Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 96

(Ayah 96){حَتّٰۤى اِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَاْجُوْجُ وَ مَاْجُوْجُ …: ’’ حَدَبٍ ‘‘} The raised part of the earth, a high place, just as if someone’s back is raised, it is called {’’حَدَبَةُ الظَّهْرِ‘‘}. {’’نَسَلَ‘‘} (ض، ن) To place the feet close together and run swiftly downward, that is, the resurrection of the people of the destroyed towns will remain impossible until the Day of Resurrection is established, among whose very near signs is also the emergence of Gog and Magog. After their emergence, the Day of Resurrection will be established very soon. Hudhaifah bin Asid Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: “Once we were discussing the Day of Resurrection among ourselves when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to us and said: ‘What are you discussing among yourselves?’ They said: ‘We are discussing the Day of Resurrection.’ He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّهَا لَنْ تَقُوْمَ حَتّٰی تَرَوْنَ قَبْلَهَا عَشْرَ آيَاتٍ ، فَذَكَرَ الدُّخَانَ وَالدَّجَّالَ، وَالدَّابَّةَ، وَطُلُوْعَ الشَّمْسِ مِنْ مَّغْرِبِهَا، وَنُزُوْلَ عِيْسَی ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ صَلَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، وَيَأْجُوْجَ وَمَأْجُوْجَ، وَثَلاَثَةَ خُسُوْفٍ : خَسْفٌ بِالْمَشْرِقِ، وَخَسْفٌ بِالْمَغْرِبِ، وَخَسْفٌ بِجَزِيْرَةِ الْعَرَبِ، وَآخِرُ ذٰلِكَ نَارٌ تَخْرُجُ مِنَ الْيَمَنِ تَطْرُدُ النَّاسَ إِلٰی مَحْشَرِهِمْ ] [ مسلم، الفتن، باب في الآیات التی تکون قبل الساعۃ : ۲۹۰۱ ] ‘The Day of Resurrection will not be established until you see ten signs before it.’ Then he mentioned the smoke, the Dajjal, the beast of the earth, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of ‘Isa (peace be upon him), Gog and Magog, and three sinkings (of the earth swallowing up): one sinking in the east, one sinking in the west, and one sinking in the Arabian Peninsula, and at the end of them, a fire will emerge from Yemen which will drive the people to their place of gathering.” The opening of Gog and Magog refers to the breaking of the wall near the Day of Resurrection which Dhul-Qarnayn had built to protect the people from the devastation of Gog and Magog. At that time, their emergence is described as being in such abundance and speed that they will overwhelm every height and lowland, and no one will have the power to confront them. [ مسلم، الفتن، باب ذکر الدجال : ۲۹۳۷ ] For details about Gog and Magog, see the commentary of Surah Al-Kahf (93 to 99).

96. 1. The necessary details about Yajuj and Majuj have already been mentioned at the end of Surah Kahf. In the presence of Isa (peace be upon him), near the Day of Judgment, their emergence will occur, and they will spread everywhere with such speed and abundance that they will be seen running on every high place. Due to their corruption and mischief, the believers will become distressed, to the extent that Isa (peace be upon him) along with the believers will take refuge on Mount Tur. Then, by the supplication against them of Isa (peace be upon him), they will be destroyed, and the stench and foul odor of their corpses will spread everywhere, until Allah will send birds that will pick up their corpses and throw them into the sea. Then, a heavy rain will be sent down, by which the entire earth will be cleansed. (All these details are mentioned in Sahih hadith; for details, see Tafsir Ibn Kathir.)

Until, when Gog and Magog [86] are let loose, and they rush down from every height.

[86]
The Onslaught of Gog and Magog and the Signs of the Day of Judgment:

The connection of this verse with the previous verse is that on the day when Gog and Magog are let loose and the Day of Judgment is established, at that time, it will be inevitable for the people of the destroyed settlements to be presented before Us. It is impossible that they would not be presented before Us. In this regard, the first meaning seems more correct. Some details about Gog and Magog have been mentioned under verse 94 of Surah Al-Kahf. Furthermore, the destruction of the barrier of Dhul-Qarnayn and the attack of Gog and Magog is one of the signs of the nearness of the Day of Judgment. As is clear from the following hadith: Hazrat Hudhaifah bin Asid Ghifari says that once we were discussing the Day of Judgment among ourselves when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to us and said: "The Day of Judgment will not be established until you see these ten signs." Then he mentioned all of them in order: smoke, the emergence of Dajjal, the appearance of the Beast of the Earth, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Hazrat Isa ؑ, the onslaught of Gog and Magog, the sinking of the earth at three places—one in the east, one in the west, and one in the Arabian Peninsula—and after these nine signs, a fire will appear which will drive people from Yemen and take them to their place of gathering (Syria). [مسلم، كتاب الفتن و شرائط الساعة]

And when this wall breaks, Gog and Magog will attack like a predatory animal that, freed from its cage, pounces upon its prey. Due to their multitude and crowding, they will cover every height and lowland. Wherever you look, you will see their throngs. Their overwhelming flood will come with such intensity and speed that no human power will be able to stop it. It will seem as if their armies are sliding and rolling down from mountains and hills. And it is not necessary that Gog and Magog, both nations, unite and cause such turmoil. It is also quite possible that these two nations may clash with each other, and then their conflict may become the cause of a worldwide chaos.