Governance and Civilization: Lessons from the Story of Dhul-Qarnayn

Allah Almighty manifested in the life of the best of kings, Dhul-Qarnayn, profound civilizational concepts, and made his story a source of lessons for every ruler who seeks to govern people with truth and justice. In the Qur’an, Allah guided His servants to the pillars of divine civilization, which are founded upon His law and its implementation among humankind. What are these pillars? They are faith, justice, and righteous action qualities indispensable for the stability of nations, enabling people to truly feel secure in their lives, their wealth, their honor, their religion, and their reason.

Dhul-Qarnayn: A Model of the Just and Faithful Ruler

Faith in Allah as Lord compels the ruler to derive his commands and legislation from the divine way a way free of excess and deficiency, free of extremism and negligence, free of contradiction and error. It keeps him far removed from his own whims, so that he neither wrongs nor oppresses, nor arrogantly rules over people’s lives and security without just cause. Justice, in turn, is indispensable, for it is the vessel of salvation, the guarantee of safety for the people of the earth, and the foundation of trust between shepherd and flock, leader and led, ruler and ruled. Through work and cooperation, prosperity spreads, and civilization flourishes according to the path set by the Lord of the worlds.

Dhul-Qarnayn established a divinely inspired civilization founded upon the pillars of faith, knowledge, justice, and reform directed toward humanity wherever he settled or journeyed. He led the world with faith, goodness, and prosperity, striving to liberate it from the bondage of overwhelming materialism, as well as from disbelief, polytheism, and corruption.

He was keen to instill in his soldiers and followers the values of goodness and truth, and to train them in resisting the evils within the human soul—the foremost of which are injustice, aggression, tyranny over people, and attempts to enslave or exploit them for selfish gain. For moral corruption is among the gravest harms to human life.

Characteristics of Divine Civilization

Divine civilization is comprehensive and capable of being established at any time there is adherence to the divine path and its rulings. For this path encompasses every form of good: intangible elements of belief, spirituality, morality, knowledge, and creativity, as well as material elements including urban, industrial, agricultural, and commercial development. It also contains organizational and legislative components that regulate the lives of individuals, communities, and states integrated with every aspect of civilization. Thus, a God-centered civilization emerges faithful, progressive for the benefit of humanity, and devoted to spreading guidance among all people. It strives to build human beings upon foundations of sound intellect, upright morals, correct thought, and proper understanding prioritizing this over the mere construction of buildings, beautification of cities, or manufacturing of weapons.

Dhul-Qarnayn: A Role Model in Civilizational Leadership

The life of Dhul-Qarnayn in his civilizational leadership of humanity in his time offers us a radiant example of the strong, faithful, and knowledgeable man who harnesses all the resources of his state its soldiers, followers, sciences, means, and capabilities to uphold the law of Allah, establish His religion, serve humanity, exalt the word of God, and lead people from darkness into light, from servitude to men and materialism to the worship of Allah.

The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him and, after him, the Rightly Guided Caliphs, adhered to the same path and guidance laid down by the Qur’an. They put into practice the Almighty’s words: ] those who, when We establish them in the land, keep up the prayer, pay the prescribed alms, command what is right, and forbid what is wrong: God controls the outcome of all events.[ ] Al-Hajj:41[

It is through steadfast faith, righteous action, virtuous conduct, noble aims, the call to Allah and to truth, and the use of whatever knowledge and wisdom we have been granted that divine civilization is built a civilization whose foundation is sound creed, from which flow God-given principles, values, and morals that bring happiness to all who follow its path in this world and the Hereafter.

Exalted human civilization is realized under the shade of Islam. Thus, we may define divine civilization as: “the interaction of human activities carried out by the monotheistic community in its role as God’s vicegerent on earth throughout time, within the framework of the Islamic concepts of life, the universe, and humanity.”

This definition is broad enough to include the successive phases of divine civilization, beginning with the dawn of history through the prophets, messengers, and their faithful followers, and culminating in its most expansive stage the era initiated by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and the developments and events that followed.

Thus, divine civilization becomes a universal civilization, encompassing within it the interactions of nations and peoples united under the law of Allah. It welcomes into its fold all of humanity whether Black, yellow, or white within the framework of the divine path and its rulings

It strives to serve and bring happiness to humankind, so that man, together with the surrounding cosmos, may exist in a universal civilizational unity exalting God Almighty and joining in the innate glorification of the All-Creator, the All-Knowing, the Maker of all existence. The Almighty has said: ] The seven heavens and the earth and everyone in them glorify Him. There is not a single thing that does not celebrate His praise, though you do not understand their praise: He is most forbearing, most forgiving.[ ] Al-Isra:44[

If we reflect upon the words of Allah, the Exalted:

] By the declining day,]1[ man is [deep] in loss,] 2[ except for those who believe, do good deeds, urge one another to the truth, and urge one another to steadfastness.]3[ [ ] Al-'Asr[

We would truly find that it represents the essence of divine civilization in its concepts and components. The surah encompasses, with complete clarity, all the elements of civilization: the human being, community, and the collective quality of those in the surah who believed and performed righteous deeds. It also embodies the continuous civilizational interaction through work, application, and implementation of principles and concepts.

The suspension of action and implementation of principles disrupts the divine character, placing it in a state not of progress but of stagnation, delay, and decline.

Dhul-Qarnayn contributed to shaping human life upon foundations of creed and divinely guided morals. I would be correct in saying that he left us with clear landmarks on how to engage with the psychology of nations and inspire them through faith, knowledge, work, justice, reform, and development

Lessons, insights, and wisdoms

The story of Dhul-Qarnayn is rich with signs, lessons, rulings, etiquettes, fruits, and benefits, among which we may mention:

1.     Reflection on how Allah raises some people in rank above others and grants whomever He wills sovereignty and wealth without measure, out of His hidden wisdom and manifest power. There is no deity but Him.

2.    It is a reminder of the necessity of pursuing means and following the divine laws of the universe through diligence and hard work, for success and triumph come in proportion to effort. What Allah has related to us about Dhul-Qarnayn his journeys to the setting place of the sun, its rising place, and the north; his tireless striving; his delight in continuing travels, braving dangers, crossing rugged terrains and seas; and finally attaining a glory unmatched is the greatest lesson for those endowed with insight.

3.    Among the lessons is the encouragement to strengthen resolve in overcoming obstacles. Whenever the means are available, crossing seas or traversing deserts should not be taken as an excuse for idleness or contentment with mediocrity. Rather, one should persevere, tasting in present hardship the sweetness of its eventual outcome comfort and well-being.

4.    The duty to strive promptly for lofty endeavors.

5.    Whoever gains power over his enemies and subdues them should not be intoxicated by the delight of authority, driving them with the rod of humiliation or forcing upon them the bitterness of enslavement and punishment. Rather, he should treat the doer of good according to his goodness, and the wrongdoer only in proportion to his wrongdoing.

6.    When subjects bring before a ruler complaints of neighboring oppression, it is his duty to exert every effort to secure comfort and safety, defending the beloved homeland and safeguarding freedom and civilization from the claws of savagery and ruin—thus upholding the obligation of repelling aggressors and enforcing justice among all people

7.    A ruler ought to refrain from taking the wealth of his subjects and to show detachment from demanding payment in return for duties he performs. In this lies the preservation of his dignity and an increase in the people’s affection for him

8.    Acknowledging the favor of Allah when appropriate.

9.    Strengthening the walls and fortresses at the frontiers and reinforcing them on scientific foundations, based on sound field studies, so that future generations may benefit from them throughout the ages and across the passage of time.

10.                    The ruler should work alongside the laborers and personally oversee the tasks whenever necessary, in order to inspire diligence and raise morale.

11.  Reminding others and making them aware of the fruits of significant deeds, so that they may feel the mercy of God.

12. Mindfulness of returning to God, with an awareness of the fleeting nature of this world and an aspiration for what is with Him.

13. Taking heed of the enduring legacy of noble praise and lasting impact, as the noble verses highlighted the virtuous qualities of Dhul-Qarnayn his courage, chastity, justice, commitment to establishing security, kindness to those who do good, and punishment of the wrongdoers.

14.Taking heed of the enduring legacy of noble praise and lasting impact, as the noble verses highlighted the virtuous qualities of Dhul-Qarnayn—his courage, chastity, justice, commitment to establishing security, kindness to those who do good, and punishment of the wrongdoers.