Sa'b Dhu Marathid

Ṣaʿb Dhu Marāthid (also al-Ṣaʿb b. Dhī Marāthid) was a mythical world-conqueror figure described in the medieval Islamic tradition as the tenth South Arabian king of the Himyarite Kingdom. Early in life, Sa'b repeatedly receives prophetic dreams that foreshadow his future as the ruler of the world. To understand these visions, the interpreters and religious leaders in his circle send him to Jerusalem to meet a mysterious figure named Moses al-Khidr. Al-Khidr establishes Sa'b's future as the world-conqueror, and endows him with the title Dhu al-Qarnayn. From then on, Sa'b gathers an army and he conquers all kingdoms, among them the great civilizations of India, China, and Iran. During his travels, he also experiences epic journeys and quests, such as constructing a wall against the barbarian tribes Gog and Magog or meeting Israfil, the angel of death. Spiritual encounters with God enable him continue on. Ultimately, he decides to return to his home after completing all he had sought to do, but dies on the way back in Babylon after a brief illness.

The biography of Sa'b is largely borrowed from that of Alexander the Great as it occurs in the legendary Alexander Romance tradition. Following Alexander, South Arabian tradition identified him as Dhu al-Qarnayn, a character in the Quran appearing in Surah Al-Kahf. The main source for traditions about Sa'b is The Book of Crowns on the Kings of Himyar by Ibn Hisham.