The physical traits of Gog and Magog have been described in the hadith of Khalid ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Harmalah, narrated from his maternal aunt:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave a sermon while his head was wrapped due to a scorpion sting. He said:
“You claim there is no enemy, but you will continue to fight until Gog and Magog emerge. They have broad faces, small eyes, and reddish hair. They will descend from every high place. Their faces are like hammered shields.”
Al-Haythami said: “Narrated by Ahmad and al-Tabarani; their narrators are those of the authentic collections.”
From this narration, we learn the following physical characteristics of Gog and Magog:
- Broad faces
- Small eyes
- Red-tinged hair (ṣuhb al-shi‘āf)
What Is the Meaning of “Ṣuhb” (Redness)?
The term “ṣuhb” refers to a reddish colour tinged with black.
- As for shuhb or shuhbah, it refers to whitish colour with dark streaks running through it.
- Shi‘āf refers to the uppermost part of the hair on the head.
“Majān muṭraqah” – Hammered Shields
- Majān is the plural of mijn, meaning a shield.
- Muṭraqah refers to shields that are covered with layered leather, one layer on top of another.
Therefore, their faces are full and fleshy, wide, and shield-like in appearance, tough and rounded like leather-covered war shields.
Are They the Same as the Turks?
The Prophet ﷺ also described the Turks in a way similar to Gog and Magog. It was mentioned in previous articles that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Hour will not be established until the Muslims fight the Turks—people whose faces are like hammered shields.”
This led some scholars to conclude that the Turks mentioned in these ahadith are Gog and Magog, while others proposed a more nuanced view:
- Gog and Magog are a branch of the Turks who were sealed behind the barrier built by Dhul-Qarnayn.
- However, a faction of them remained outside the wall during a period of plunder and pillaging and were not sealed within.
- From these remaining ones, the Tatars (Mongols) later emerged—those who invaded and destroyed vast regions of the Muslim world.
According to this view, there is no contradiction between the hadith and the historical events. The massive bloodshed and destruction caused by the Tatars can be seen as the actions of those who descended from that outer faction.
The Minor Signs of the Hour
Some scholars who believe that the Muslims’ battles with the Turks have already occurred also regard those events as minor signs of the Hour. The destruction, corruption, and wars initiated by the likes of the Tatars serve as testimony to that.
Others hold that the actual Gog and Magog are yet to emerge. They say:
- Their physical description matches that of the Turks mentioned in authentic narrations.
- Historical groups such as the Turks, the people of Khuz and Kerman, and Shu‘ban were all fought by the Muslims.
- However, Gog and Magog themselves will not be fought by the Muslims, as Allah Himself will destroy them.
Masha Allahu