Quranic Reflections - Islamic School of Stanford

the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier
between us and them” (TMQ, 18:94).
Despite the fact that he was capable of building the barrier alone, he asked for help so
that they may learn a lesson from it. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “So
help me with strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier…but
no one knows its true meanings except Allah” (TMQ, 18:95). He built the barrier,
which has remained standing until today. However, we do not know where the barrier
actually is, and thus will not be able to know where Ya’juj and Ma’juj’s are located
until their appearance before the Day of Judgment.
The connection between the four stories
We must remember that the Qur’an does not just narrate stories in quite a random
manner; they rather form an integral structure and serve a specific meaning. For
example, the story of Prophet Musa (AS) does not mention the Pharaoh or the miracle
of the stick because the meaning intended in this case is different from that found in
either of those stories. What is then the thread which ties the four aforementioned
stories together
The stories talk about the major trials and temptations in human life:
1- The trial of religion: the case of people’s evil acts towards a believer in the
form of harm, torture or threats which may cause his loss of faith, deviation
from religion or fear. This was the trial the people of the cave experienced and
passed.
2- The trial of wealth: this was the trial of the man with the two gardens, who
was so proud of his wealth that he considered the hereafter not to be true.
Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “And I think not the Hour will
ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, (on the Day of
Resurrection), I surely shall find better than this when I return to
Him…but no one knows its true meanings except Allah “ (TMQ, 18:36).
3- The trial of knowledge: The case of a man who boasts of the knowledge he
possesses to the extent that he feels arrogant and hence forgets about modesty.
Such a man may learn things of no benefit to him or to his community. Or else
he may misuse the knowledge he was granted in a way that may harm him or
the society in which he lives. The trial of knowledge is illustrated in the story
of Prophet Musa (AS) and Al-Khidr. Prophet Musa (AS) thought that no one
on earth was more knowledgeable than him. However, once he realized that
this was untrue, he traveled a long distance to meet the more knowing man
and to learn from him in a truly respectful and modest relation of a pupil to his
teacher. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “Musa said to him
(Khidr): “May I follow you so that you teach me something of that
knowledge (guidance and true path) which you have been taught (by
Allah) But no one knows its true meanings except Allah” (TMQ, 18:66).
4- The trial of power: The example of a man who, given all the means to
achieve material and technological success to push civilization forward and to