Alexander
- The Great?
Dhul Qarnayn?
Or The Pagan?
Or The Alcoholic?
Or Military Maniac?
Islam Newsroom Update: May 16, 2015
Since coming to Islam in 1991 - I have heard stories and tales of someone mentioned in the Quran as "Dhul Qarnayn" and listened to arguments amongst Muslims as to the identity of this righteous and mighty military man who achieved great feats by the permission of Almighty God - Allah Subhannah Wa Ta'ala.
Some assured me it was none other than Alexander the Great (died June 323 B.C.). Others said it could not be and must have been Darius (mentioned in the Old Testament). Still others said it doesn't make any difference who he was in our history books, because Quran is the only accurate book on earth, being under the constant protection of Allah, and therefore uncorruptable.
Regardless of who Dhul Qarnayn is or was, the person of Alexander the Great of Mesopotanina however, is the most UNLIKELY candidate.
Diaries from the Royal archives show clearly he was a womanizer, alcoholic, obessed with world domination and . . . pagan idol worshipper (mushrik).
323 B.C. Death of Alexander
(the not-so-great?)
Emperor Alexander (maybe not-so-great) died the death of a real pagan, idol worshipper, alcoholic with numerous wives. Other evidence offered indicates he also had an ongoing love affair with his life long friend, companion and leader of his royal guard, who had died only a few months before.
Regarding his death, Alexander continued heavy drinking of alcohol, partying while having a very high fever for twelve days before he died. If it wasn't poisoning, then there are a host of different afflictions that it could have been including meningitis, typhoid, and west nile virus. Some, though, insist that Alexander's life of heavy drinking may have finally caught up with him.
It was May of 323 BC and Alexander the Great was in Baghdad. The thirty-two-year-old King of Macedonia had spent the past thirteen years conquering much of the known world. In the process, he created an empire that reached from Macedonia through Greece and the Persian Empire to the fringes of India. He had plans to expand his holdings, but these dreams would never be realized.
Alexander was obsessed with world domination and started his campaign when he crossed the Hellespont to conquer the Persian Empire. It took 3 mighty battles and the life of Darius the third in 330 BC to achieve his victory over ancient Persia. Alexander pushed forward in eastward direction toward the western and norther parts of Hind (India).
He and his warriors victoriously defeated any and all who would dare to stand up against and challenge them, extending his rule and domination into the northern part of India. He would have continued to force his way across all of India and into China, if it had not been for his own army being unwilling to accept the undertaking.
Once back in Baghdad, after so long away for hostile conquests, Alexander began once again planning his next take over.
May 29 while attending feast with a dear friend, Alexander drank heavily throughout the day and into the night. He began complaining of ill health during the festivities, left the party and went back to his bed.
The next 10 days are detailed from royal diaries (below) for all to see how he continued drinking, sacrificing to his gods and steadily going from bad to worse - even though he carried on his plans for take over. Even his last moments showed his concern for his military forces to move out and onward.
Cause of death? He suffered an extended and debilitating fever for a week and a half. Some said from alcoholism, others indicated it might be from poison, still others say it could have been sexually transmitted disease. Malaria, typhoid fever and food poisoning are also possibilities.
Seems the only thing all agreed upon was, in early June of 323 B.C., Alexander, the Macedonian ruler died.
His generals and leaders were immediately at each other to divide up the empire, and before long it withered away to nothing.
"... he lay now in continual fever the whole night."
The following description of the death of Alexander was written by Arrian a Greek historian who wrote his account approximately 350 years after the event. Obviously not a contemporary of Alexander, Arrian used the Royal Diaries, the contemporaneous narratives of the campaign of Alexander the Great.
From the actual translations, starting at the point where he first became sick. (read..)
"A few days later he (Alexander) had performed the divine sacrifices (those prescribed for good fortune and others suggested by the priests) and was drinking far into the night with some friends. He is said to have distributed sacrificial victims and wine to the army by detachments and companies. Some state that he wanted to leave the drinking-party and go to bed, but then Medius met him, the most trusty of his Companions, and asked him to a party, for he promised that it would be a good one.
Day 1
The Royal Diaries tell us that he drank and caroused with Medius. Later he rose, had a bath and slept. He then returned to have dinner with Medius and again drank far into the night. Leaving the drinking, he bathed, after which he had a little to eat and went to sleep there. The fever was already on him.
Day 2
Each day he was carried on his couch to perform the customary sacrifices, and after their completion he lay down in the men's apartments until dusk. During this time he gave instructions to his officers about the coming expedition and sea-voyage, for the land forces to be ready to move on the fourth day, and for those sailing with him to be prepared to cast off a day later.
He was carried thence on his couch to the river, where he boarded a boat and sailed across to the garden where he rested again after bathing.
Day 3
The next day, he again bathed and performed the prescribed sacrifices. He then entered his room, lay down and talked to Medius. After ordering the officers to meet him in the morning, he had a little food.
Carried back to his room, he lay now in continual fever the whole night.
Day 4
In the morning he bathed and sacrificed. Nearchus and the other officers were instructed to get things ready for sailing two days later.
Day 5
The following day, he again bathed and sacrificed, and after performing them, he remained in constant fever. But in spite of that he summoned the officers and ordered them to have everything quite ready for the journey. After a bath in the evening, he was now very ill.
Day 6
The next day, he was carried to the house by the diving place, where he sacrificed, and in spite of being very poorly, summoned the senior officers to give them renewed instructions about the voyage.
Day 7
The next day he was carried with difficulty to perform the sacrifices, and continued to give orders just the same to his officers about the voyage.
Day 8
The next day, though very weak, he managed to sacrifice. He asked the generals to stay in the hall, with the brigadiers and colonels in front of the doors. Now extremely sick, he was carried back from the garden to the Royal Apartments.
As the officers entered, he clearly recognized them, but he said not a word to them.
Days 9 and 10
He had a high fever that night;another day as well. all the next day and for another day as well.
This information comes from the Royal Diaries, where we also learn that the soldiers wanted to see him, some hoping to see him before he died and others because there was a rumor that he was already dead, and they guessed that his death was being kept back by his personal guard, or so I think.
Many pressed into the room in their grief and longing to see Alexander. They say that he remained speechless as the army filed past him.
Yet he welcomed each one of them by a nod with his head or a movement of his eyes.
The Royal Diaries say that Peithon, Attalus, Demophon, Peucestas, Cleomenes, Menidas and Seleucus spent the night in the temple of Serapis and asked the god whether it would be better and more profitable for Alexander to be carried into the temple to pray the god for his recovery. A reply came from the god that he should not be brought into the temple, but that it would be better for him to remain where he was.
The Companions brought this news, and, shortly after, Alexander died; for this was what was better.
That is the end of the account given by Aristoboulos and Ptolemy."
How To Cite This Article: "The Death of Alexander the Great, 323 BC" EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2008).
[conclusion] The person known as Alexander the Great - does not qualify to be the one mentioned in the Holy Quran due to a number of things mentioned (above). However, the greatest of these would be the false worship and belief that some man-made gods could benefit him or anyone.
Therefore, he is NOT the one we know as Dhul Qarnayn. And of course, Allahu 'Alim (Allah is the All-Knower).
