As'salamu Alaikum Everyone,
Question:
Was Dhil-Qarnayn an idol-worshiping pagan? If he were, wouldn't that refute Islam's Miracle regarding him?
In the following link, the Divine Miracle of the
sunset-less North Pole, in the Glorious Quran, had been thoroughly demonstrated:
www.answering-christianity.com/sunrise_sunset.htm
www.answering-christianity.com/ac20.htm#links (Stunning Numerical and Scientific Miracles)
But if Dhil-Qarnyn, who was the chief person in this Miracle, was a pagan, wouldn't that totally contradict the Glorious Quran?
Answer:
Islam began with Adam and ended with Muhammad, peace be upon all of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah Almighty. Muslims lived among pagans in the past. Not every person living among pagans was one. Many were unitarians and spirituals. They believed in GOD Almighty, and either never bowed to idols or they stopped bowing to idols and became spiritual with GOD Almighty.
Asya, Pharaoh's wife for example, lived with him while she was a Muslim, even though everyone, - including her, - were bowing to and worshiping her husband, the Pharaoh:
[066:011] And for the believers. Allah cites the example of the pharaoh’s wife. She said, “Lord, (please) build me a house in paradise under your (auspicious) care. Save me from the pharaoh and his (evil) deeds, and save me from (such) an unjust nation.”So while she probably lived a pagan life under Pharaoh, but in her heart, she was a true Muslim.
Assuming that Alexander the Great is Dhil Qarnayn, he could've became a Muslim, like Asya, during his life while ruling. And so the Quran's Divine Claim about his inclination to being a just ruler and God-fearing makes sense.
Even if people deified him and made idols out of him during his life and after his death, if in his heart he was a genuine Muslim, especially before and during this expedition, then there is no contradiction here, especially if he couldn't change the way of life that his nation and his ruling line were on.
I hope this helps, insha'Allah.
Take care,
Osama Abdallah
