statement raises several profound questions.

Allah’s Words in QS Al-Kahf 18:98

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says:

قَا لَ هٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّيْ ۚ فَاِ ذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّيْ جَعَلَهٗ دَكَّآءَ ۚ وَكَا نَ وَعْدُ رَبِّيْ حَقًّا

"(Dhul-Qarnayn) said, 'This is a mercy from my Lord; but when my Lord’s promise comes, He will make it level to the ground, and my Lord’s promise is ever true.'"
(QS. Al-Kahf 18:98)

To Whom Was Dhul-Qarnayn Speaking?

In this verse, Dhul-Qarnayn was addressing a people who did not share his faith.

This can be observed from the use of "رَبِّي" (Rabbi - "My Lord") instead of "رَبُّنَا" (Rabbuna - "Our Lord") in his statement.

• If Dhul-Qarnayn was speaking to people of the same faith, he would have used رَبُّنَا to indicate shared belief in Allah.
• The use of رَبِّي (Rabbi) suggests that these people did not believe in Allah or did not understand true monotheism.

In the Quran, when prophets speak to believers, they usually use رَبُّنَا (Rabbuna - "Our Lord").

Examples from the Quran:

1. Prophet Musa speaking to Harun and the Israelites:

   • رَبُّنَا ("Our Lord")
   • Reference: Surah TaHa 20:50

2. Prophet Ibrahim speaking to his polytheistic people:

   • رَبِّي ("My Lord")
   • Reference: Surah As-Saffat 37:99

From this, we see a strong possibility that Dhul-Qarnayn was subtly calling these people to monotheism, by emphasizing that power and success come from Allah, not from himself.

By stating "هَٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّي" ("This is a mercy from my Lord"), he was introducing them to the concept of Tawhid (Oneness of God).

Dhul-Qarnayn also made it clear that true success does not come from human effort alone, but from the mercy of Allah.

Meaning of the Word دَكَّآءَ (Dakka’)

The destruction of Dhul-Qarnayn’s wall cannot be understood as merely "pierced," "cracked," or "breached".

The original meaning of دَكَّآءَ in Arabic:

1. To destroy something until it is leveled with the ground.
2. To flatten or crush something with great force.
3. To make something lose its original form.

According to classical Quranic interpretations by Ibn Kathir and At-Tabari, دَكَّآءَ in Al-Kahf 18:98 means:

"It will be leveled with the ground, leaving no structure standing."

Thus, Dhul-Qarnayn’s wall was not merely cracked or pierced but was completely destroyed and flattened.

Why دَكَّآءَ Does Not Mean "Pierced" or "Breached"

If Allah SWT wanted to say that the wall was pierced or breached, the Quran would have used different words.

For example, in Al-Kahf 18:71, regarding the story of Prophet Musa and Khidr, when Khidr made a hole in the boat:

The word used is خَرَقَ (kharaqaha), not دَكَّآءَ.

This indicates that "piercing" or "breaching" has its own distinct term in Arabic, which is not دَكَّآءَ.

The Difference Between "Dakka’" and "Futihat" in the Context of Gog and Magog

In Al-Kahf 18:98, Allah says:

"فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاءَ"
"So when my Lord’s promise comes, He will make it level to the ground."

However, in Al-Anbiya 21:96, Allah says:

"حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ"
"Until when (the barrier of) Gog and Magog is opened..."

Here, the word فُتِحَتْ (futihat) means "opened", not "destroyed".

This suggests that before the complete destruction (دَكَّآءَ), the wall will first be opened or breached (فُتِحَتْ).

Possible Causes of the Wall’s Destruction

Logically, دَكَّآءَ, meaning total destruction, could be caused by several factors, either:

1. Natural phenomena decreed by Allah.
2. Human intervention.

Below are some of the most plausible causes:

1. Large-Scale Earthquake (زلزال عظيم - Zilzal ‘Azim)

• A powerful earthquake can destroy man-made structures.
• If the wall was built with iron and molten copper, seismic vibrations could cause cracks, leading to a complete collapse.

2. Massive Volcanic Eruption

• If the wall was built near a volcanic area, an eruption could melt and destroy it.
• Lava heat could liquefy the copper, causing the wall to collapse.

3. Meteor or Asteroid Impact

• A large asteroid hitting the area could obliterate the wall, flattening it completely.
• This aligns with Quranic references to celestial impacts (Surah Saba’ 34:2).

4. Large Explosion or Advanced Technology

• A nuclear explosion or massive detonation could annihilate the wall instantly.
• If humans discover its location and use modern technology, the wall could be destroyed using machinery or explosives.

Conclusion

1. The wall of Gog and Magog will not just be breached or pierced but will be completely leveled to the ground.
2. Before its total destruction (دَكَّآءَ), it will first be opened (فُتِحَتْ).
3. Gog and Magog will not escape through small cracks but only when the wall is fully destroyed.
4. Its destruction will not be caused by human effort but by Allah’s divine decree.

The key reflection here is to understand the Promise and Mercy of Allah.

The wall was built by Mercy, but it will be destroyed by the Promise.