Making Sense of Gog and Magog
A relatively popular objection against Islam is that the Quran and Sunnah supposedly claim that there are many people behind a dam made by Zul-Qarnayn that is still standing today. Since we haven't verified such a large community and structure, the Quranic story is a myth.
This, however, is built on the interpretation that the dam of Zul-Qarnayn is still standing today and that Gog and Magog are behind it. Holders of this interpretation say that it's clearly implied in the Quran and Sunah, but this is false.
Before we go on, let me get something across clearly. This isn't the only possible interpretation. The Quran and Sunnah allow multiple interpretations and ijtihads on this topic. So, let's begin.
1️⃣ "There's a hadith that says Gog and Magog keep digging every day to escape the dam, until the Day of Judgment."
This hadith has been weakened by many prominent scholars on both an isnad and matn basis. Ibn kathir criticizes this hadith on matn, and others criticize the isnad.
This hadith has been weakened by many prominent scholars on both an isnad and matn basis. Ibn kathir criticizes this hadith on matn, and others criticize the isnad.
2️⃣ "There is a hadith in Bukhari that says that the Dam was broken at the time of the prophet."
This hadith doesn't necessarily mean they are still behind the wall today or that the wall is still standing. However, this hadith talks about something the prophet saw in a dream.
This hadith doesn't necessarily mean they are still behind the wall today or that the wall is still standing. However, this hadith talks about something the prophet saw in a dream.
This could be understood that the opening of the wall that the prophet saw in his dream was a symbolic sign that the Day of Judgment is coming close. Visions in Islam are known to be highly symbolic. For instance, look up the vision Joseph had.
Scholars like Sheikh Obn Uthaymeen said that this interpretation of the gadith is possible and completely valid.
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3️⃣ "Quran 18:98 says that the wall will be destroyed on the day of judgment and not before it."
The verse only says that God will destroy the wall whenever time he decides or wants. Saying that God will destroy it at a specific time is only interpretation.
The verse only says that God will destroy the wall whenever time he decides or wants. Saying that God will destroy it at a specific time is only interpretation.
All other verses / hadiths are entirely vague about whether one interpretation is correct or inauthentic (for the hadiths). Finally, my point is that holding to the interpretation that the wall of gog and magog was destroyed long ago does not contradict clear verses or hadiths.
As to the question of where they are now, it's possible they are currently their descendents that live in China and Mongolia. This means that possibly, at the day of judgment, these people would launch attacks on the whole world in the same way that the Tartars did.
This is, especially, because the prophet's description of these people aligns with the communities of these areas. So, it's possible that the future descendents of the ancient Gog and Magog will do what the Tartars did to the world back then.
This doesn't mean that this interpretation is necessarily correct. It's only a possibility that, as long as it's valid, refutes the objection mentioned in the beginning. But at the end of the day, Allah knows best.
Jazakallahkheir.
Jazakallahkheir.
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