Who Are Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) in Islam?
Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) are among the greatest signs of the Day of Judgement mentioned in the Quran and authentic Hadith. Allah mentions their story in Surah Al-Kahf, while Prophet Muhammad ﷺ described their emergence as one of the major events before the Last Day. This article explains who they are, where they are now, what the Quran says about them, and what will happen when they are released.
The story of Yajuj and Majuj, also known as Gog and Magog, was widespread to a state that was cruel.
What Does the Quran Say About Gog and Magog?
Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) are mentioned in two places in the Holy Quran: Surah Al-Kahf (18:83–99) and Surah Al-Anbiya (21:96–97). Allah describes how Dhul-Qarnayn built a mighty barrier to contain them and informs us that they will be released near the end of time as one of the major signs of the Day of Judgment. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also explained many details about their emergence through authentic Hadith.
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Who Are Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj)?
Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) are two tribes of human beings mentioned in the Holy Quran and authentic Hadith. They are descendants of Prophet Adam (AS) and are among the major signs of the Day of Judgment. Allah granted Dhul-Qarnayn the ability to build a massive barrier that confined them because of the corruption they caused on earth. According to Islamic teachings, they remain behind this barrier until Allah permits their release near the end of time. Their emergence will be one of the greatest trials before the Day of Judgment, after which Allah will destroy them. Muslims should learn about Gog and Magog from authentic Islamic sources and avoid myths, legends, or unsupported stories.
1. Gog and Magog are wild tribes and sons of Adam
Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) are human beings, not supernatural creatures or beasts. According to authentic Islamic teachings, they are from among the sons of Adam (AS), yet they behaved like animals and formed tribes near Turks and created great chaos for them. During the time of Dhul-Qarnayn, they were known for spreading corruption, violence, and destruction among near by communities. They destroyed their lives, killed their families and damaged their crops. Their lives became difficult. Yajooj and Majooj used to live isolated from Turks but made their way to these communities and create turmoil among them.
Because of the harm they caused, the people sought help from Dhul-Qarnayn, who, by the permission of Allah, built a strong barrier to prevent them from attacking others. Their story reminds believers that corruption on earth has serious consequences and that Allah alone controls their release.
2. Dhul-Qarnayn Helped the Oppressed People
Dhul-Qarnayn was a righteous and just ruler whom Allah blessed with great power and authority. During one of his journeys, he reached a community living between two mountains. The people complained about the corruption and destruction caused by Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) and asked him to help protect them.
Dhul-Qarnayn agreed to help the people and asked them to assist him in building a massive barrier from iron and molten copper. By the permission of Allah, the barrier prevented Gog and Magog from reaching the people. This shows the justice of Dhul-Qarnayn and the mercy of Allah toward those who seek His help.
3. Dhul-Qarnayn Built a Powerful Barrier
Allah tells us in Surah Al-Kahf that Dhul-Qarnayn built a powerful barrier using layers of iron and molten copper between two mountains. By Allah’s permission, Gog and Magog were unable to climb over it or break through it.
The barrier successfully stopped Gog and Magog from spreading corruption among the nearby people. For generations, they remained confined behind it because Allah willed it.
Dhul-Qarnayn reminded the people that the barrier was only a mercy from Allah and that, when Allah’s promise comes, it will be leveled. Near the Day of Judgement, Allah will permit Gog and Magog to emerge as one of the major signs of the Last Day.
4. Gog and Magog Will Emerge During the Time of Prophet Isa (AS)
According to authentic Islamic teachings, Gog and Magog will emerge after the descent of Prophet Isa (AS). Their release will be one of the major signs of the Day of Judgement. Once Allah permits their emergence, they will spread rapidly across the earth, causing widespread corruption and destruction. No human army will be able to stop them until Allah Himself destroys them.
All believers believe that Jesus will descend from the heaven on to the earth and cause the end of Dajjal. It will be from his days that Gog and Magog will return. They have been trying to break that wall since the day it was completed. However, one day during the sovereignty of Isa (AS), an individual will rise from the tribe of Gog and Magog and he will be clever to break down the wall. That would be the period when Yajooj and Majooj will arise with full control again and will cause vast danger in the world.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍۢ يَنسِلُونَ
“…until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, they will rush down from every elevation.”
(Quran 21:96 – Surah Al-Anbiya)
5. They Will Be Destroyed Forever
After Gog and Magog spread corruption across the earth, Prophet Isa (AS) and the believers will pray to Allah for help. Allah will then send small creatures that will strike them in their necks, causing their death. Their bodies will cover the earth until Allah sends birds to carry them away and rain to cleanse the land. Peace and blessings will then return to the earth.
After their destruction, Allah will bless the earth with peace, abundant provision, and prosperity, bringing relief to the believers.
Some Ahadith about Yajooj and Majooj
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained many details about Gog and Magog that are not mentioned in the Quran. These authentic narrations describe their emergence, the destruction they will cause, and how Allah will ultimately destroy them. Below are some authentic hadiths that describe Gog and Magog and the events surrounding their emergence.
In a lengthy hadith by Hadhrat Nawwas ibn Sam’aan (RA) Rasulullah (ﷺ) is reported to have said:
“…Allah will send revelation upon Isa (AS) that ‘Such a creation of mine is now going to emerge that no power will be able to stop them. Therefore take my servants and ascend the Mount of Toor.’ Then Ya’jooj and Majooj will emerge and surge forth in all their fury.
When those from among them who constitute the former part of their army pass the lake of Tiberias (which is in northern Palestine), they will drink up all the water of that lake and by the time those that constitute the latter part of that same army pass the lake, they will say, “There used to be water here (long ago).
When they reach the Mount of Khamr in Jerusalem, they will arrogantly proclaim: ‘We have conquered the people of the earth, now we will annihilate those in the sky.’ So saying they will fire their arrows towards the sky. When the arrows return to the ground they will be blood stained.
In the meantime, Isa (AS) will be on the Mount of Toor with his followers. At that time the head of an ox will be as valuable as is a hundred dinars to you in this day. [This indicates the scarcity of provisions]. Faced with these hardships, Isa (AS) and his followers will make dua unto Allah (to remove this calamity). As a result, Allah will cause sores to appear on the necks of each and every individual of these people which will cause their death suddenly.
When Isa (AS) and his followers descend from the Mount of Toor there will not be a single space on the land where the dead rotting bodies of these people is not littered, giving off a horrendous odor.
Eesa (AS) and his followers will once more supplicate unto Allah as a result of which Allah will send down huge birds whose necks will be as thick as that of the necks of camels, and they will dump these bodies in a place where Allah wills.
(According to a narration by Tirmidhi, they will be dumped at a place called Nahbal).
Allah Ta’ala will then send down a heavy rain, the waters of which will flow in every part of the earth cleansing it thoroughly. It will rain for a period of forty days.
The Muslims will then burn the bows and arrows of the Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj for a period of seven years.
Allah will order the earth to yield forth its crops in abundance and there will be such blessing and prosperity that one pomegranate will be sufficient for a whole group while the peel thereof will suffice to cast a shadow over them. The milk of one camel will be sufficient for many groups while one milk giving cow will be sufficient for a whole tribe. One milk giving goat will be sufficient for a whole family…”
(— Sahih Muslim)
Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) narrates that Rasulullah (ﷺ) said:
“On the day of Qiyamah Allah will say to Adam (AS) to pick out the Jahannamis from his entire progeny. Adam (AS) will ask: ‘O Rabb, who are they?’
Allah will say: ‘Nine hundred and ninety-nine of a thousand are Jahannami while the one is a Jannati.’
On hearing this the Sahaba were overtaken by fear and they asked “O Rasulullah (ﷺ), who will that one Janniti be?’
Rasulullah (ﷺ) said: ‘Do not grieve, the nine hundred and ninety-nine will be Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj while you will be the Jannati.”‘ (i.e. your numbers in relation to them will be one in a thousand).
(— Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) says that Rasulullah (ﷺ) said:
“Allah Ta’ala divided mankind into ten parts. Nine-tenths constitute Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj while the remaining tenths constitute the rest of mankind.”
Hadhrat Zainab bint Jahsh (RA) says: “…once Rasulullah (ﷺ) awoke from such a sleep that his face was red and these words were on his tongue: ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah. Destruction is upon the Arabs on account of the evil which has come close to them. Today a hole as big as this has opened up in the wall of Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj.’ ..and Rasulullah (ﷺ) indicated the size of the hole forming a ring with his index finger and thumb.”
(— Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that every day Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj break (dig) through the wall erected by Zul Qarnain (AS) until they reach the end of it to that extent that they can actually see the light on the other side. They then return (home) saying that ‘We will break through tomorrow.’
But Allah Ta’ala causes the wall to revert to its original thickness and the next day they start digging through the wall all over again, and this process continues each day until as long as Allah wills them to remain imprisoned.
When Allah wishes them to be released, then at the end of the day they will say, “If Allah wills, tomorrow we will break through.” The following day they will find the wall as they had left it the previous day (i.e. it will not have returned to its original state) and after breaking the remaining part of it they will emerge.”
(Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)
These authentic narrations provide a clear understanding of Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj). Muslims should rely on the Quran and authentic Hadith regarding this subject and avoid myths, speculation, or fabricated stories.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion
The story of Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj) reminds believers that Allah’s promise is always true. Although they are currently restrained by the barrier built during the time of Dhul-Qarnayn, they will emerge when Allah wills as one of the major signs before the Day of Judgment. Every Muslim should learn about them from authentic Quranic verses and Sahih Hadith while avoiding myths and unsupported stories.
May Allah protect us from the trials of the Last Day and grant us steadfast faith.
May Allah protect us and make us worthy of Paradise.
Ameen.
