Theories about Alexander the Great in the Quran: Difference between revisions

[[Alexander the Great]] is featured in the [[Quran]] as [[Dhul-Qarnayn]] ([[Arabic language|Arabic]] ذو القرنين), literally ''"The Two-Horned One"'', sura [[Al-Kahf]] 18:83–94).{{sfn|Stoneman|2003|p=3}} The story of Dhul-Qarnayn has its origins in legends of [[Alexander the Great]] current in the Middle East in the early years of the Christian era.{{sfn|Bietenholz|1994|p=122-123}} According to these the [[Scythians]], the descendants of [[Gog and Magog]], once defeated one of Alexander's generals, upon which Alexander built a wall in the [[Caucasus mountains]] to keep them out of civilised lands (the basic elements are found in [[Flavius Josephus]]).{{sfn|Bietenholz|1994|p=122-123}} According to Bietenholz, theThe legend went through much further elaboration in subsequent centuries before eventually finding its way into the Quran through a Syrian version.{{sfn|Bietenholz|1994|p=122-123}} This claim which is characterised by a non-theistic theory of the Qur'an's origins is challenged by Muslim exegetes and writers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Sources/BBalex.html}}</ref>