Dhulqarnain: Alexander Or Cyrus
There’s another problem with taking the story of Zhul Qarnain literally. You can identify the barrier described in surah Kahf with 3 different possible locations. Gates of Derbent, Darial Pass or the wall of Gorgan. Any other explanation doesn’t make sense as the events of surah kahf occurred around the Caucasus region . However, we find problems with all of them when examined from the perspective of Quran. They are either proven to be very late constructions ( ranging from 3rd to 7th century ) or a “barrier” which allowed the passage of people from inside and out. The Darial pass is the oldest of the three but it was fortified around 151 BC and as l have indicated, it wasn’t a barrier. God forbid, l am not trying to undermine your faith, you can believe in any explanation as long as it seems reasonable to you. But for me, it’s clear the Quran isn’t describing history. I read the story of Zhul Qarnain in a literary manner. I still believe the Quran is a revelation from God to his final Prophet and l have fortified my faith against any historical or archeological proof.