The emergence of Gog and Magog among the people will happen by the Will of Allah — the Most High. The story of their emergence is as described by the Prophet ﷺ through revelation from his Lord. He said:
“Gog and Magog dig every day until they are almost able to see the rays of the sun. Then the one in charge of them says: ‘Go back, we will dig it tomorrow.’ So Allah makes it stronger than it was before. But when the appointed time comes and Allah wills to release them upon the people, they dig until they are almost able to see the sun’s rays. The one in charge says: ‘Go back, you will dig it tomorrow, if Allah wills.’ This time they say ‘If Allah wills.’ They return to find it as they left it.
Then it does not close again. They continue digging until they break through and come out upon the people. They drink up the water, and the people seek refuge from them in their fortresses. Gog and Magog shoot their arrows towards the sky, and Allah returns the arrows covered in blood — a trial from Allah. They say: ‘We have conquered the people of the earth and risen over the people of the heavens.’ Then Allah will send a type of worm — like those found in the noses of camels and sheep — which will appear at their necks and kill them with it.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the beasts of the earth will grow fat and give thanks from their flesh.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah, 4080).
Ibn al-Arabi — may Allah have mercy on him — said there are three signs in this hadith:
1️⃣ That Allah prevented them from digging day and night continuously.
2️⃣ That He prevented them from climbing the barrier with ladders or tools; He did not inspire them to do so nor teach them, even though they have trees and crops.
3️⃣ That He held them back from saying ‘If Allah wills’ until the appointed time came and they finally said it.
How Will They Emerge?
It is said that Gog and Magog, having been left behind the barrier in turmoil and chaos, attempted to cross it by climbing, but failed due to its height and smoothness. When they were unable to climb over it, they turned to another method — digging through it. Every day they dig, and when they are nearly through and see the rays of the sun, the one in charge says: “Go back, you will dig it tomorrow…” Then by Allah’s Will, the barrier becomes stronger than before. This happens repeatedly, and their efforts come to nothing until the time Allah has decreed arrives.
Then the one in charge will finally say, “Go back, you will dig it tomorrow, if Allah wills.” This addition — “if Allah wills” — which Allah had withheld from them by His Will for so long, will finally be said. The next day, they return to find it as they leave it, so they continue digging and break through to the people.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Gog and Magog dig the barrier every day until they are about to see the rays of the sun. The one in charge says: ‘Go back, you will dig it tomorrow.’ Then Allah makes it stronger than it was. When their appointed time comes and Allah wants to release them upon the people, they dig until they are about to see the sun’s rays. The one in charge says: ‘Go back, you will dig it tomorrow, if Allah wills.’ This time they say, ‘If Allah wills.’ They return and find it as they left it. They dig and break through upon the people.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Al-Hakim).
Ibn al-Arabi said there are three signs in this narration:
1️⃣ Allah prevented them from continuous digging day and night.
2️⃣ He prevented them from trying to climb the barrier using ladders or other means, not inspiring or teaching them how even though they have trees and farmlands.
3️⃣ He withheld from them the statement “If Allah wills” until the destined time.
The truth — Exalted is He — has restrained Gog and Magog until a known appointed time, by His Divine Will. If things happened by themselves, without His Care and Will, Gog and Magog would have emerged the very first day they began digging the barrier. But nothing happens in creation except by His Will and Decree. Allah — the Most High — has knowledge of all things in a Preserved Tablet, and everything has a precise measure. Allah said:
“And you do not will except that Allah wills…” [Al-Insan: 30].
This is the subtle link between the story of Gog and Magog and His Words:
“…and never say of anything, ‘Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,’ except [when adding], ‘If Allah wills.’” [Al-Kahf: 23-24].
What clearer example could illustrate this meaning than the story of Gog and Magog with the barrier built over them by Dhul-Qarnayn?
Al-Qurtubi said in his tafsir:
“The scholars said: Allah — the Most High — admonished His Prophet ﷺ for saying to the disbelievers, when they asked him about the soul, the People of the Cave, and Dhul-Qarnayn: ‘Tomorrow I will tell you,’ without saying, ‘If Allah wills.’ So revelation was withheld from him for fifteen days, which weighed heavily upon him and caused the disbelievers to mock him. Then this surah was revealed, bringing relief. He was commanded in this verse never to say about any matter, ‘I will do that tomorrow,’ without adding, ‘If Allah wills,’ so that his statement would not be definitive. For if he says, ‘I will do that,’ and does not, then he has spoken falsely. But if he says, ‘I will do that — if Allah wills,’ then he is not bound to what he promised.”
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