The Story of Gog and Magog

• Al-Kahf 18:94-95: the people who lived between the two mountains told Dhul-Qarnayn that Gog and Magog were spreading corruption in the land, and offered him payment to build a barrier. Ibn Kathir (Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Azim) explains that "they wanted to collect money among themselves to give to him so that he would create a barrier between them and Ya'juj and Ma'juj". Dhul-Qarnayn refused the payment, saying in effect that "the power and authority that Allah has given me is better for me than what you have collected", and asked them only to help him with their labour.[1][2][8]
• Al-Kahf 18:96 describes how the barrier was built. Ibn Kathir (Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Azim) explains that the pieces of iron "were like bricks or blocks", laid one on top of another until they filled the gap up to the tops of the two mountains; then "he lit a fire until the whole thing was burning hot" and poured molten copper over it. In an-Nihaya fi al-Fitan wa al-Malahim (vol. 1, p. 195) he sums it up: Dhul-Qarnayn built the barrier of iron and copper between two mountains.[3][8][9]
• Al-Kahf 18:97: they could neither climb it nor dig through it. Ibn Kathir (Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Azim) says that "Allah tells us that Ya'juj and Ma'juj could not climb over the barrier or penetrate its lower portion". In an-Nihaya (vol. 1, p. 201) he adds that Dhul-Qarnayn confined them in their place behind the barrier until Allah permits them to come out upon people.[4][8][9]
• Abu Hurayra narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that they dig at it every day; when they almost break through, their leader tells them to go back and dig it tomorrow, and Allah returns it "stronger than it was before" (Sunan Ibn Majah 4080). In at-Tirmidhi's wording (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3153), "Allah makes it return just as it was". Sunnah.com shows the grade Sahih (Darussalam) for both narrations, and at-Tirmidhi himself calls it hasan gharib. Al-Albani graded it sahih (Sahih Ibn Majah, no. 3314; as-Silsila as-Sahiha, no. 1735), as listed by al-Durar as-Saniyya. Ibn Kathir quotes the same hadith in an-Nihaya (vol. 1, pp. 196-197) from Imam Ahmad and notes that at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah narrated it too.[12][13][9][14]
• When their appointed time comes, the leader says the same words but adds: "we will dig it tomorrow if Allah wills" (Sunan Ibn Majah 4080). At-Tirmidhi's narration says: "So he makes this exception." The next day they find the barrier as they left it, dig through it and come out upon people.[12][13][9]
• Al-Kahf 18:98: Dhul-Qarnayn called the barrier a mercy from his Lord, and said that when the promise of his Lord comes, He will make it level. Ibn Kathir (Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Azim) explains that this "means, will make it flat", and that the promise "will come to pass without a doubt". In an-Nihaya (vol. 1, p. 195) he explains the promise as the time decreed for the barrier to fall, when it is made level with the ground.[5][8][9]
• Al-Anbiya 21:96: when Gog and Magog are let loose, they descend from every elevation. Ibn Kathir (Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Azim) explains that "they will come forth quickly to spread corruption" and that "A Hadab is a raised portion of land". Al-Nawawi (Sharh Sahih Muslim, vol. 18, p. 378) explains the word yansilun in the same way: they walk fast.[6][8][10][9]
• In the hadith of an-Nawwas ibn Sam'an (Sahih Muslim 2937), after Isa, son of Maryam (peace be upon him), has killed the Dajjal, Allah tells him: "I have brought forth from amongst My servants such people against whom none would be able to fight; you take these people safely to Tur." Al-Nawawi (Sharh Sahih Muslim, vol. 18, p. 378) explains that no one has the power or ability to fight them, and that Isa is told to gather the believers and make the mountain their refuge. The hadith describes how hard pressed they are there: "the head of the ox would be dearer to them than one hundred dinars".[11][10][9]
• Then Isa (peace be upon him) and his companions turn to Allah in supplication, and Allah sends against them insects that attack their necks, "and in the morning they would perish like one single person" (Sahih Muslim 2937). Al-Nawawi (Sharh Sahih Muslim, vol. 18, p. 378) explains that an-naghaf is a kind of worm found in the noses of camels and sheep. Ibn Kathir (an-Nihaya, vol. 1, p. 194) says that Allah destroys them all in a single night through the blessing of Isa's supplication against them.[11][10][9]
• After birds carry the bodies away, "Allah would send rain which no house of clay or (the tent of) camels' hairs would keep out and it would wash away the earth until it could appear to be a mirror" (Sahih Muslim 2937). Al-Nawawi (Sharh Sahih Muslim, vol. 18, p. 379) explains that the earth is likened to a mirror in its purity and cleanness. Ibn Kathir quotes the same hadith in his Tafsir on 21:96, where the earth "will be washed until it looks like a mirror".[11][10][8]
• Al-Anbiya 21:97: the true promise draws near, and the eyes of those who disbelieved stare in horror. Ibn Kathir (Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Azim) explains that they stare "because of the horror of the tremendous events that they are witnessing", and that they will admit they were heedless in this world.[7][8]

• Say "if Allah wills" about tomorrow: for years the barrier returned as it was, and it gave way only on the day their leader made the exception ("So he makes this exception."). Nothing happens unless Allah wills it.[13][12]
• When no human strength is enough, turn to Allah: Isa (peace be upon him) and the believers did not fight Gog and Magog; they supplicated, and Allah answered them.[11][9]
• Allah needs no army: the nations that overran the earth were destroyed by a tiny creature, "and in the morning they would perish like one single person".[11][10]
• Allah's promise is true: the barrier is a mercy for a set time, and when the promise comes it is made level; what Allah has promised "will come to pass without a doubt".[5][8]
• Use power to protect people, not to profit from them: Dhul-Qarnayn refused their money and asked only for their help, because what Allah had given him was better.[2][8]

These questions are written by Qabas Academy to help you reflect. They are not part of the Quran or its tafsir.

1. When you plan something for tomorrow, do you remember to say in sha' Allah, and to mean it?
2. What is a hardship in your life where you have tried everything except sincere du'a?
3. Dhul-Qarnayn turned down payment and offered his strength to protect others. Where could you use what Allah has given you to protect someone?
4. The believers on the mountain had no army and no food, only Allah. What does that teach you about where real safety comes from?