in many sins. Finally, divine wrath also overtook them; a major earthquake struck them causing them to perish.^[1]

Look at Nimrod! He was a king of outward awe and grandeur! Allah Almighty granted him dominion and rule, but he disobeyed. He disrespected Prophet Ibrāhīm عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. Eventually, torment came upon him too. Allah caused this ill-fated individual and his army to perish through mosquitoes.^[2]

Look at Pharaoh! Look at how powerful he was!  But He was disobedient to Allah Almighty. His kingdom was of no use to him. Power, might, crown and throne, all remained as they were, and Pharaoh, along with his disbelieving people, drowned in the river.^[3]

The skulls of kings

Sayyidunā Dhū al-Qarnayn رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, mentioned in the noble Quran, was a great king. He travelled from east to west. It is narrated that he once arrived in a city where the people had no worldly possessions at all. They had prepared graves, and when morning came, they would go to the graves, refresh their memory of them, clean them, and continue to offer prayers near them. They were extraordinary people; they would fill their stomachs with grass, leaves, and vegetables, and remain engaged in the worship of Allah Almighty.

Sayyidunā Dhū al-Qarnayn رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه visited their leader, exchanged greetings, and said, “I see you in a state that I have not seen any other nation in.”

The leader asked, “What state are you referring to?”