Tafsir al-Baghawi - Al-Baghawi - (5/198)

Tafsir al-BaghawiAl-Baghawi

It is related that Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, heard one man say to another, “O Dhul-Qarnayn!” He said, “You have taken the names of the prophets, and were not satisfied until you took the names of the angels as well.” (1)

The majority held that he was a just and righteous king. (2)

They differed over why he was called Dhul-Qarnayn. Al-Zuhri said: “Because he reached the two extremities of the sun: its rising-place and its setting-place.”

It was also said: because he ruled over Rome and Persia.

And it was said: because he entered the realms of light and darkness.

And it was said: because he saw in a dream that he had taken hold of the two horns of the sun.

And it was said: because he had two fine locks of hair.

And it was said: because he had two horns concealed by his turban.

Abu al-Tufayl narrated from Ali that he said: [He was called “Dhul-Qarnayn” because] (3) he commanded his people to fear Allah, so they struck him on his right horn and he died. Then Allah brought him back to life. He again commanded them to fear Allah, so they struck him on his left horn and he died, and Allah restored him to life. (4)

They also differed concerning his name. It was said that his name was Marzuban ibn Mirzabbah the Greek, from the descendants of Yunan ibn Japheth ibn Noah. And it was said that his name was Alexander ibn Filafus ibn Yamalus (5) the Roman. (6)

(1) Al-Suhayli related it from Umar. Ibn Kathir described it as an isolated report; al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 2:103. Al-Qurtubi likewise related something similar from Ali; 11:46. (2) It is also narrated from Ibn Abbas, and Ibn Kathir preferred this view. Al-Tabari also narrated it from Ali. (3) Added from manuscript B. (4) For these views and others concerning his name, see al-Tabari, 16:8-9; Zad al-Masir, 5:183-184; al-Durr al-Manthur, 5:436 ff.; Tafsir al-Qurtubi, 11:47-48; Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 3:102; al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 2:103. (5) Manuscript B reads: al-Iskandar ibn Qaylis ibn Filus al-Rumi. (6) For this and other views, see Zad al-Masir, 5:183; al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 2:104-105. There is no authentic report from the infallible Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, supporting either these views or those previously mentioned.

وَرُوِيَ أَنَّ عُمَرَ ﵁ سَمِعَ رَجُلًا يَقُولُ لِآخَرَ: يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ فَقَالَ: تَسَمَّيْتُمْ بِأَسْمَاءِ النَّبِيِّينَ فَلَمْ تَرْضَوْا حَتَّى تَسَمَّيْتُمْ بِأَسْمَاءِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ (١) . وَالْأَكْثَرُونَ عَلَى أَنَّهُ كَانَ مَلِكًا عَادِلًا صَالِحًا (٢) . وَاخْتَلَفُوا فِي سَبَبِ تَسْمِيَتِهِ بِـ "ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ" قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ: لِأَنَّهُ بَلَغَ قَرْنَيِ الشَّمْسِ مَشْرِقَهَا وَمَغْرِبَهَا. وَقِيلَ: لِأَنَّهُ مَلَكَ الرُّومَ وَفَارِسَ. وَقِيلَ: لِأَنَّهُ دَخَلَ النُّورَ وَالظُّلْمَةَ. وَقِيلَ: لِأَنَّهُ رَأَى فِي الْمَنَامِ كَأَنَّهُ أَخَذَ بِقَرْنَيِ الشَّمْسِ. وَقِيلَ: لِأَنَّهُ كَانَتْ لَهُ ذُؤَابَتَانِ حَسَنَتَانِ. وَقِيلَ: لِأَنَّهُ كَانَ لَهُ قَرْنَانِ تُوَارِيهِمَا الْعِمَامَةُ. وَرَوَى أَبُو الطُّفَيْلِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ [قَالَ سُمِّيَ "ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ" لِأَنَّهُ] (٣) أَمَرَ قَوْمَهُ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ، فَضَرَبُوهُ عَلَى قَرْنِهِ الْأَيْمَنِ فَمَاتَ فَبَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ فَضَرَبُوهُ عَلَى قَرْنِهِ الْأَيْسَرِ فَمَاتَ، فَأَحْيَاهُ اللَّهُ (٤) . وَاخْتَلَفُوا فِي اسْمِهِ قِيلَ: اسْمُهُ "مَرْزُبَانُ بْنُ مِرْزَبَّةَ الْيُونَانِيُّ" مِنْ وَلَدِ يُونَانَ بْنِ يَافِثَ بْنِ نُوحٍ. وَقِيلَ: اسْمُهُ "الْإِسْكَنْدَرُ بْنُ فَيْلَفُوسَ بْنِ يَامَلُوسَ (٥) الرُّومِيُّ" (٦) .

(١) ذكره السهيلي عن عمر ﵁، وقال الحافظ ابن كثير: إنه غريب، البداية والنهاية: ٢ / ١٠٣، وذكر مثله القرطبي عن علي ﵁: ١١ / ٤٦. (٢) وهو مروي عن ابن عباس، ورجحه أيضا الحافظ ابن كثير، ورواه الطبري عن علي ﵁. (٣) زيادة من نسخة "ب". (٤) انظر هذه الأقوال وأقوالا أخرى في تسميته: الطبري: ١٦ / ٨-٩، زاد المسير: ٥ / ١٨٣-١٨٤، الدر المنثور: ٥ / ٤٣٦ وما بعدها، تفسير القرطبي: ١١ / ٤٧-٤٨، تفسير ابن كثير: ٣ / ١٠٢، البداية والنهاية: ٢ / ١٠٣. (٥) في "ب": الإسكندر بن قيليس بن فيلوس الرومي. (٦) انظرها مع أقوال أخرى في: زاد المسير ٥ / ١٨٣، البداية والنهاية: ٢ / ١٠٤-١٠٥. هذا، وليس على هذه الأقوال، ولا على سابقتها، خبر صحيح عن المعصوم ﷺ.