The Emergence of Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

The Emergence of Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj

Imam Muhammad bin Saalih Al-`Uthaimeen


These are two non-Arab names or (perhaps) they are Arab names derived from Ma'j which means riotous disruption or from Ajeej which means the setting ablaze and kindling of a fire. They are two nations from the tribe of Adam that are currently in existence, based upon the evidences from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Allah says concerning the story of Dhul-Qarnain: "Until when he reached between two mountains, he found before both of them, a people who scarcely understood a word. They said: 'O Dhul-Qarnain! Verily, Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between them and us?'"[1]
Also, the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "On the Day of Judgement Allah will say: 'O Adam, rise and extract the people of the Fire from your offspring.' Adam will say: 'Who are the people of the Hellfire?' Allah will say 'Out of every thousand, (take out) nine hundred and ninety-nine (persons). At that time, children will become hoary-headed and every pregnant female will drop her load (i.e. miscarriage). And you will see the people as if they were drunk, yet they will not be drunk. But Allah's punishment will be severe." News of that distressed the companions severely, so they said: "O Messenger of Allah, who amongst us will be that (one) man (out of a thousand)?" He (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Give the good tidings, for indeed from among you will be one and from Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj will be a thousand."[2]
Their emergence, which is one of the signs of the Hour, has not occurred before in the past. However, its first indications were present during the time of the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam). It is confirmed in the two Saheeh collections that the Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "'Today a hole has been opened in the barrier of Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj, like this', and he (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) made a circle with his index finger and thumb."[3]
Thus, their emergence is established in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Allah says: "Until when Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj are let loose (from their barrier), and they swoop down from every mound. And the true promise (Day of Resurrection) shall draw near."[4]

The Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Verily the Hour will never be established until you see ten signs before it." Then he (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) mentioned: "The smoke, the Dajjaal, the Beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of 'Eesaa Ibn Maryam, Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj, three tremors (in which the earth will open and swallow those upon it) - one in the east, one in the west and one in the Arabian Peninsula. And the last of them will be a fire that will come out from Yemen, which will drive the people to the (final) place of assembly."[5]
Their story is found in the hadeeth of An-Nuwaas Ibn Sam'aan (radyAllahu ‘anhu). The Prophet (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said concerning 'Eesaa Ibn Maryam, after the Dajjaal is killed: "It will be that way, when Allah will reveal to 'Eesaa: 'I have brought forth certain servants of Mine, against whom none will be able to fight. So lead my servants safely to the Mount (Toor).' And then Allah will send Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj and they will come swarming down from every slope. The first portion of them will pass by the lake of Tiberias and drink from what is in it. Then the last portion of them will pass by it and say: 'There was once water here.' They will continue traveling until they will stop at the mountain of Al-Khamar, which is the mount of Al-Bait-ul-Maqdis. Then they will say: 'We have killed those on earth, come, let us now kill those in the heavens.' So they will begin to throw their arrows toward the sky and Allah will return their arrows back to them, smeared with blood. Then the Prophet of Allah ('Eesaa) and his companions will be laid siege (so severely), to the extent that the head of an ox would be better to one of them than one hundred deenars is to one of you today. So the Prophet of Allah 'Eesaa and his companions will supplicate to Allah, and Allah will send down upon them, insects which will set upon their (i.e. Ya’jooj and Ma’jooj) necks (biting at it). In the morning, they will perish, like one single person. The Prophet of Allah 'Eesaa and his companions will then descend (from the Mount) to the ground and they will not find a place the size of a hand span, except that it would be filled with their putrefaction and stench. So the Prophet of Allah 'Eesaa and his companions will beseech Allah and He will send birds, whose necks look like that of bactrian camels, which will throw them (corpses of Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj) wherever Allah wills."[6]

[1] Surat-ul-Kahf (18): 93-94

[2] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: Book of Riqaaq (no. 6530) and Saheeh Muslim: Book of Faith (no. 222) from the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree (radyAllaahu ‘anhu). And the wording found in both of them is: "He will say: 'Take out the people of the Fire..." The wording found in Al-Bukhaaree (no. 6529) is: "Extract the People of the Hellfire from your offspring." This wording is very close to the wording mentioned by Shaikh Ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaimeen.

[3] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree: Book of Afflictions (no. 7135) and Saheeh Muslim: Book of Tribulations (no. 2880) from the hadeeth of Zainab Bint Jahsh (radyAllaahu ‘anhaa).

[4] Surat-ul-Anbiyaa (21): 96-97

[5] Saheeh Muslim: Book of Tribulations (no. 2901) from the hadeeth of Hudhaifah Ibn Usaid Al-Ghifaaree (radyAllaahu ‘anhu).

[6] Saheeh Muslim: Book of Tribulations (no. 2937). Refer to An-Nawawee’s comments on the ghareeb hadeeth in Riyaad-us-Saaliheen (no. 1817)