What you should know about Gog and Magog & Zul-Qarnain?

Is it about the sun setting in murky water or it is sheer false attack on Islaam?

By: Shahid Bin Waheed شاهد بن وحيد

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمدلله رب العالمين والصلوة والسلام على اشرف الانبياء وسيدالمرسلين نبينا محمد صل ا لله عليه وعلى آله واصحابه وازواجه اجمعين - امابعد

Thanks to be Allaah, Sustainer of the Universe, and blessing and salutation to be the most distinguish of the Messengers and foremost among the Prophets, our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allaah be on him and on his wives, children and Companions.

This treatise will explore the answers of following questions.

Who was Zul-Qarnain ذوالقرنين?
Did sun set in murky water?
Who asked the questions?
Why Glorious Qur’aan took up this subject?
What were the questions and why they were asked?
What is the location of Gog and Magog?
Jews and Christians should look into their Bible before mocking the Glorious Qur’aan.

In the recent past I received some emails requesting information about Zul-Qarnain ذوالقرنين [this name is also spelled in many different way including Dhul-Qarnayn] and Gog ياجوج and Magoog ماجوج, therefore, this treatise inSha Allaah shine some light according to the authentic sources of Islaam; while also refuting a absurd attack on the Glorious Qur’aan by the enemies of Islaam.

The name Zul-Qarnain ذوالقرنين has appeared three times in the Glorious Qur’aan, however, before proceeding further I must elaborate on why Glorious Qur’aan took up this subject? Glorious Qur’aan didn’t raise it on as its own, but answered someone’s question. What had prompted the questioner/s to put forth that question and who is the person asking the question is discussed in this treatise.

In the year 614 [C.E.] the leaders of the Quraysh sent two envoys to consult with Jewish Rabbis in Yathrib [يثرب]. The Rabbis advised them to ask three questions to test Muhammad’s [صلى الله عليه وسلم] credentials. The questions were answered in a revelation to the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, which is a part of Surah Al-Kahf سورةالكهف of the Glorious Qur’aan. Before receiving the answers, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was commanded to say ‘InSha Allaah انشاالله (if Allaah wills) before saying that ‘I shall do that tomorrow.’

Muhammad Ibn Ishaaque has said on the authority of Ibn Abbas رضى الله عنه that Quraysh of Makkah sent Nadr bin Harith and Uqbah bin Abu Muayt to the religious scholars of the Jews. They conveyed the Quraysh’ s message to these Jewish scholars,

{“You are people of the Book and you claim to have knowledge of the earlier Messengers which we do not have. So tell us what we may ask Muhammad (SAW) about a sign in your Books confirming his Messengership”}

The men of Quraysh made known the purpose of their mission when they arrived at Yathrib. The Jewish Rabbis asked them not to probe much but ask him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) three questions and,

“If he gives the correct answers then he is true in his claim and he is a true Prophet. You must then obey him. If he does not give the correct answers then he is a liar, and you may do with him as you choose.”

The questions that Jewish Rabbis suggested are:

(1) Tell us about him whose conquests continued from the east to the west.

(2) How did those few young men fare who hid themselves in a mountainous cave from fear of their King?

(3) Tell us about Rooh (The spirit or soul).

It was the response to these questions that Surah Al-Kahf (Chapter 18) was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW). By the way Zulqaranyn is also (once) mentioned in Torah, that is why Jewish Rabbis asked the question about him.

Surah Al-Kahf 83 -87

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنْ ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ قُلْ سَأَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا (83) إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا (84)

فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا (85)

حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا قَوْمًا قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا (86) قَالَ أَمَّا مَنْ ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَى رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذَابًا نُكْرًا (87)

And they ask you about Dhul-Qarnain. Say: "I shall recite to you something of his story. “ Verily, We established him in the earth, and We gave him the means of everything. So he followed a way. Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allâh) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness." He said: "As for him (a disbeliever in the Oneness of Allâh) who does wrong, we shall punish him, and then he will be brought back unto his Lord, Who will punish him with a terrible torment (Hell).

Let us examine the Ayaah 18:86 further!

Surah Al-Kahf 86

حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا قَوْمًا قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا

Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people. We (Allâh) said (by inspiration): "O Dhul-Qarnain! Either you punish them, or treat them with kindness."

THUS, VERSE 86 IS EXPRESSING THE THOUGHT OF Dhul-Qarnain, FOR WHAT HE PERCEIVED.

To further simplify the verse 18:86, following must be understood:

Until when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he perceived it setting in a miry spring, and he found beside it a nation. We said: Zul-Qarnian! either chastise them or take in respect of them the way of kindness.

Sun = i.e. western point where the expedition terminated. MAGHRIB مغرب and Al- MAGHRIB المغرب both signify West.

Setting = Arabic word WAJAD وجد has two distinct meanings: one, he found it, lighted on it, attained it, having an objectivity, a correspondence with fact; the other is, he perceived it, became sensible of it, having only a subjective import. Here it is used in the latter sense, and the phrase means, ‘it appeared to him that the sun was setting.’

Nation = (of infidels) The reference may well be to Lake Ochaida to the west of the town of the same name of south Serbia (Yugoslavia). It is about 50 miles west of Monastia, 2260 feet. Above the sea level in a mountainous limestone region. ‘Its water are supplied by subterranean streams. Its chief outlet is the River Black Drin, on the north.’ (Encyclopedia Britannica XIX. P. 989 11^th Ed.). ‘The water is so dark that the river which forms the outlet of the lake to the north is called the Black Drin. Looking at the sunset from the town, the observer would see the sun setting in a pool of murky water.’

Said = (by inspiration)

Kindness = (and unite them to the true faith) The choice between the two alternatives tested with the invader king.

GIST

In the noble verse 18:86, Glorious Qur’aan is neither claiming nor suggesting that sun sets in the murky water or in a spring or in dark water etc. In fact the Qur’aan is mentioning a past event that took place before the advent of Islaam. The Jewish Rabbis and Quraysh of Makkah asked the questions, to verify the Prophethood of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. By the way, according to Glorious Qur’aan Ayaat 21:33; 36:38-40 SUN ROTATES. A similar message is conveyed in the Qur’an in 13:2, 35:13, 39:5 and 39:21

Gog and Magog & their location!

In the year 643 [C. E.] Muslims’ conquered Darband دربند (named later ‘Bab al-Abwab باب الابواب) in Dagestan Caucasus. Caliph Umar عمر رضى الله عنه sent a group of Muslims to find and examine the barrier (wall) erected by Zul-Qarnain ذوالقرنين as described in Surah Al-Kahf سورةالكهف of the Glorious Qur’aan. The wall was set up to prevent Yajooj ياجوج wa Majooj ماجوج (Gog and Magog) from their mischief and destruction. Upon receiving their report, Caliph Umar عمر رضى الله عنه concluded that the wall was located in Darband دربند. Hafiz Ibn Khatir حافظ ابن كثير رحمة الله عليه mentions that Zul-Qarnain ذوالقرنين was a pious king, who lived during the time of Prophet Ibraheem ابراهيم عليه السلام and he performed the Tawaf of Ka’bah كعبه with Prophet Ibraheem ابراهيم عليه السلام when he built it. I must state that Abdullah Yusuf Ali is way off for asserting that Zul-Qarnain ذوالقرنين is the Alexander the Great.

Note to readers: Dagestan is next to Chechnya (both are Muslim states) located in Caucasus, which is a region of southeast European U.S.S.R. between the Black and Caspian seas. Inhabited before 2000 B.C., it was the scene of countless invasions over the millenniums. The region's vast oil resources were a major German objective in World War II.

Jews and Christians should look into their Bible before mocking the Glorious Qur’aan with the absurd claim of “allegedly sun is setting in murky water”! Let us show them the mirror.

[KJV]Deuteronomy 11:30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?

[KJV] Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

GIST

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