Gog and Magog appear in Qur'an Qur'an
A painting by Qasim, 16th century, illustrating the building of the wallGog and Magog appear in Qur'an sura Al-Kahf (The Cave), 18:83-98, as Yajuj and Majuj (Ya-juj/Ya-jewj and Ma-juj/Ma-jewj or يأجوج و مأجوج, in Arabic). Some Muslim scholars contend that the Gog in Ezekiel verse 38:2 should be read Yajuj (there is a maqaph (מקף) or hyphen immediately before Gog in the Hebrew version which in some printings looks like the Hebrew letter "yod" or "Y"<12>). The verses state that Dhul-Qarnayn (the one with two horns) travelled the world in three directions, until he found a tribe threatened by Gog and Magog, who were of an "evil and destructive nature" and "caused great corruption on earth".<13> The people offered tribute in exchange for protection. Dhul-Qarnayn agreed to help them, but refused the tribute; he constructed a great wall that the hostile nations were unable to penetrate. They will be trapped there until doomsday, and their escape will be a sign of the end:
“ But when Gog and Magog are let loose and they rush headlong down every height (or advantage). Then will the True Promise draw near - (Qur'an 21:96-97) „
The Qur'anic account of Dhul-Qarnayn follows very closely the "Gates of Alexander" story from the Alexander Romance, a thoroughly embellished compilation of Alexander the Great's wars and adventures (see below). Since the construction of a great iron gate to hold back a hostile northern people was attributed to Alexander many centuries before the time of Prophet Muhammad and the recording of the Qur'an, most historians consider Dhul-Qarnayn a reference to Alexander (see Alexander in the Qur'an). However, some Muslim scholars reject this attribution, associating Dhul-Qarnayn with some other early ruler, usually Cyrus the Great, but also Darius the Great.<14> Gog and Magog are also mentioned in some of the hadith, or sayings of Prophet Muhammad, specifically the Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, revered by Muslims.
Fourteenth century Muslim sojourner Ibn Battuta traveled to China on order of the Sultan of India and encountered a large community of Muslim merchants in the city of Zaitun. He comments in his travel log that "Between it and the rampart of Yajuj and Majuj is sixty days' travel."<15> The translator of the travel log notes that Ibn Battuta confused the Great Wall of China with that supposedly built by Alexander.<16>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gog_and_Magog
4given- 08-19-2008
Yeah I found it interesting when I read about it at the weekend.
" It tells of a great king called Dhoo'l-Qarnayn (or Dhucarnain) who ruled much territory. In the eastern part, there was a valley between two mountains where Gog and Magog (also called Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj) came through. They were spreading corruption and terror. Dhoo'l-Qarnayn built a huge wall in the valley out of iron and copper that Gog and Magog could not climb over. But they began to dig underneath and have been doing so for hundreds of years, and when they finally get through, they will burst out, eating, drinking, and killing. This will be the end of the world.
ChrisMarie- 08-19-2008
I am finding other cultures take on endtimes fascinating. That could become a whole new obsession taking and Anthropology & European History course'.
4given- 08-19-2008
I think you would enjoy that.
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