Who are Zul Qarnain and Ya’jooj wa Ma’jooj – Tafsir Surat al Kahf (18:93-98)
From the Realities of Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani (Q).
A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the rejected one
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Atiullah wa atiur Rasul wa Ulil amre minkum.
أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُم… ﴿٥٩﴾ …
4:59 – “…Atiullaha wa atiur Rasula wa Ulil amre minkum…” (Surat an-Nisa)
“…Obey Allah, obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you…” (The Women, 4:59)
Tafsir Suratul Kahf – 18: 93-98
Inshallah today we are explaining Suratul Kahf, Surah 18, from verse 93-98.
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلًا ﴿٩٣﴾ قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿٩٤﴾ قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ﴿٩٥﴾ آتُونِي زُبَرَ الْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ الصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ انفُخُوا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَعَلَهُ نَارًا قَالَ آتُونِي أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا ﴿٩٦﴾ فَمَا اسْطَاعُوا أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا لَهُ نَقْبًا ﴿٩٧﴾قَالَ هَٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّي ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي حَقًّا ﴿٩٨﴾
18:93-98 – “Hattaaa izaa balagha bainas saddaini wajada min doonihimaa qawmal laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa. (93) Qaaloo yaa Zal qarnaini inna Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja mufsidoona fil ardi fahal naj’alu laka kharjan ‘alaaa an taj’ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddaa. (94) Qaala maa makkanni feehi Rabbi khairun fa a’yeenoonee bi quwwatin aj’al bainakum wa bainahum radmaa. (95) Aatooni zubaral hadeedi, hattaaa izaa saawaa bainas sadafaini qaalan fukhoo, hattaaa izaa ja’alahu naaran qaala aatoonee ufrigh ‘alayihi qitraa. (96) Famas taa’ooo an yazharoohu wa mastataa’oo lahu naqbaa. (97) Qaala haaza rahmatum mir Rabbi fa izaa jaaa’a wa’du Rabbi ja’alahoo dakkaaa’a; kaana wa’du Rabbi haqqaa. (98)” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a people who scarcely understood a word/[his] speech. (93) They said: “O Zul-qarnayn! the Gog and Magog do great mischief on earth: shall we then assign you tribute/expenditure in order that you might make a barrier between us and them? (94) He said: “(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): Help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will make a strong barrier/dam between you and them: (95) “Bring me blocks/sheets of iron.” At length, when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountain-sides, He said, “Blow (with bellows)” until he he had made it (red) as fire, he said: “Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead.” (96) Thus were they (Gog and Magog) made powerless to scale it/pass over it or to dig through it. (97) He (Zul Qarnayn) said: “This is a mercy from my Lord: But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and the promise of my Lord is true.” (98). (The Cave, 18:93-98)
Immensity of Zul Qarnain’s Understanding of the Threat of Gog & Magog
He said, then he followed another way, “until when he reached a tract between two mountains. He found beneath them a people who scarcely understood a word.” “Hattaaa izaa balagha bainas saddaini wajada min doonihimaa qawmal laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa. (Quran 18:93) When He reached that between the two mountains he found people, they don’t understand anything. Laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa. (Quran 18:93). And we explained that last time. Is it not? Then he said “Qaaloo yaa Zal qarnaini inna Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja mufsidoona fil ardi fahal naj’alu laka kharjan ‘alaaa an taj’ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddaa.” They said O’ Zul Qarnain, the Gog and Magog do great mischief on earth. Shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou might erect barrier between us and them?” (Quran 18-94).
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلًا ﴿٩٣﴾ قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿٩٤﴾
18:93-4 – “Hattaaa izaa balagha bainas saddaini wajada min doonihimaa qawmal laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa. (93) Qaaloo yaa Zal qarnaini inna Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja mufsidoona fil ardi fahal naj’alu laka kharjan ‘alaaa an taj’ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddaa. (94)” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a people who scarcely/hardly understood a word/[his] speech. (93) They said: “O Zul-qarnayn! the Gog and Magog do great mischief on earth: shall we then assign you tribute/expenditure in order that you might make a barrier between us and them? (94) (The Cave, 18:93-94)
an you built something between us and them because Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja, Gog and Magog are going to be corrupt on this earth, “mufsidoona fil ardi” (18:94). Do great mischief on earth. Do great mischief on earth. Ah, it clicks something here. They do great mischief on earth. Why they are outside earth? To come and do something great mischief on earth. Means there is something here that give, as if they are outside the limit of this earth and they are coming to do a great mischief.
“So we can give you, we can contribute to you, in order to erect a barrier between us and them.” Means when we said that Zul Qarnain, from west to east he was moving. Until he reached to what? towards the mashriq (East). And there he found these people that they know nothing. Okay how they know nothing? Laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa (18-93) Then in the second verse immediately they said, Gog and Magog are going to make a great mischief. Laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa (18-93), they cannot, they don’t know what to say, they are ignorant of what to say. And it means also that their language is a different language that no one can understand. It is completely a separate language.
Descendants Nuh (as) & Allah’s (AJ) Gift to Zul Qarnain of Knowledges
It is said in history that Nuh’s children are three, Sam, Haam & Yaafiz. What they are? Sam (Shem), Haam & Yaafiz (Japheth). Sham is Abu al-Arab, the father of ‘Arabs, and al ‘Ajam, Persian, and ar Rum. Haam is the father of Africa, Abyssinia and all the Africans. Anything black color is coming from Haam. Wa Yaafiz, Jafiz (Japheth), is the father of at Turk wal khazar, wa Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja. Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja are coming from that line, from Yafiz.
Commentary from Tafsir al-Jalalayn:
[37:77] and made his descendants the survivors, thus all human beings are descended from him, peace be upon him. He had three sons: Shem (Sām), the ancestor of the Arabs, the Persians and the Byzantines; Ham (Hām), the ancestor of the Negroes; and Japheth (Yaafith), the ancestor of the Turks, the Khazar and [the peoples of] Gog and Magog and [the inhabitants of] such regions.
Qaaloo yaa Zal qarnaini, inna Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja mufsidoona fil ardi (18:94), how he understood what they are saying? Means Allah subhanahu wa ta’allah gave Zul Qarnain knowledge, and that is why it is said that Zul Qarnain was a Prophet. Allah (AJ) gave him to understand the language of people of different kind of languages.
History Proves External Knowledges Do Not Grant Power or Safety from Attacks
So those people who we described them last time, they didn’t know anything to say. Means their knowledge is a limited kind of knowledge, which is not has anything with spirituality, with no realities in it. No haqqaiq ul umoor, there is no realities and the knowledge of realities. Mean it is a still a very external knowledge. So that knowledge was not able to stop the power of Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja to come and attack them on earth. Laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa (18:93), means they were unable. “He found beneath them a people who scarcely understood a word.” Who scarcely understood a word, they don’t know anything. It doesn’t mean they know nothing. Their ilm that they reached, which is the knowledge of Zahiri ilm, the external knowledge, cannot give them access and a possibility and a power to stop the flood or the attack of Gog and Magog. [Qn]
Because Gog and Magog they all have a power beyond the power of human beings. Although they are from Yafiz but Allah (AJ) gave them a power that they are so strong because they don’t leave. When we come to explain about them, you will see that Prophet ﷺ mentioned them that they eat everything. They eat human beings, they eat animals, they eat the big elephants, they eat everything they can see in their ways. No water will be left, no trees will be left, nothing will be left on this planet as, as soon as they appear.[Hds]
Allah (AJ) Gave Zul Qarnain Both Knowledges: Apparent & Hidden
So with their ilm, means with their Zahiri ilm, these people find the reality that they cannot reach without help of Zul Qarnain. Because Allah (AJ) gave him (Zul Qarnain) the knowledge of the tongues, Allah (AJ) gave him the knowledge of the heart. Allah (AJ) gave him the power that he can restore what Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja can damage. And that is why he was building for them that dam, big dam between the two mountains. And these two mountains later we discuss what they are mountains, it is al kawnain, ilmuz zahir (apparent knowledge) ilmul batin (hidden knowledge). He built a defense there in a way that shaitan cannot attack. So when you build up your ilmuz zahir then you can be able to reach ilmul batin, ilmul haqqaiq (knowledge of realities).
Characteristics of Zul Qarnain that Must Emulate to Inherit from Him
So what Allah (AJ) gave Zul Qarnain, fal Iskandar al haqqiqi, the real Iskandar. The real Zul Qarnain, if you want to describe a person that he is like Zul Qarnain, means he has to have these specialties, these characteristics, that Zul Qarnain was carrying them. That was made him, someone different.
- Power of Defending Himself: Al Iskandar al haqiqi means the person that his kingdom never be destroyed. Al lazi la yazulu mulku, his kingdom, his power is always in control, can defend itself. Means shaitan has no power on you. When you reach to become Alexander the Great, the big Alexander, Iskandar Zul Qarnain, means you have to reach a level of purity that shaitan has no affect on you.
- Good Manners: “Wa laa yahitu bima ladaihi illallahi ta’allah”, and no one can know what that person is carrying of good manners except Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah.
- Reach Highest Divinely Visions: “Wa huwa man ayyada zahiruhu bi ahkamit ta’at”, and he is the person that he will establish himself in obeying Allah’s (AJ) obligation and fulfilling what Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah has ordered him to do. From excessive worshipness reaching to the light, the “bi anwari li mushahadat wa tajjaliyat rububiya”, to reach the highest vision of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah’s light of His attributes, the light of His attribute that will dress him from these visions. Wa tajjaliyat rububiya and the lordship, majestic power that overtake that person. He become so strong in Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah’s Divine presence. That is the real Alexander the Great.
The Immense Power Allah (AJ) Grants When You Possess Good Characteristics & Manners
“Fahina izin tamutun nafsul ammara wa tuzulu yadhul adhiya”, at that time when you reach this power of this good characters of Alexander the Great, the Nafsul ammara, the bad ego, the ego of the desire will be destroyed, will demolish, will completely disappear. And its affection and its veils that put over the heart will go completely. “Wa yadhar junubullahi lati la ya’lamu wa illahu wa kasrathiha”, and in your heart appears all the army, the defendants of the gate of your heart. And all of them are under the command of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah. Allah (AJ) will open into your heart a defense system that you can defend yourself against the enemies of shaitan that are trying to enter your heart. With this visions of light and the tajjali (emanations) that you’re being dressed with as you’re going in the way of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah, Allah (AJ) will build in you a defense system that you can reject all these bad desires, all these darkness, all the veils of darkness. And bring you to be under, to be in the circle of those who are the trustworthy people, means the saints, al Mumineen that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah gave them the word of to be believers. That they are always under al Anwar al Ellahiya, under the light of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah, they are always under His mercy, bestowing His mercy on them. And al Haqqiq al Muhammadiya and in the circles of the reality of Muhammad ﷺ. That is the real description of a person who wants to be inheritor of the manners and good characters of al Iskandar.
Signs & Examples of Good Character
Spending Your Money in the Way of Allah (AJ) & Not Your Desires
Out of it, we have to know that, that will sign to us, will give us an indication how we have to behave in our lives. This is an example of how you have to behave, “Wa fihi isharatun illa annahu yambaghi lil ghani inda awwali amrihi an yasfi fa shatran mim malihi illa wajhin min wujhuhil khair.” That is the first to be really in that character, good characters. How you describe it by an example for a rich person is carrying this character, means he has to spend his money before spending it on buying a house, or buying a car, or buying something for him special, he has to spend first from the money that he made in the way of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah. And he must not spend that money when he make it that year, if he makes money and lot of money, he must not begin to go and spend in a way that his desire ask him but, he has to go and spend it in the way of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah. First spend, means first donation, first gift, first sadaqa (charity) must be in the way of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah. Not in the way of his desire.
Practice on Perfecting Yourself & Not Perfecting Others
Second example, “Kama annal mufti, izza tasadara yabdao fi fatwahu bima yata’alaq fit tawheed wa nahwi.” Understood? If a mufti become a mufti, first he has to begin his practice by perfecting his ‘aqidah (belief). Iftah fit tawheed, means he is perfecting his ‘aqidah. Means he is making his religion more perfect, because he is a mufti, he is at the highest authority. Not going and giving a fatwa (Islamic verdict) to people but, he has to give himself a verdict in the oneness of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah first. To be a perfect Muahid, to perfect person who is making a real affirmation of oneness of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah, or else his fatwa is not valid if he is going to practice it on people not on himself.
Everything in Your Life Must Begin in the Way of Allah (AJ) & Not Your Dunya
“Wa kaza laa bi sujadidin aw maqsud yabdaoo bil masjidi wa salati wa zikr.” If you have a new clothes, if you buy a new clothes as a third example, what do you do with the new clothes? You find people nowadays they want to go meet with someone important, or they want to make an interview, they say oh we don’t have a suit. So, what they do? They go and buy a suit and they go to the interview. It’s not? Naam (audience). But, it’s wrong. The new clothes must be first in the way of Allah (AJ). You have to wear the new clothes when you go to the masjid (mosque) first. When you sit for salah (prayer) first, when you make Zikr (divine remembrance), you dress the new clothes. Then you can dress it for your interview after. Everything must be at its beginning must be in the way of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah. And that is the real Iskandar because he was a King. He left everything in the way of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah. He left his riches in the way of Allah (AJ). And not to use his best clothes to go for interview or go in the market.
Zul Qarnain Used His Heart for Inspirations to Understand What Others Did Not
So, that three examples, in order to show us how much we need to perfect ourselves. That is why Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah made Zul Qarnain a strong character. Allah (AJ) said laa yakaa doona yafqahoona qawlaa (18-93), they don’t know what they’re saying. And then they said, about Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja. Here it means that Allah (AJ) inspired him to understand, although they cannot speak anything, although their ilm is low, but he was able to understand them by ilham (inspiration). And anyone gets that revelation, ilham means Allah (AJ) gave him a part of prophecy. And that is why some scholars used to say that Zul Qarnain was a Prophet.
Human Beings are Outnumbered & the Difficulties Ahead are at Our Doorstep
They said O’ Zul Qarnain, Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja, Gog and Magog, they are going to make mischief on earth. Means they are going to kill the people, destroy the harvest. They are not going to leave anything green or dry, they are going to eat it.
Before someone of them die, he will have at least 1000 child. They yatakasiruna bi sur’a, they multiply quickly. One die, before he dies, he makes sure that he has already 1000. And that is why Ibn Abbas (ra) said that all human being are one of ten and Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja are nine of ten, NINE Tenths of All Creation. All human being, 1/10th and Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja are 9/10th. Look how big they are, how huge. They are coming, they are approaching. Allah Allah. They are knocking the door, come.
They are of different dimensions. Some of them, Some of them, 120 arm tall. Some of them, they are (size of) 1 hand. They are the same tall the same wide. So means if he is 120 (tall), also he is 120 (wide) large. It’s going to eat everyone. Some of them, they have long ears that on one ear he make it like his bed/mattress, sleep on it, and the other ear, he cover himself with it. And they have hair on their bodies that cover them from heat and from cold weather. “Wa yatasfaduna katasadufdul bahayim”, they sleep with each others like animals on the street everywhere.
Protection was Granted to Those Whom Used Their Best of Talents in the Way of Service
So, when they knew about that, they were afraid. They said, O’ Zul Qarnain we heard about these people coming. Can you make for us a protection, a fence or a wall between these two mountains in order that they cannot come? And we will give you what you need for it, will give you your financial material but he refused. “Fahal naj’alu laka kharjan ‘alaaa an taj’ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddaa.” (Quran Q8:94) Do you want us to give you something from our crops revenue every year that you will protect us from them and build this fence, this wall? What Zul Qarnaini said? “Qaala maa makkanni feehi Rabbi khairun fa a’yeenoonee bi quwwatin aj’al bainakum wa bainahum radmaa (Quran 18:95). What he said? He said, the power in which my Lord has established me is better than tribute. And help me therefore with strength and labor, I will erect a strong barrier between you and them.(Quran 18:96) Said, I don’t need you.
قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿٩٤﴾ قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ﴿٩٥﴾﴾
18:94-95 – “Qaaloo yaa Zal qarnaini inna Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja mufsidoona fil ardi fahal naj’alu laka kharjan ‘alaaa an taj’ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddaa. (94) Qaala maa makkanni feehi Rabbi khairun fa a’yeenoonee bi quwwatin aj’al bainakum wa bainahum radmaa.(95)” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“They said: “O Zul-qarnayn! the Gog and Magog do great mischief on earth: shall we then assign you tribute/expenditure in order that you might make a barrier between us and them? (94) He said: “(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): Help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will make a strong barrier/dam between you and them. (95)” (The Cave, 18:94-95)
Do Your Service for the Satisfaction of Your Lord & Not in Exchange of Worldly Gains
We don’t do service for anyone and you’re asking for something. When we are doing something, we are getting our power from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah. We are getting our help from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah. We don’t do something in exchange. Exchange for regular people. But for believers, they do it for the happiness and Allah (AJ) to be happy with them. Satisfaction of their Lord. So what Allah (AJ) gave me of power, I will help you. But you have to help in labor, you have to help me with labor in order that I will build, erect for you this door (wall).
Angels Outnumber Jinn & Human Beings – They are Protectors of Allah’s (AJ) Treasured Creation
It is said, narrated from Ibn Umar, Abdullah ibn Umar that, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah has divided the angels, Jinn and Ins (mankind) into ten divisions. Tissatu ajza minhum al Malayika, 9/10th of that is angels. So, he made them ten divisions, ten parts. Nine of that tenth, 9/10th are angels. what is left 1/10th is from Ins and Jinn. Okay, so we now know there is 9/10th angels and 1/10th Jin and Ins. So, angels are more in number than Jinn and Ins by 9/10th. [Hds 2]
Then he took the angels and made them ten parts. 9/10th of them are al Kirribiyun or al Karrubiyun; “Al lazina yusabihoona layla wan nahara la yaftaron.” Allah (AJ) mentioned them in Holy Qur’an.
يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ ﴿٢٠﴾
20:21 – “Yusabbihoona laila wannahaara laa yafturoon.” (Surat Al-Anbiya)
“They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they never slacken (to do so).” (The Prophets, 21:20)
The angels, the Karrubiyun – the highest level of angels, Allah (AJ) made them 9/10th. And 1/10th of angels that they are left, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah gave them to be messengers to his prophets. He was sending them as messengers and protectors of His khazayinihi, of His treasures. And whatever He wanted, Allah (AJ) send these 1/10th of these angels to wherever he likes. Nine of them, 9/10th of them is only in tasbih (praise), they don’t know nothing else. Now what is left of Ins and Jin is 1/10th. That 1/10th made the 10/10th, ten parts. 9/10th are Jin and 1/10th is Ins of that 1/10th.
Jinn & Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja are Multiplying at an Unfathomable Rate
And He made from every Ins. If Ins make one child, produce one child, the Jinn will produce nine children. On the number of human being as they are producing Ins, immediately Jinn are producing the same amount that is being produced by nine times. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah took the 1/10th that is left of Ins, made it ten, and he made Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja 9/10th of that 1/10th. They are huge to compare to Ins. He made the others 1 of that 1/10th and Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja 9/10. And for every Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja, before he dies, he will reproduce multiply 1000. That how they are multiplying, and multiplying, and multiplying, and they are not able to open that fat wall that Zul Qarnain built. [hds]
Al Sha‘bi relates: When ‘the two-horned one’ arrived at the land of Gog and Magog, many peoples gathered around him and called in his help against them.
They said: “Oh victorious king! Behind this mountain are nations [so numerous that] only God can count them; they destroy our homes, eat our crops and fruits, devour everything, even grass, and tear animals apart like predators do; they eat all the small edible animals of the earth, and no creatures multiply as they do, for no one of them dies before thousand offspring are born to him”.
When Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja are Sent, They Will Destroy & Corrupt Lives of All People
An Ibn ‘Abbas (ra), Ibn Abbas said, that Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja are either one hand or three hand and they are from the children of Adam (as). Qala Nabi ﷺ and Ibn ‘Umar (as), he said and it is narrated in Tabarani and Baihaqi and many others , he said that Prophet ﷺ said, that Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja are from these children of Adam (AS). “Walau ursilu la afsadu alan nasi maaisha”, if they will have been sent. He said, Walau ursilu means, in Arabic ursil means he is somewhere and he was ordered to move to somewhere else. He said, lau ursilu means they are beyond the limit of earth. Lau ursilu la afsadu alan nasi maaisha, if they would have been sent, they would have destroyed and corrupted the lives of people. Wala yamutu Rajlun minhum illa taraka min zurriyatihi alfa alfa sa’yida (32:57), Prophet saying, if one of them will not die, a male will not die until he will make sure that he left behind him 1000 and more from his descendants. [hds 3]
Pray to Be Amongst Sayyidina al Mahdi (as) & Sayyidina ‘Isa (as)
Behind Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja Allah (AJ) has created another three nations, behind Gog and Magog there are other three nations. Also they are coming to eat you. They are coming in the end of dunya, they’ll eat everything. They will not leave anything. That is why Alamato Saa’a the big signs of, the big signs. And that is why mu’min has to pray, O’ Allah (AJ) don’t leave us to the time of Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja. O’ Allah (AJ) makes us in the time of Sayyidina al-Mahdi (as) and Sayyidina Isa (as) but not in the time of Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja because that is finished.
Further Ahadith (Holy Narrations of Prophet ﷺ) on Gog & Magog
The Three Nations Before & After Gog & Magog
These three nations are as Ibn ‘Umar (as) said, narrated on Prophet ﷺ, Tawil, Taris, wa Mansak. There are three nations; Ta’wil or Taweel, Taris wa Mansak. Three nations coming after Gog and Magog. “Wa inna min warayihim salasa umma”, behind them there are other three nations coming. Allah (AJ) knows how much they are, how huge they are. And Ibn ‘Umar (as) said, according to Ibn Mardawai (ra) and Abi Hathim (ra), that Jinn and Ins are 10, 9/10 are Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja, and all the other humans are 1 part.
400,000 Nations of Gog & Magog & 400,000 Nations Within Each One of Them
On the same hadith, it is another hadith, “Akhraja Ibn Abi Hatim wa Ibn Bardawai wa Ibn Adi wa Ibn Asaka wa Ibn Najar and Hudaifa (ra), he said, Sa’altu RasuAllah ﷺ an Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja, I asked Prophet ﷺ about Gog and Magog, he ﷺ said, Gog is a nation and Magog is a nation. They are two nations. And every nation in it, there is 400,000 nations. Gog is a nation, Magog is a nation and in that nation there is 400,000 nations in every nation. 400,000 nations and every nations Allah (AJ) knows, He was describing how they are. They are 9/10th of the children of Adam (as), and 1/10th are the rest of the human being. They are 9/10th of the children of Adam (as).
Nothing Can Stand in Front of Gog & Magog
Qala RasulAllah ﷺ, ha oolayil lazina la yaqumu lahum jabaron wa la Hadid, these are the people that nothing standing in front of them. Even a mountain, even a metal of iron, yani if they make a wall of iron cannot stand in front of them.
“We have killed those who are upon the earth. Let us now kill those who are in the sky and they would throw their arrows towards the sky and the arrows would return to them besmeared with blood. And in the narration of Ibn Hujr (the words are):” I have sent such persons (Gog and Magog) that none would dare fight against them.” [Sahih Muslim 2937b]
Physical Appearance of Gog & Magog
“Wa sunfun minhum yaftarish ihda uznai wa iltahif bul ukhra”, some of them as we said before, has long ears, one of it he make it as a mattress, the other one he cover himself as a blanket.
Ibn al-Faqih: “Gog and Magog are short, bald, and broad-faced, while their size is that of an average man. At their hands they have claws instead of nails; they have molars and canines like those of wild cats, and they have large ears, one of which serves them as bed, the other as cover.”
Appetite of Gog & Magog
“La yumuruna bi filin, wa la wahshin, wa la jamalin, wa la khanzirin illa akalu”, whatever face them, from elephant, or a wild animal, or a camel, or a pig, or anything, they will eat it. They will not leave it, even they are one hand of length. [pic 2]
The Prophet said: “Gog and Magog are such that neither mountain nor weapon can stop them, nor do they pass by any elephant, pig, camel, wild or domestic animal without eating it; they also eat their dead. Their vanguard is in Syria and their rear in Khurasan; they drink the rivers of the east and the lake of Tiberias”.
Journey of Gog & Magog & the Drying of the Tiberias River
“Muqqadimatu hum bish Sham”, when they come and invade the last days, they begin at Damascus (Sham). “Wa sa’aqatuhum yashrabuna anharil mashriq” and the rest, they like a queue, like a line, they are so huge. It is not a line but they are coming, to the end of east, Allah (AJ) knows to where. “Wa bu hairat Tabarraiya and then they pass by Tabarraiya and they drink it all.
Then Gog and Magog will emerge and they will, as Allah describes, “swoop down from every mound.”[21:96] The first of them will pass by lake Tiberias and drink from it, then the last of them will pass by it and will say: “There was water here once.”
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلُونَ ﴿٩٦﴾
21:96 – “Hattaaa izaa futihat Ya’jooju wa Ma’jooju wa hum min kulli hadabiny yansiloon.” (Surat Al-Anbiya)
“Until Gog and Magog are let loose/ their barrier opens and they swiftly descend from every elevation/hill.” (The Prophets, 21:20)
Prophet ﷺ Interaction with Gog & Magog on the Night of Ascension
Ibn Abbas (ra) Qal, Qala RasulAllah ﷺ, he said that Prophet ﷺ said, “Ba asanin laa hu laylata Usri abi ila Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja”, the Night of Ascension I was sent as a Messenger to Gog and Magog. I called them for Islam and for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah, they refused. And they are going to be in hell fire with the children; those who disobeyed from children of Adam (as) and those from children of Iblis. [hds]
At Tabari:He writes: Behind Jabalqa and Jabarsa, the Prophet ﷺ three nations: Mansak, Tafil and Taris, and before them Gog and Magog. The angel Gabriel took him to them during his night journey, and he called on them to worship God. But they refused to listen to him, 148 as did the three nations who considered God’s messengers as liars. These nations, together with Gog and Magog, are in the fire.
By him in whose hand is the soul of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , if there were not so many of those people and their voices were not so loud, then the people of this world! would hear the crash of the setting of the sun when it rises and when it sets. Behind them are three nations: Mansak, Tafil, and Taris; and before them are Gog and Magog. Jibreel (as) took me to them during my Night Journey from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque. And I called upon Gog and Magog to worship God but they refused to heed me. Then he took me to the people of the two cities, and I called them to the religion of God, and to his worship. They consented and turned toward God. They are our brothers in religion. He who is good among them is like he who does good among you, and he who is evil among them is with those of you who are evil.
Then he took me to the three nations, and I called them to the religion of God, to worship him, but they denied that to which I had called them. They disbelieved in God and considered his messengers to be liars. They are, together with Gog and Magog, and the rest who disobeyed God, in the Fire.
Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja Cannot Penetrate the Wall
Then Prophet ﷺ, according to narrated by Ahmad Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja, Ibn Haban, Baihaqi, Ibn Mardawai, that Abu Hurairah (ra) said that, Prophet ﷺ said, “Inna Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja yahfuruna sadda kulla yawm.” Gog and Magog they try every day to dig the wall or the dam that between the two mountains that Zul Qarnain built. He build for them a wall between the two mountains. And will we’ll explain later, how he built that wall, what he used and how he build the wall. So he said everyday they go and dig and they are trying to open the wall in order that they move out. As they are open – and we said that they were, when Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja came into the darkness and when the sun comes up, these people used to go under they hide themselves. And there he (Zul Qarnain) found these type of people, asking him to build up the wall between the two mountains. So he said as they dig this wall that he built for them, they begin to see the light of sun coming. The Amir (leader) on them or the foreman on them, he says leave it now. Now the sun is coming, let us leave it for tomorrow, tomorrow we begin to dig it. Because now we are really approaching to open that hole, because they can see the light coming. So they go.
“Fa izza asbahu wa juduhu kadraja kamaka, when they come next day, they will find it the same as if they ever didn’t dig it, as if they did not dig anything in it. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah bring it back to it, bring the wall back to its origin, as if they were not able to dig any hole in it. “Faya udona ilayhi wa huwa kahay atihi hina taraku”, they go back to it next day as if the same thing that they have left it before, they did no hole in it.
Only by the Order of Allah (AJ), Gog and Magog Opens the Wall
“Fa yahfurunahu wa yakhrajuna anan naas fayas taqunual miya, they keep doing like that until Allah’s (AJ) order comes and they will be able to open it.
Hadith is narrated by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad that the Prophet (saws) said: “Verily, Gog and Magog dig through the dam every day, till they could see the sun rays (through it), and their leader would say: ‘Go back and you will finish it tomorrow.’ On the next day, they find it as strong as before. Till when their appointed term comes and Allah desires to send them against mankind, they dig it till they could see the sun rays (through it) and their leader says: ‘Go back and you will finish it tomorrow, if Allah wills!’ On the next day, they find it as they had left the day before and they dig through it and come against mankind. They will drink (every drop of water they pass by). The people will resort to strongholds. And, Gog and Magog will throw their arrows towards the sky. When they come back to them stained with what looks like blood, they will say: ‘We have defeated the people on earth and those in the heaven as well.’ Then, Allah the Almighty will send against them worms in their necks that will kill them all. Allah’s Messenger (saws) said: “By Him in Whose Hand Muhammed’s soul rests! Living creatures of the earth would go fat and be thankful due to eating their flesh and (drinking their) blood.” (Also transmitted by Imam Ahmed on the authority of Hasan Ibn Musa after Sufyan after Qatadah and by At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu, Awanah after Qatadah.)
Arrogance of Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja & Their Demise
And when they open it, they go, taking the whole water from people. People will try to hide themselves from them, they are not able, they kill them (people). Then they take their weapons, and begin to throw it in heavens/skies, and they will see blood like Namrod. They see blood on their arrows coming down, they say oh we conquered also heavens now. And when it is coming down, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’allah will send on their necks something that kill them completely.
Qala RasulAllah ﷺ, “Fawal lazi nafsu Muhammadan bi yadih, inna dawabal ardi latasman wa tatruk, wa tashkur shukram mil lahumi.” At the end they will fill up the earth of their dead bodies and all animals come and eat them. And all animals become fed from their meat.
The Prophet said: “By Him in Whose hand is my soul, the beasts of the earth will become fat from their flesh”
Then to build for them that wall, Zul Qarnain in order not to allow this Gog and Magog – we explain how much they are. They are so small but how much they are huge in number. How much they are going to corrupt earth, and to kill people and to kill everyone. Then they shoot up as if they are killing their Lord. How much corruption they are going. “Inna Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja mufsidoona fil ardi fahal naj’alu laka kharjan ‘alaaa an taj’ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddaa.” (18-94), that they are going to make mischief, great mischief, and this is there mischief.
قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿٩٤﴾
18:94 – “Qaaloo yaa Zal qarnaini inna Ya’jooja wa Ma’jooja mufsidoona fil ardi fahal naj’alu laka kharjan ‘alaaa an taj’ala bainanaa wa bainahum saddaa.” (Surat Al-Kahf)
“They said: “O Zul-qarnayn! the Gog and Magog do great mischief on earth: shall we then assign you tribute/expenditure in order that you might make a barrier between us and them?” (The Cave, 18:94)
Zul Qarnain Built the Wall of Defense with the Secret Knowledges of Energy
So, how he built the wall? And how he asked them to bring copper and brass, nuhas (44:44). What is nuhas? Copper. (Audience – copper & iron). Iron is Hadid, but also he said, he was building it from copper. Copper is nuhas, what is brass? He said, “Aatoonee zubaral hadeed, hattaa izaa saawaa bainas sadafaini qaalan fukhoo hattaaa izaa ja’alahoo naaran qaala aatooneee ufrigh ‘alaihi qitraa. (18-96) And he asked them, ah qitraa is the nuhas. Zubaral hadeed, hadeed is the iron and qitraa, qitraa is what you call nuhas, the copper. So he said give me that and I will teach you how to build the wall, between these two mountains. So, what he did between these two mountains, how he build the wall, we leave it insh’Allah for next time. We will explain that next time. And after we finish all that, we will say the spiritual side of that story insh’Allah.
Wa minallah tawfeeq bi hurmatil Fatiha.
Special thanks to our transcribers for their help with transcribing this suhbah.
Original Date of Suhbah: Unavailable
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