The Trapped Beings (Gog and Magog)

Gog and Magog, known in Arabic as Ya’juj and Ma’juj, are described in the Quran as tribes or groups of chaotic and destructive beings that are trapped behind a barrier built by Dhul-Qarnayn, a righteous ruler or king. These beings are said to be released near the end of times, wreaking havoc on Earth. Their mention is associated with apocalyptic prophecies and serves as a sign of the Day of Judgment.

قَالُوا۟ يَٰذَا ٱلْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰٓ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّۭا

They said, “O Zul-Qarnain, the Gog and Magog are spreading chaos in the land. Can we pay you, to build between us and them a wall?”

The Holy Quran · Al-Kahf (The Cave) · 18:94

قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّى فِيهِ رَبِّى خَيْرٌۭ فَأَعِينُونِى بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا

He said, “What my Lord has empowered me with is better. But assist me with strength, and I will build between you and them a dam.”

The Holy Quran · Al-Kahf (The Cave) · 18:95

ءَاتُونِى زُبَرَ ٱلْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ ٱلصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ ٱنفُخُوا۟ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَعَلَهُۥ نَارًۭا قَالَ ءَاتُونِىٓ أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًۭا

“Bring me blocks of iron.” So that, when he had leveled up between the two cliffs, he said, “Blow.” And having turned it into a fire, he said, “Bring me tar to pour over it.”

The Holy Quran · Al-Kahf (The Cave) · 18:96

فَمَا ٱسْطَٰعُوٓا۟ أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسْتَطَٰعُوا۟ لَهُۥ نَقْبًۭا

So they were unable to climb it, and they could not penetrate it.

The Holy Quran · Al-Kahf (The Cave) · 18:97

قَالَ هَٰذَا رَحْمَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّى حَقًّۭا

He said, “This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes true, He will turn it into rubble, and the promise of my Lord is always true.”

The Holy Quran · Al-Kahf (The Cave) · 18:98

حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍۢ يَنسِلُونَ

Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they swarm down from every mound.

The Holy Quran · Al-Anbiyaa (The Prophets) · 21:96