They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?" (Al-Kahf [18] : 94)
1 Mufti Taqi Usmani
They said, “O Dhul-Qarnain, the (tribes of) Ya’jūj and Ma’jūj (Gog and Magog) are mischief-makers on the earth. So, should we assign a tax for you on condition that you make a barrier between us and them?”
2 Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
They pleaded, “O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Surely Gog and Magog[[ Gog and Magog are two wild peoples who were sealed off by a barrier built by Ⱬul-Qarnain to stop them from raiding their peaceful neighbours. There are many speculations as to their location, but none is supported by reliable sources. Their coming out is mentioned in {21:96}-97 as one of the major signs of the final Hour. ]] are spreading corruption throughout the land. Should we pay you tribute, provided that you build a wall between us and them?”
3 Ruwwad Translation Center
They said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption in the land. Can we give you some payment in return for you to construct a barrier between us and them?”
4 A. J. Arberry
They said, 'O Dhool Karnain, behold, Gog and Magog are doing corruption in the earth; so shall we assign to thee a tribute, against thy setting up a barrier between us and between them?'
5 Abdul Haleem
They said, ‘Dhu ’l-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are ruining this land. Will you build a barrier between them and us if we pay you a tribute?’
6 Abdul Majid Daryabadi
`They said: O Zul-Qarnain verily Yajuj and Majuj are working corruption in the land; shall we then pay thee tribute on condition that thou place between us and them a barrier!
7 Abdullah Yusuf Ali
They said; "O Zul-qarnain! the Gog and Magog (People) do great mischief on earth; shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us and them?
8 Abul Ala Maududi
They said: "O Dhu al-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption in this land. So shall we pay you taxes on the understanding that you will set up a barrier between us and them?"
9 Ahmed Ali
They said: 'O Dhu'l-Qarnain, Gog and Magog are oppressing the land. May we pay you some tribute so that you could build a rampart between us and them?"
10 Ahmed Raza Khan
They said, “O Zul-Qarnain – indeed Yajuj and Majuj* are spreading chaos in the land – so shall we assign for you a consideration upon the condition that you set up a wall between us and them?” (* Gog and Magog.)
11 Ali Quli Qarai
They said, ‘O Dhul Qarnayn! Indeed Gog and Magog are causing disaster in this land. Shall we pay you a tribute on condition that you build a barrier between them and us?’
12 Ali Ünal
They said: "O Dhu’l-Qarnayn! Gog and Magog are causing disorder in this land. May we pay you a tribute so that you set a barrier between us and them?"
13 Amatul Rahman Omar
They said, `Dhul-Qarnain! Gog and Magog (-respectively the ancestors of the present Teutonic and Slavonic races) are playing havoc in this country. Shall we pay you tribute on condition that you set up a barrier between us and them?´
14 English Literal
They said: "You (owner) of the two horns/powers/glories, that Yagog and Magog (are) corrupting in the earth/Planet Earth, so do we make/put for you (a) royalty/retainer/expense/tribute on that you put/create between us and between them a barrier/obstacle
15 Faridul Haque
They said, "O Zul-Qarnain - indeed Yajuj and Majuj * are spreading chaos in the land – so shall we assign for you a consideration upon the condition that you set up a wall between us and them?" (* Gog and Magog.)
16 Hamid S. Aziz
They said, "O Zul´qarneyn! Verily, Yagug and Magug (Gog and Magog) are doing great evil in the land. Shall we then pay you tribute, that you set between us and them a barrier
17 Hilali & Khan
They said: "O Dhul-Qarnain! Verily! Ya'juj and Ma'juj (Gog and Magog) are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them?"
18 Maulana Mohammad Ali
Until, when he reached (a place) between the two mountains, he found on that side of them a people who could hardly understand a world.
19 Mohammad Habib Shakir
They said: O Zulqarnain! surely Gog and Magog make mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute on condition that you should raise a barrier between us and them
20 Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall
They said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Lo! Gog and Magog are spoiling the land. So may we pay thee tribute on condition that thou set a barrier between us and them?
21 Muhammad Sarwar
They said, "Dhu 'l-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are ravaging this land. Would you establish a barrier between us and them if we pay you a certain tax?"
22 Qaribullah & Darwish
'ThulKarnain' they said, 'Look, Gog and Magog are corrupting the earth. Build for us a barrier between us and them, and we will pay you a tribute'
23 Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri
They said: "O Dhul-Qarnayn! Verily, Ya'juj and Ma'juj are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them"
24 Wahiduddin Khan
They said, "O Dhu'l-Qarnayn! Gog and Magog are causing corruption in the land, so may we pay you tribute on condition that you set a barrier between us and them?"
25 Talal Itani
They said, “O Zul-Qarnain, the Gog and Magog are spreading chaos in the land. Can we pay you, to build between us and them a wall?”
26 Tafsir jalalayn
They said, `O Dh'l-Qarnayn, truly Gog and Magog (read Ya'jj wa-Ma'jj or Yjj wa-Mjj; these two are non-Arabic names of two tribes and are therefore indeclinable) are causing corruption in the land, plundering and oppressing [us] when they come forth to attack us. So shall we pay you a tribute, some [form of] payment (a variant reading [for kharjan] is kharjan), on condition that you build between us and them a barrier?, an obstruction, so that they will not be able to reach us.
They said;"O Dhul-Qarnayn! Verily, Ya'juj and Ma'juj are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute"
Ibn Jurayj reported from Ata' from Ibn Abbas that;
this meant a great reward, i.e., they wanted to collect money among themselves to give to him so that he would create a barrier between them and Ya'juj and Ma'juj.
عَلَى أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا
in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them"
Dhul-Qarnayn said with kindness, righteousness and good intentions
28 Almuntakhab Fi Tafsir Alquran Alkarim
They said to him -through interpreters-: "O you Zul- Qarnain, the tribes of Gog and Magog* are people who have both mischief and ill-will in their composition and they spread discord in the land. May we apportion to you a tribute in payment of raising a rampart between us, a rampart that would be invincible against all assaults