Outline:
*Narrated by Muhammad Alfuli – Teacher of Islamic Sciences and Arabic Language, Al-Azhar University, Cairo*
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said regarding them:
La yaqdiru ahadun ‘alaihim
No one will be able to defeat them.
Many questions arise: Are they really human? Are they truly descendants of Prophet Adam? Did a scholar from the Abbasid era really encounter them? And if they exist, why can’t we see them on Google Earth or detect them with modern radar? Who exactly are they?
Signs of the Final Hour: When Will Gog and Magog Appear?
Dear brothers and sisters, this session will share information that may sound unfamiliar to many, despite it being drawn from authentic hadiths. Unfortunately, knowledge about Gog and Magog is scarce among the public. Most only know the names Ya’juj, Ma’juj, and Dhu al-Qarnayn. But who exactly are they? What do they look like? How and when will they emerge? Who will defeat them?
In today’s session, I will also share the story of a man from our time who visited what is believed to be the barrier of Gog and Magog—95% likely the same location mentioned in Islamic texts.
The People Before the Barrier: Historical Context
Long ago, in what is believed to be Central Asia—modern-day Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, or Tajikistan—a peaceful people lived off the land. They farmed, harvested, and ate in peace until two tribes began raiding them annually, stealing their crops and destroying their fields.
Desperate, they asked a powerful Muslim ruler—Dhu al-Qarnayn—for help. He agreed under two conditions:
1. He would not accept any payment.
2. The people must assist him fully.
Dhu al-Qarnayn and his army, alongside the villagers, constructed a massive iron barrier between two mountains, enclosing the two destructive tribes—Ya’juj and Ma’juj. The more accurate term isn’t just a “barrier,” but a full “encasement.”
Who Are Gog and Magog? What’s Their Role in the End Times?
The Prophet ﷺ described two things about them:
1. Their number is immense.
2. They are descendants of Adam, specifically from the line of Yafith, one of Noah’s sons.
He said:
Indeed, Gog and Magog are from the children of Adam.
Their numbers are unimaginable—far exceeding billions. In one hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said:
From every 1,000 people judged on the Day of Judgment, 999 will enter Hell.
Most of them will be from Gog and Magog.
They are characterized as corrupters on Earth (*mufsiduna fil-ardh*), with wide faces, small eyes, and reddish-black hair. Some are very tall—over 2 meters—while others are extremely short.
The End Times Sequence Involving Gog and Magog
According to hadiths, their release will happen after the Dajjal is defeated by Prophet Isa (Jesus) AS. After Isa establishes justice on Earth, Allah will inform him of the emergence of an undefeatable people—Gog and Magog.
Isa will then lead the believers to Mount Tur (likely in Sinai, Egypt) for protection. Those left behind will be annihilated by Gog and Magog. They will wreak havoc, consuming everything, even drinking the entire Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee).
Their arrogance will grow so extreme that they will claim to have killed all on Earth and aim to kill those in the heavens, shooting arrows toward the sky. Allah will cause those arrows to return with blood on them as a test, further inflating their pride.
Then, Allah will send tiny worms into their necks, killing them all. The Earth will be covered in their corpses, producing a foul stench even on Mount Tur. Isa and the believers will pray, and Allah will send birds with camel-like necks to carry away the bodies. Heavy rains will cleanse the Earth, leaving it smooth and shiny like glass (*zalaqah*).
Where Are They Now?
Hadiths suggest they are in complete isolation, without sunlight, possibly underground or in a closed valley. A small hole in their barrier has already appeared, as narrated by the Prophet ﷺ:
Today, a hole has been opened in the barrier of Gog and Magog this big.
There are two major scholarly opinions:
1. They are trapped between two mountains in Central Asia, sealed off by Dhu al-Qarnayn.
2. They are underground, completely cut off from human contact and modern detection technologies.
Historical and Modern Accounts of the Barrier
1. Abbasid Era – Salam at-Turjuman’s Journey
Caliph al-Wathiq Billah dreamed of Gog and Magog escaping. He sent Salam at-Turjuman, a multilingual historian, to locate the barrier. After a long journey of 28 months, Salam reported hearing loud, trapped voices behind a massive iron gate. However, this account’s authenticity is disputed due to weak chains of narration.
2. Modern Exploration in Kyrgyzstan
A contemporary Egyptian historian visited two identical mountains in Kyrgyzstan, where he discovered a structure between them covered by snow. Using metal detectors, iron was detected beneath the snow, aligning with the Qur’anic and hadith descriptions. His expedition, supported by local governments, was recorded and documented on video.
Why Can’t We Detect Them Today?
Technology Is Still Limited
Google Earth only scans the Earth’s surface. Many places remain unexplored—like polar regions or remote mountains in Central Asia. Even today, there are still tribes like the Sentinelese who’ve lived isolated for thousands of years.
Divine Will
Ultimately, it is Allah who conceals their existence. Their release will only occur when He wills. The lack of archaeological or genetic evidence doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Many civilizations like the Indus Valley or the Mayans were discovered long after their extinction.
Final Reflection: Preparing for the End
This is not just a tale of mystery—it’s a wake-up call. Learning about signs of the Last Day shouldn’t be out of curiosity alone. The key is spiritual preparation.
So, dear brothers and sisters, reflect: What have you prepared to face the signs of the Final Hour?
We should not face the end times with fear, anxiety, or hopelessness, but with faith, worship, and repentance. Return to Allah ﷻ, improve your acts of worship, and cling to His guidance.
Keywords: End Times, Dajjal, Gog and Magog, Zulqarnain, Islamic Eschatology, Signs of the Hour, Apocalyptic Tribes, Barrier of Iron, Central Asia, Mount Tur.