سورة الكهف

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): The reason we interpreted sabab (course) as dalil (indication) is that Allah says in Surah al-Kahf: وَ آتَیْناهُ مِنْ کُلِّ شَیْءٍ سَبَباً [And We gave him of everything a means], meaning an indication.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Then Zulqarnain travelled towards the west, and whenever he passed by a village he would let out a roar like an enraged lion, and from the two horns on his head darkness, thunder, lightning and thunderbolts would blaze forth, destroying all his opponents. The east and the west of the world submitted to him, and Allah says in this regard: إِنَّا مَکَّنَّا لَهُ فِی الْأَرْضِ وَ آتَیْناهُ مِنْ کُلِّ شَیْءٍ سَبَباً [Indeed We established him in the earth and gave him of everything a means].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Zulqarnain went to the west, and on his way he reached a village and roared like an enraged lion, and from his roar darkness, thunder, lightning and thunderbolts appeared which destroyed his opponents and enemies. As soon as he reached the setting-place of the sun, all the people of the earth came under his rule, and to this matter this verse alludes: إِنَّا مَکَّنَّا لَهُ فِی الْأَرْضِ وَ آتَیْناهُ مِنْ کُلِّ شَیْءٍ سَبَباً [Indeed We established him in the earth and gave him of everything a means], meaning a sign.