A Metallurgical Re-evaluation of Dhū al-Qarnayn’s Barrier: From the Alloy Hypothesis to an Fe-Cu Composite Model

The construction of the barrier by Dhū al-Qarnayn, as depicted in Surah al-Kahf (Q. ۱۸:۹۶), involves a unique combination of iron and copper. Traditionally, this process has been interpreted as the formation of a homogenous metallurgical alloy. However, from the perspective of materials science, this “Alloy Hypothesis” faces severe technical challenges, including the extreme melting point of iron and the inherent immiscibility of the iron-copper (Fe-Cu) system. This study employs a multidisciplinary methodology, combining Qur’anic analysis with historical metallurgical data from the Achaemenid era (۶th century BCE) as a representative technological baseline. We argue that the barrier was not a product of anachronistic alloying but rather a masterpiece of composite engineering. By introducing a “Composite Model” based on interfacial thermal bonding and capillary infiltration, we demonstrate how ancient engineers could achieve structural unification (radm) and corrosion resistance without violating the physical laws of thermodynamics. Our findings suggest that the use of copper as a low-temperature intermediary binder provided a feasible solution for creating an impenetrable, monolithic barrier within the technological constraints of antiquity.

کلیدواژه ها:

Qur’anic engineering ، Dhū al-Qarnayn’s barrier ، Scientific Interpretation ، Archaeometallurgy ، Iron-Copper System ، Composite Materials ، Achaemenid Metallurgy ، Interfacial Bonding