ثُمَّ أَتبَعَ سَبَبًا

Then he followed a means.

EXEGESIS

Thumma (then) is usually used to indicate sequence. However, it can also mean ‘furthermore’. Hence, it is not clear if the three journeys of Dhū al-Qarnayn are mentioned in a chronologically sequential order, or simply refer to three different journeys during his life. Having said that, the former is the more apparent meaning.

EXPOSITION

Dhū al-Qarnayn’s travels were far from finished, and so he continued on from the western region he had visited, traversing the lands by the means at his disposal.