Gog and Magog in the Holy Quran
Dhul-Qarnayn and the Barrier Against Gog and Magog
This is described in 8 consecutive verses [18:91-98] of Surah Al-Kahf in the Holy Qur’an.
“Until, when he reached the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had made no shelter against it. Thus indeed it was. Verily, We encompassed with Our knowledge all that was with him. Then he followed another way. Until, when he reached the place between the two mountains, he found beneath them a people who would scarcely understand a word. They said, ‘O Dhu’l Qarnain, verily, Gog and Magog are creating disorder in the earth; shall we then pay thee tribute on condition that thou set up a barrier between us and them?’ He replied, ‘The power with which my Lord has endowed me about this is better, but you may help me with physical strength; I will set up between you and them a rampart. ‘Bring me blocks of iron.’ They did so till, when he had levelled up the space between the two mountain sides, he said, ‘Now blow with your bellows.’ They blew till, when he had made it red as fire, he said, ‘Bring me molten copper that I may pour it thereon.’ So they (Gog and Magog) were not able to scale it, nor were they able to dig through it.”
- This verse refers to Cyrus’ eastern expedition, likely to Afghanistan and Baluchistan regions then inhabited by uncivilized people living in huts and tents rather than brick houses. Historical records on Cyrus’ eastern campaigns are scarce, but the description fits the barren, rocky terrain of Baluchistan and surrounding areas. The phrase “We encompassed with Our knowledge all that was with him” indicates Cyrus was under Divine protection, echoing Biblical references to God guiding him.
- The passage then shifts to Cyrus’ third expedition northward, between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, where a people with a different language, but some knowledge of Persian, lived. The “two mountains” describe the natural barriers at Derbent pass, where Cyrus built a strong wall to block the raids of Gog and Magog, with the help of local laborers providing iron and molten copper. materials chosen for their durability and resistance to rust. This massive barrier, about 29 feet high and 10 feet thick with iron gates, successfully stopped the incursions, protecting Persia.
- Cyrus humbly credited God’s mercy for his success. However, the verse also foretells that this barrier will eventually be broken when God’s appointed time comes, allowing Gog and Magog to spread once more symbolizing future chaos, including the decline of political powers protecting the region.
Gog and Magog will hasten forth from every height
This is described in verse [21:97]of Surah Al-Anbiya’ in the Holy Qur’an.
“It shall be so even when Gog and Magog are let loose and they shall hasten forth from every height.”
- The description of Gog and Magog as given in the Bible leaves no doubt about the fact that it applies to some Christian powers of the west: Firstly, because they are represented as very numerous and powerful and mighty and their numbers as further swelling by their allies. Says the Bible:
- Thou shalt ascend, and come like a storm, Thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands and many people with thee (Ezek. 38:9). Gog and Magog… the number of whom is as the sand of the sea (Rev. 20:8). Every feathered fowl, and every beast of the field is thus addressed, ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth (Ezek. 39:18,19).
- Secondly, they are shown coming forth from the northern parts of the earth, and from the isles: “And thou (o Gog) shalt come from thy place out of the north, thou, and many people with thee” (Ezek. 38:15). Thirdly, they will spread all over the world: “They went up on the breadth of the earth” (Rev. 20:9). Fourthly, from their home in the north, they will migrate to other lands and settle in all the four corners of the earth and in time of war they will gather together from their distant colonies: “Satan…. shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle” (Rev. 20:8).Fifthly, the very root meaning of the words ‘Gog’ and ‘Magog,’ as shown under “Important Words,” points to western Christian nations as the nations referred to in the above Biblical prophecies.
- The name Gog first occurs in 1 Chr. 5:4, where he is mentioned as a descendant of Joel.
- But Ezek. 38:3, and 39:1, speak of Gog as ‘prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal’, evidently Rosh standing for Russia, Meshech for Moscow and Tubal for To bolsk. Gog is also spoken of as ‘of the land of Magog’ (Ezek. 38:2) and Magog, in this verse of the Bible, according to the commentators of the Bible represents the regions which of old went by the name of Scythia (including Russia and Tartary), from which in the past issued many hordes of barbarians. As Russia was included in the land of Magog, Rosh, Meshech and Tubal must be taken as standing for Russia, Moscow and Tobolsk.
- Magog was the second of Japheth’s sons (Gen. 10:2) and his descendants seem to have given their name to the land referred to in Ezek. 38:2. But Magog has also been spoken of as the name of a people in Ezek. 39:6 and in Rev. 20:8. In the former, Magog has been mentioned along with those ‘that dwell carelessly in the isles.’ These passages also show that Gog and Magog represent some of the great Powers of Europe, including Russia.
- Gog and Magog have also been mentioned elsewhere in the Quran (18:95). There they have been spoken of as making raids into territories on the northern border of Iran, which means that they were the tribes generally known as Scythians. It is a known historical fact that in olden times the Scythians continued to move in large bodies from Asia into Europe, their route lying north of the Caucasus. (Enc. Brit. vol. 12, p. 263. 14th edit.). As one horde settled down in Europe new hordes came forth from the east, pushing their predecessors further and further West. Thus the nations of Europe have been legitimately called Gog and Magog in the Biblical prophecy. It is curious that the memory of two heroes named Gog and Magog is preserved to this day in Guild Hall (London) in the form of two statues. The original effigies which were destroyed in the Great Fire in the sixteenth century are known to have existed in the time of Henry V. These heroes seem to have been connected with Britain from very ancient times.
- Again, from “Ezekiel” and “Revelation” it appears that Gog and Magog will make their appearance in the Latter Days i.e. in the time just before the second coming of the Messiah: “After many years thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword” (Ezek. 38:8). “It shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land” (Ezek. 38:16). See also Rev. 20:7-10. These verses show that the prophecy refers to a people who were to have appeared in the distant future. That distant future is the time through which we are now passing and the mighty people of whom the prophecy speaks are the great Christian powers of the west. The following prophecy in Ezekiel shows that the age in which Gog and Magog were to make their appearance was to be marked by wars, earthquakes, pestilences and terrible catastrophes:
- And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, (by Israel is here meant the true Israel—the followers of Islam) saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel. So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother (And on that day We shall leave some of them to surge against others—Quran, 18:100). And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord” (38:18-23). See also 18:84, 100 & 102.
- The present verse when read in conjunction with its predecessor purports to say that the law of nature works in this way that once a people after the heyday of their grandeur and glory, fall a victim to death and destruction they never regain their lost glory. But it further says that a new phenomenon will take place in the time of Gog and Magog. After their power and might will have gone to pieces and their glory departed the followers of Islam will again come into their own and regain their former greatness, grandeur and glory after they had lost all hope of regeneration. Gog and Magog or the Christian nations of the west have now scaled all the heights of political power and have spread over the whole world which has become divided into two opposite armed camps, viz. Western democracies and their allies on one side and communism and its satellites on the other. One part of the prophecy has been fulfilled, the other part about the complete and utter destruction of Gog and Magog is awaiting fulfilment. The signs of its fulfilment are already apparent on the horizon.
- The verse may also signify that the nations that had been subjugated by western Christian powers and had groaned under their cruel exploitation and heartless tyranny will rise to new life again when Christian Powers will begin to deteriorate and fall, after having attained to the highest pinnacles of material glory.