Gog and Magog
G
OG
AND
M
AGOG
have been mentioned in two places in the
Quran in verse 94 of chapter 18 and in verse 96 of chapter 21.
They have also been mentioned on various occasions in the books
of Hadith. (
Sahih
al-Bukhari,
Sahih
Muslim, At Tirmizi, Ibn
Majah, Musnad Ahmad). Similarly, we find mention of them in
the books of the Bible, e.g. in Ezkiel. In other religious books,
such as the Puranas, one of the sacred books of Hinduism, they
are also mentioned by the names of Koka and Vikoka. Much
has been written about them in commentaries on the Hadith
and Quran (
Tafsir
).
However, no consensus has so far emerged regarding Gog
and Magog. This being so, it is necessary to reach an opinion
which is academically in accordance with the relevant data. In
line with this principle, the writer has made an in-depth study
of all the data, and has come to certain conclusions which are
presented here.
The story of Gog and Magog is not a matter of mystery. It is
something which can be understood by the inferential method.
Here, avoiding technical discussions, I shall attempt to present
an academic picture of my findings.
Application of the names, Gog and Magog
W
HO
ARE
G
OG
and Magog? Scholars have expressed various
opinions. I personally find the opinion of Maulana Anwar Shah
Kashmiri (d 1934) the most appropriate, namely, that these terms
apply to the nations of Russia, Britain and Germany. He writes:
It appears that by Gog and Magog are meant the western
European nations. (Faiz al-Bari al Sahih Al Bukhari, vol. 4, p. 23)
The available information on Gog and Magog applies to
European nations more than to anything else, and its being
mostly in metaphorical language is the reason for this subject
having been found difficult to understand. If we keep this fact
