Rebuttal to Walid's book's "Gog & Magog (The Judgment of the Coming Russian Islamic Invasion on Israel)" section:
He wrote:
The Quran alluded to Gog and Magog in Surah Al-Kahf[18]; "They said: "O Dhu al Qarnayn! The Gog and Magog people do great mischief on earth: Shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between them?...Bring me blocks of iron at length, when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountainsides, He said, `Blow with your bellows', then when he had made it red as fire, he said: `Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead.' thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it. he said this: `this is a mercy from my Lord: but when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, he will make it into dust; and the promise of my Lord is true. On that day we shall leave them to surge like waves on one another; the trumpet will be blown, and we shall collect them together. And we shall present hell that day for unbelievers to see, all spread out.'" (Al-Kahf[18]:94-100).
Heated controversies as to precise dates, peoples, and personalities seem to be evident when trying to research the Islamic writings concerning these passages. Most Muslim scholars and commentators agree on the difficulty to interpret these verses, as a great deal of literature have been piled up among Muslim writers. The most common interpretation of the person of (Dhu al-Qarnayn) has been Alexander the Great, since the name (Dhu al-Qarnayn) in Arabic means "The two horned". Evidence from historical and archaeological accounts depict Alexander the Great with ram's horns on his head. Although the name Alexander is not mentioned here, Muslim interpreters generally agree that these verses are speaking of him. The problem with accepting Alexander the Great as the personality in these verses is that Alexander the Great is known in history as a pagan, he considered himself "The Son of Jupiter".
My response:
By the way, the "Iron Gates" were found.
From www.answering-christianity.com/iron_gates.htm:
"We now come to the Iron Gate which corresponds exactly to the Quranic description, and has the best claim to be connected with Alexander's story. It is near another Derbend in Central Asia, Hissar District, about 150 miles southeast of Bukhara. A very narrow defile, with overhanging rocks, occurs on the main route between Turkestan and India: latitude 38 degrees N; longitude 67 degrees E. It is now called in Turkish-Buzghol Khana (Goat- house), but was formerly known as the Iron Gate (Arabic, Bab al Hadid; Persian, Dar-i-ahani; Chinese Tie-men-kuan). There is no iron gate there now, but there was one in the seventh century, when the Chinese traveler Hiouen Tsiang saw it on his journey to India. He saw two folding gates cased with iron hung with bells. Nearby is a lake named Iskandar Kul, connecting the locality with Alexander the Great.
We know from history that Alexander, after his conquest of Persia and before his journey to India, visited Sogdiana (Bukhara) and Maracanda (Samarqand). We also know from al Maqdis, the Arab traveler and geographer; who wrote about A.H. 375 (A.C. 985-986) that the Abbasi Caliph al Wathiq (842-846 A.C.) sent out mission to Central Asia to report on this Iron Gate. They found the defile 150 yards wide: on two jambs, made with bricks of iron welded together with molten lead, were hung two huge gates, which were kept closed. Nothing could correspond more exactly with the description in (Noble Verses) 18:95-96.
If, then, the Barrier in 18:95-98 refers to the Iron Gate near Bukhara, we are able to proceed to a consideration of the Gog-Magog people with some confidence. They were the Mongol tribes on the other side of the Barrier, while the industrious men who did not understand Dhu al Qarnayn's language were the Turks, with their agglutinative language, so different from the languages then spoken in Western Asia.
The Barrier served its purpose for the time being. But the warning that the time must come when it must crumble to dust has also come true. It has crumbled to dust. Long since, the Mongols pushed through on their westward journey, pushing the Turks before them, and the Turks became a European Power and still have a footing in Europe. We need not bother about the legends of the Gog and Magog people. They were reputed to be giants, and two tiny hills in flat Cambridgeshire are derisively called the Gog-Magog hills! Similarly the statues of Gog and Magog in the Guildhall in London, which M.M.A. takes so seriously, only remind us how legends are apt to grow and get transported to strange places.
In the Alexander legends of medieval Europe, Gog and Magog are said to have come with 400,000 men to the help of Porus whom Alexander defeated, and to have fled after that defeat. They fled to the mountains, and Alexander built a wall with brass gates to prevent their irruptions. See Paul Meyer, Alexandre le Grand dans la literature francaise du Moyen Age: Paris, 1886; Vol. 2, pp. 386-389.
Personally, I have not the least doubt that Dhu al Qarnayn is meant to be Alexander the Great, the historic Alexander, and not the legendary Alexander, of whom more presently. My first appointment after graduation was that of Lecturer in Greek history. I have studied the details of Alexander's extraordinary personality in Greek historians as well as in modern writers, and have since visited most of the localities connected with his brief but brilliant career.
Few readers of Quranic literature have had the same privilege of studying the details of his career. It is one of the wonders of the Quran, that, spoken through an Ummi's (illiterate) mouth, it should contain so many incidental details which are absolutely true. The more our knowledge increases, the more we feel this. There are little touches which need not have been mentioned. They come in incidentally like the incidental remarks of a person full of knowledge, who does not intend to put forward these points but whose fullness of knowledge brings them in inevitably.
One such point occurs in the mention of Alexander's westward journey (18:86). He saw the sun set in a piece of murky water which is described as "Spring". Most commentators have understood the "Spring" to be the sea, and the "murky water" to be its dark-blue water. Nizami, in his Romance of Alexander, takes Alexander right west along North Africa to Andalusia and the Atlantic Ocean. There is no historic proof that Alexander ever reached the Atlantic. But he was of course familiar with the deep-blue waters of the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean interpretation may pass if we had not a closer explanation. Alexander's first exploits were when he was a mere boy, in the reign of his father Phillip. The region of Illyricum was due west of Macedonia, and Macedonia's first expansion was in that direction. The town of Lychnis was annexed to Macedonia and thus the western frontier of Macedonia was secured. The northern frontier towards the Danube had already been secured, and the lesson he subsequently gave no Thebes secured him against attack from the Greek States to the south, and prepared the way for his great march east against the Persian Empire.
To the west of the town of Lychnis is a lake170 square miles in area, fed by underground springs that issue through limestone rocks and give out murky water. Both town and lake are now called Ochrida, about 50 miles west of Monastir. The water is so dark that the river which forms the outlet of the lake to the north is called the Black Drin. Looking at the sunset from the town, the observer would see the sun set a pool of murky water (18:86). It was a question before the boy Alexander -- the dreamy, impulsive, fearless rider -- whether he would put the barbarous Illyricans to the sword or show them mercy. He showed true discrimination and statesmanship. He punished the guilty but showed kindness to the innocent, and thus consolidated his power in the west. This I construe to be the meaning of (Noble Verses) 18:86-87; otherwise these verses do not seem to be perfectly clear.
Another point may be noted. The three episodes mentioned are the journey to the west, the journey to the east, and the journey to the Iron Gate. The journey to the west I have just explained. The journey to the east was to the Persian Empire. Here he found a people who lived in the open and wore little clothing. This might apply to people who live in an inland place in the latitude of Persepolis or Multani. He left them alone as they were (18:91).
He was not warring against populations: he was warring against the proud but effete Persian Empire. He left them as they were, with their local institutions, and under their local chiefs. In feeling, he treated them as his own, not as aliens. In some things, he himself adopted their ways. His followers misunderstood him. But Allah understood, for He approves of all things that lead to Unity among mankind.
The direction of the third journey is not mentioned. The Commentators suggest the north, but they might with better reason have suggested the south, as Alexander visited Egypt. But the visit to the Iron Gate was to the East -- a continuation of his journey east. That is why the direction is not mentioned again. Here his mission was different. He had to protect, against turbulent and restless invaders. He helped them to protect themselves, but warned them that all human precautions, though good and necessary, are vain without Allah's help.
Each of the episodes mentioned is historical. But the pomp and glitter of military conquest are not mentioned. On the contrary, spiritual motives are revealed and commended. We need not know or learn any history or geography or science or psychology or ethics to understand them. But the more real knowledge we have, the more completely shall we understand them and the lessons to be drawn from them. The earthly journeys are treated as mere symbols to show us the evolution of a great and noble soul which achieved so much in a short earthly life.
His career was so extraordinary that it impressed his contemporaries as a world event. It undoubtedly was on of the greatest world events in history. Legends began to grow up round his name. In many cases the legends overlaid the history. Today the world is thrilled by Sir Ayrel Stein's identification of Aornos, a very small geographical detail in a great career full of lessons, in political, ethical, and religious wisdom.
But the generations immediately following Alexander's period wrote the transmitted all sorts of wonderful legends that passed current in East and West. The philosopher Kallisthenes had been with Alexander in Asia. Under his name was produced a Greek book in Alexandria some time before the second century of the Christian era. It was translated into Latin in the third century. Translations were subsequently made into most of the European languages. In Chaucer's time (1340-1400) these Alexander legends were known to every "weight that hath discrecion" (The Monk in Canterbury Tales).
Alexandria was a focus of Christian and Jewish learning for some centuries. The Christians also made Alexander a saint. The Jews carried the Alexander cycle into the East. Our Persian poet Jami (A.H. 535-599, A.C. 1141-1203) worked it up into his epic the Iskandar-nama. He is careful to show the historical or semi-historical and the ethical parts separately. The one relates to action or exploits (Iqbal) and the other to wisdom (Khirad). He had the advantage of the Quranic story before him. That story mentions three historical episodes incidentally, but draws our attention to matters of the weightiest spiritual significance, and that is the chief thing to note in the story."
My Personal Thoughts and Proofs:
Notice very carefully that Noble Verse 18:90 says: "Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun."
If you look at the Oriental people today (i.e., China, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, etc...) you would notice that their eyes are a bit stretched out. The reason for this formation of their eyes is because the amount of excessive sun rays that hit their eyes. Of course, it probably took thousands of years for their eyes to be formed and effected this way from the sun rays.
The point is that those people, the Gog and Magog, whom GOD Almighty "provided no covering protection against the sun" seem to belong to what we call today the "Oriental" race according to the Noble Quran.
Also, notice that Noble Verses 18:91-94 say:
"91. (He left them) as they were: We completely understood
what was before him.
92. Then followed he (another) way,
93. Until, when he reached (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a
people who scarcely understood a word.
94. They said: "O Zul-qarnain! the Gog and Magog (People) do great mischief on earth:
shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us
and them?"
This means that Zul-qarnain left those "Oriental" people and traveled further to where he found another type of people who looked different and understood his language; "a people who scarcely understood a word. (The Noble Quran, 18:93)". They complained about the people of "Gog and Magog" for doing mischief on earth. If you look at the countries bordering China today from the West and the South West such as India, Pakistan, Russia, etc...., then you would notice that they are not Oriental countries, even though they have direct borders with China and Mongolia.
As Sheikh (Minister) Abdullah Yusuf Ali said above, the people of Gog and Magog were the Mongolians (which could include Mongolia, China, Korea, Vietnam and Japan), and the righteous people whom Zul-qarnain protected with the Iron Gates were the Turks (which could include Turkey, South Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and several other Arab countries).
It just immediately grabbed my attention when Allah Almighty in the Noble Quran described the people of Gog and Magog as people whom He the Almighty "provided no covering protection against the sun. (The Noble Quran, 18:90)" because it perfectly fits the description of the Oriental race today.
If you look at the Oriental countries today, you would see that they are Pagan countries or Idol Worshiping Countries. If you look at the Middle Eastern and South Russian (such as Chechneya, Georgia, Uzpakistan, etc...) today, then you would see that they are Muslim countries.
Some Muslims believe that Dhul-qarnain or Zul-qarnain was the Persian King Cyrus:
Please visit The Gog and Magog in the Bible and the Noble Quran.
Please also visit Was King Cyrus of Persia the Dhul-qarnain of the Noble Quran who stopped Gog and Magog?
Please be advised that for this link, I disagree with the author for claiming that Alexander was a Pagan. According to the historical references above in this article, Alexander was considered a great person to the Jews and is considered like a Saint for the Christians, even though he existed before Jesus peace be upon him. His importance to both Jews and Christians eliminates the (perhaps false) fact that he was an idol worshiper.
Will the army of Gog and Magog return?
Allah Almighty predicted that the Muslims will fight the People of Gog and Magog during the End of Times:
"Until the Gog and Magog (people) Are let through (their barrier), And they swiftly swarm From every hill. Then will the True Promise Draw nigh (of fulfilment): Then behold! the eyes Of the Unbelievers will Fixedly stare in horror: 'Ah! Woe to us! we were indeed Heedless of this; nay; we Truly did wrong!' (The Noble Quran, 21:96-97)"
Here we see Allah Almighty telling us that the evil people of Gog and Magog will attack the Believers from "every hill", meaning from every where on earth.
"...The name (i.e., Gog and Magog) stands for wild and lawless tribes who will break their barriers and swarm through the earth. This will be one of the prognostications of the approaching Judgement." [2]
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him taught us that one of the Sings of the Hour (the Day of Judgment) is when the army of Gog and Magog returns and fights the Muslims:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: "The Prophet said 'The people will continue performing the Hajj and 'Umra to the Ka'ba even after the appearance of Gog and Magog.' Narrated Shu'ba extra: The Hour (Day of Judgment) will not be established till the Hajj (pilgrimage to the Mecca) is abandoned. (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Pilgrimage (Hajj), Volume 2, Book 26, Number 663)"
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: "The Last Hour would not come until you fight with a people wearing shoes of hair and the Last Hour would not come until you fight with a people having small eyes and broad snub noses. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, The Book Pertaining to the Turmoil and Portents of the Last Hour (Kitab Al-Fitan wa Ashrat As-Sa`ah), Book 041, Number 6958)"
The People of Gog and Magog seem to be the Jews, Christians, Oriental and Hindu Pagans of today:
The end of times battles will occur between the Muslims and the people of Gog and Magog who will consist of the bad Jews (Zionists today as we call them), and the Polytheists from the Trinitarian Christians who worship Jesus and the Holy Spirit beside Allah Almighty, and the idol worshipers from the Hindus and the Far Eastern Orientals.
Allah Almighty predicted that the Muslims will fight the People of Gog and Magog during the End of Times:
"Until the Gog and Magog (people) Are let through (their barrier), And they swiftly swarm From every hill. Then will the True Promise Draw nigh (of fulfilment): Then behold! the eyes Of the Unbelievers will Fixedly stare in horror: 'Ah! Woe to us! we were indeed Heedless of this; nay; we Truly did wrong!' (The Noble Quran, 21:96-97)"
Here we see Allah Almighty telling us that the evil people of Gog and Magog will attack the Believers from "every hill", meaning from every where on earth.
"...The name (i.e., Gog and Magog) stands for wild and lawless tribes who will break their barriers and swarm through the earth. This will be one of the prognostications of the approaching Judgement." [2]
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said that the people of Hell are the people of Gog and Magog:
Abu Sa'id reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: "Allah, the High and Glorious, would say: O Adam I and he would say: At Thy service, at thy beck and call, O Lord, and the good is in Thy Hand. Allah would say: Bring forth the group of (the denizens of) Fire. He (Adam) would say: Who are the denizens of Hell? It would be said: They are out of every thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine. He (the Holy Prophet) said: It is at this juncture that every child would become white-haired and every pregnant woman would abort and you would see people in a state of intoxication, and they would not be in fact intoxicated but grievous will be the torment of Allah. He (the narrator) said: This had a very depressing effect upon them (upon the companions of the Holy Prophet) and they said: Messenger of Allah, who amongst us would be (that unfortunate) person (who would be doomed to Hell)? He said: Good tidings for you, Yajuj and Majuj (i.e., Gog and Magog in English) would be those thousands (who would be the denizens of Hell) and a person (selected for Paradise) would be amongst you. He (the narrator) further reported that he (the Messenger of Allah) again said: By Him in Whose Hand is thy life, I hope that you would constitute one-fourth of the inhabitants of Paradise. We extolled Allah and we glorified (Him). He (the Holy Prophet) again said: BY Him in Whose Hand is my life, I wish you would constitute one-third of the inhabitants of Paradise. We extolled Allah and Glorified (Him). He (the Holy Prophet) again said: By Him in Whose Hand is my life, I hope that you would constitute half of the inhabitants of Paradise. Your likeness among the people is the likeness of a white hair on the skin of a black ox or a strip on the foreleg of an ass. (Translation of Sahih Muslim, The Book of Faith (Kitab Al-Iman), Book 001, Number 0430)"
If we were to look at the Noble Quran, we would see that Allah Almighty promised those who rejected His Sings in the Noble Quran from Jews, Christians and Pagans the torture of Hell Fire:
"Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book [Jews and Christians] and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). They are the worst of creatures. (The Noble Quran, 98:6)"
The Arabic word for Polytheists in Noble Verse 98:6 is "Mushrikeen", which literally means those who take partners with GOD Almighty in worship. Examples of "Mushrikeen" in Islam are: Trinitarian Christians, for they partner Jesus and the Holy Spirit with GOD Almighty in worship, and the Hindus and Buddhists, for they partner their idols with GOD Almighty in worship.
Let us look at more Sayings from Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him:
Prophet Muhammad predicted that the battle of Armageddon will take place when Saudi Arabia today will be corrupted, which in fact it is already:
Narrated Mu'adh ibn Jabal: "The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: The flourishing state of Jerusalem will be when Yathrib is in ruins, the ruined state of Yathrib will be when the great war comes, the outbreak of the great war (i.e., the battle of Armageddon) will be at the conquest of Constantinople and the conquest of Constantinople when the Dajjal (Antichrist) comes forth. He (the Prophet) struck his thigh or his shoulder with his hand and said: This is as true as you are here or as you are sitting (meaning Mu'adh ibn Jabal). (Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Battles (Kitab Al-Malahim), Book 37, Number 4281)"
The ruin of the city of Yathrib (Madina in Saudi Arabia today, which is near Mecca or Paran in the Bible) will be caused because of the bad corruption from dictatorships and lack of Islam in the Muslim world as was clearly prophesized in the following Hadith (Saying):
The following Arabic Saying (Hadith) and its English translation were taken from The corruptions and infidel dictatorships in the Muslim world today were prophesized by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
My translation to the above is as follows:
Hadith (Saying) from the Sunan Abu Dawud Volume, The Book of Fierce Battles - The Gathering of all the Nations against Islam.
Hadith #4297:
Narrated Thauban: "The Prophet peace be upon him said: 'The nations shall gather and team up against you (i.e., Muslims) as the predators gather and team up against their preys. A questioner asked: 'Is it because of us being low in numbers at that day?' The Prophet replied: 'No, you that day shall be in great numbers, but you will be as powerless as the foam of the water on the surface of the river, and Allah shall remove any fear from your enemies toward you, and He shall put in your hearts a corruption.' A questioner asked: 'O Apostle of Allah, what is the corruption?' The Prophet replied: 'The love of life's amusements and the fear of death.' (Translation of Sunan Abu Dawud, The Book of Fierce Battles - The Gathering of all Nations against Islam, Book 37, Number 4297)"
(http://216.191.147.6/pls/iweb/HADITH.showHadiths?BkNo=3&KNo=32&BNo=5&StartNo=1)
As long as the Muslims are cowards and fear to rise up against their corrupted governments, Allah Almighty will never help them to regain their wealth and independence. As long as the Muslim fear to rise up against the evil of their infidel governments because they love life too much, they shall always be the needy people despite what Allah Almighty gave them from Wealth, Natural Resources, Beautiful Religion, Morals and Culture, and Geography, and Allah Almighty shall always let the enemies of the Muslims be fearless of them and always gather up against them "as the predators gather and team up against their preys" as clearly prophesized by Prophet Muhammad above, because He the Almighty said in the Noble Quran:
"Because God will never change the grace which He hath bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (own) souls: and verily God is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things). (The Noble Quran, 8:53)"
Please visit Muslims be careful from the Muslim hypocrites.
Continuing with more Prophecies from Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him:
Narrated Imran ibn Husayn: "The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: A section of my community will continue to fight for the right and overcome their opponents till the last of them fights with the Antichrist. (Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad), Book 14, Number 2478)"
Narrated Abdullah ibn Hawalah al-Azdi: "The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) sent us on foot to get spoil, but we returned without getting any. When he saw the signs of distress on our faces, he stood up on our faces and said: O Allah, do not put them under my care, for I would be too weak to care for them; do not put them in care of themselves, for they would be incapable of that, and do not put them in the care of men, for they would choose the best things for themselves. He then placed his hand on my head and said: Ibn Hawalah, when you see the caliphate has settled in the holy land (i.e., Palestine), earthquakes, sorrows and serious matters will have drawn near and on that day the Last Hour will be nearer to mankind than this hand of mine is to your head. (Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Jihad (Kitab Al-Jihad), Book 14, Number 2529)"
It wouldn't surprise me to see the Pagan Orientals and Hindus along with the Sexually open, Satanic, Western Societies who are mostly Jews and Christians all end up in Hell Fire.
As I mentioned above, Allah Almighty predicted that the Muslims will fight the People of Gog and Magog during the End of Times:
"Until the Gog and Magog (people) Are let through (their barrier), And they swiftly swarm From every hill. Then will the True Promise Draw nigh (of fulfilment): Then behold! the eyes Of the Unbelievers will Fixedly stare in horror: 'Ah! Woe to us! we were indeed Heedless of this; nay; we Truly did wrong!' (The Noble Quran, 21:96-97)"
Here we see Allah Almighty telling us that the evil people of Gog and Magog will attack the Believers from "every hill", meaning from every where on earth.
"...The name (i.e., Gog and Magog) stands for wild and lawless tribes who will break their barriers and swarm through the earth. This will be one of the prognostications of the approaching Judgement." [2]
For more information please read the following articles:
The End of Times Battles in Islam.
The Signs of Armageddon (The End of Times Battles) in Islam.
What is the Status of Jerusalem in the Noble Quran?
How do you respond to the End of Times Prophecies in the Books of Psalms and Ezekiel against the Muslims of today in the Bible? See my response to this Christian misunderstanding.
Winston Churchill of Great Britain during World War II recognized the "Iron Gates" built against the army of Gog and Magog that was mentioned in the Noble Quran and wasn't mentioned in the Bible:
The following link was sent to me by brother Shakoor Ahmed; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him:
http://www.islamicparty.com/commonsense/14gog.htm
Bibliography:
1- The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an.
Author: Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
Published by: Amana Publications, 10710 Tucker Street, Suite B, Beltsville, Maryland
20705-2223 USA.
Telephone: (301) 595-5777.
Fax: (301) 595-5888.
ISBN: 0-91597-59-0 (HC).
2- The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an [1], foot note #2753, page 816.
He wrote:
While the Quran addresses him as "The man of Faith" if Alexander is the person of this story, verse 88 addresses Alexander saying "but who believes, and works righteousness, he shall have goodly reward", and in verse 98 Alexander is saying; "This is a mercy from my Lord...and the promise of my Lord is true." The question is, who could Alexander's Lord be? And which God is he addressing when he says "a mercy from my Lord"? If Muslims choose this interpretation, then Alexander the Great becomes the channel of inspiration to reveal this prophecy to the people referred to in verse 93. Some interpreters conclude this as a historic event, and not a prophecy, concluding that Gog might rise again in the future, a claim not written in the Quran. While this represents a dilemma to most Muslim scholars, the general point of view in the Islamic world unanimously accept Alexander the Great as "Dhu al- Qarnayn". A definite "double horned" problem found in the major commentaries of the Quran. And to avoid Alexander as the figure of the story will create a problem of identifying "Dhu-al Qarnayn", since this name is a historical identification to Alexander the Great.
Another dilemma that faces the Muslims in accepting Alexander as "Dhu al-Qarnayn", is that Omar Ibn-Alkhattab, the second Khalifa of Islam, and a close friend of the prophet, in defending the Prophet calls Dhu al-Qarnayn as "an angel".
This dilemma directed Muslim scholars to many other mixed, and different conclusions, all making a saint out of him, neglecting the historical fact of Alexander burning a Phoenician city as the people rejected him offering sacrifices to his pagan deities. He died an alcoholic and a pagan. It is practically agreed among Muslim scholars, that Gog and Magog were wild tribes of Central Asia known as "Scythians", but the detail of the events of this prophecy is vaguely known.
Numerous assumptions have been made concerning the blocks of iron and the mountain sides, a Muslim can read some of these in any commentary on the Quran like Abdullah Yusuf Ali's commentary. Mr. Ali gets himself in a trap, when he concludes a fulfillment of this took place at the time of Alexander the Great, he gets into a debate with the different interpretations on several iron gates, assuming that the "blocks of iron" are gates he says; "The Abbasi Khalifa Wathiq (842-846 A.C.) sent a mission to Central Asia to report on this Iron Gate...Nothing could correspond more exactly with the description in Surah 18:95-96)".
The trap Mr. Ali sets himself into is that when reviewing verses 98-100 above, one cannot escape the fact that the event will take place on Judgment day, since a trumpet will sound and Hell is presented. The conclusion that these verses are prophetic are beyond question. The reason Muslim scholars try to conclude this as fulfilled is obvious since Alexander the Great died long ago. Either "Dho al-Qarnayn (Double horned) be Alexander, Good Angel, or the Devil presents a problem, no serious scholar can deny.
The Bible on the other hand concerning the prophecy of Gog and Magog, gives the missing elements not mentioned in the Quran. The additional detail is quite astonishing; "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal and prophecy against him, and say, This saith the lord God: I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee...And you will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north...a mighty army." (Ezekiel 38:1-6). The majority of the scholars on Bible prophecy identify Russia with these names before Russia became a super power.
C. I. Scofield in 1909, and before Russia had any significance in world power during the Czars of Russia commented; "That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree....The reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification. Russia and the northern powers have been the latest persecutors of dispersed Israel." In Genesis 10 these names are given to sons and descendants of Noah. Josephus, one of history's great historians notes that Magog is called the Scythians by the Greeks. Gesenius' Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon, a major authority on the precise meaning of Hebrew and Chaldee words regard Magog as a real country to the extreme north of the Holy Land.
Professor G. Rawlinson also identifies them with modern Russia. Secular history also trace the Scythians, who lived in the northern regions above the Caucasus Mountains, as forerunners of modern Russia. The Bible confirms this conclusion by giving the location three times calling it "the uttermost north" (Ezekiel 38:6, 15, 39:2 KJV). Drawing a straight line north of Jerusalem on the map almost hits Moscow.
The Hebrew lexicon of Brown, Driver, and Briggs indicates that Rosh here is the proper name of a people, and a country "Russia" "Russians". Arabic writers confirm that the great wall of China is called the wall of Magog (Hait Al-Ma'ajooj), to protect China from the invading Russians. Certain Muslims might disagree that Magog refers to Russia, but China. This disagrees with many Arabic historians. The following will give the nations ancient names and the modern nation that now occupies that territory.
| The Ancient Nations | The Modern Nations | |
| Gog and Magog | Russia | |
| Meshech and Tubal | Moscow and Tobolsk | |
| Persia | Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan | |
| Ethiopia | Ethiopia and Sudan | |
| Libya | Libya | |
| Ashkenaz, Gomer | Soviet block (Eastern Europe) | |
| Togarmah | Southern Russia | |
| Many nations with you | Other nations allied to Russia |
We ask: How come there is a difference in clarity in the Biblical prophetic verses concerning Gog and Magog, when compared to the vague and somewhat distorted verses of "Dho al- Qarnayn"?
Why is God telling us this information?
What religion comes to mind, that permits (halal) and encourages booty (Al-ghana'em) and plunder (ghazuat), which would be permissible (halal)?
What is the religion of Russia's allies referred to in these passages, which has the names Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya?
How could the Bible know that these nations will be Russia's best allies if Russia desired to attack Israel? How did the Bible predict by name "Libya", since Libya at the time of the prophecy was an insignificant place?
Today Russia maintains a major buildup of Libya's fourteen air bases with more than five- hundred and fifty Russian combat aircraft. Russia also has propositioned a staggering sixteen thousand tanks and armored cars in Libya. The tank force Libya has is greater than the tank forces of France, Britain, and Germany combined, Why? It is interesting that Ezekiel referenced these nations which are the most antagonistic nations to Israel.
My response:
Ok.
He wrote:
The most important thing I would like to warn my Muslim friends is that the allied nations to Russia in this prophecy are Muslim nations seeking the Islamic form of Government. Islamic fundamentalism is the greatest enemy to the Jews. The evidence on this issue is overwhelming. What I fear the most is that the Bible concludes the destruction of these nations, God in the Bible warns; "I am against you", and he includes these nations.
An interesting article in the Insight magazine reports; "Fundamentalist Islam, looking to Iran for inspiration and support, is spreading across the Middle East and North Africa...Shimon Peres recently stated: "Since the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, we consider Khomeinism the greatest danger the Middle East is facing...It has many of the characters of communism. It is fanatic, it is ideological, it is religious and claims, like communism, that the end justifies the means. Most of all, it has the same inclination to export its ideas. It does not respect national borders. The Iranian example already has spread to Sudan ...Algeria...Tunisia...Palestine. The overall aim of these efforts apparently is to create an Islamic belt stretching from Iran through the Middle East to North Africa. Ironically, many Arabs attribute their defeats in wars with Israel to religion: While Israel was built upon religion." (Insight magazine, 9, 6, 1993).
In addition to the nations the Ezekiel mentions are the coastlands. Could this be referring to Algeria, Tunisia, Al-Maghrib, and other cities on the cost of the Mediterranean? I repeat, many of my friends advised not to mention these prophecies concerning Israel, but I must warn my people, whom I always pray for. It is beyond me to sit down and watch my people perish for lack of knowledge. The Biblical knowledge is God's, and I must share it as he commanded, trusting God to soften the hearts and minds of men.
The Bible has been the most accurate source for Middle Eastern History, Archaeology, and the study of the future developments of Israel and the world. It is the compass to know the future, and has been 100% accurate. I challenge my reader to test it, and I plead to you for your eternal destiny. The Islamic understanding to Gog and Magog has been misinterpreted, I have explained the evidence on their main arguments. the following evidence should be ample to prove to Muslims the fact I am saying here. Take for example in verses 12 of the same chapter; "to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock andgoods, who dwell in the midst of the land." And we ask: How did a corrupted Bible know that Israel will be re-gathered from the nations of the world?
The conclusion of the battle is described clearly in the Bible. The Bible in the Book of Ezekiel concludes the destruction of the enemies of Israel; "Surely in that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel" (Ezekiel 38:19). "Every man's sword will be against his brother." (Ezekiel 38:21b). "And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed..." (Ezekiel 39:22a). "You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops..." (Ezekiel 39:4a) "And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands. Then they shall know that I am the Lord". (Ezekiel 39:6). "So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord the Holy One in Israel." (Ezekiel 39:7).
In the 1993 peace accord the West Bank (Mountains of Israel) have been given to Yasser Arafat, making it possible for such an army to set bases in the West Bank which is the Mountains of Israel. Also notice that Israel would not profane God's name anymore. It is no wonder that the majority of Israel today has no concern to their God. And we ask: Could it be that Islam is not from God? If Islam is not from God, who is it from? If Islam is from God, why their destruction here? In Ezekiel 39:23-24, the God of the Bible sums up the story of Israel; "The Gentiles shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they were unfaithful to Me, therefore I hid My face from them. I gave them into the hand of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I have dealt with them, and hidden My face from them."
Now, can it be more clear? there need to be little or no interpretation for these verses, they speak for themselves. Israel was unfaithful to God, for that they have been paying for 2000 years, they got what they deserved. Israel was their land which God made a covenant with, and a deal is a deal, especially with God. It does not get annulled no matter how long ago it was made. They came back, and God is going to redeem and clean their hearts. This has to be the truth, or why would a people accused of corrupting the Bible leave verses saying that Israel was unfaithful, transgressors, unclean, ...They kept their Bible uncorrupted and included all the embarrassments.
On the Coming Destruction of Iraq
Read Isaiah 13:19, Isaiah 13:19-22, Jeremiah 50 & 51, and John 19:3.
Books can be written in detail on each of these prophecies.
The chances of some of the fulfilled prophecies to happen by simple guess is 1 n so many trillions that you can never count, or explain and even the law of probability could not handle, which thousands of Galaxies cannot even hold. I do NOT suggest you even entertain the thought of counting such a number, using your computer, or even imagining it.
My response:
GOD Almighty in the Noble Quran told the Jews: "It may be that your Lord may (yet) show Mercy unto you; but if ye revert (to your sins), We shall revert (to Our punishments): And we have made Hell a prison for those who reject (all Faith). (The Noble Quran, 17:8)"
He also said: "None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: Knowest thou not that God Hath power over all things? (The Noble Quran, 2:106)"
This means that Allah Almighty is not stuck with the previous Revelations that He Said, because there is always the possibility of people changing. This means that the End of Times Prophecies that were foretold in the book of Ezekiel may not necessarily be fulfilled, if and only if, the Muslims were not corrupt, and were True followers of GOD Almighty. Otherwise, the Biblical Prophecies could and would be fulfilled.
Allah Almighty warned the Muslims and told them: "Behold, ye are those Invited to spend (Of your substance) In the Way of Allah: But among you are some That are niggardly. But any Who are niggardly are so At the expense of Their own souls. But Allah is free Of all wants, And it is ye that are needy. If ye turn back (From the Path), He will Substitute in your stead Another people; then they Would not be like you! (The Noble Quran, 47:38)"
So if the Muslims are corrupt, then Allah Almighty might prevail their enemies against them even during the End of Times. This doesn't disprove Islam in any bit! Islam has overwhelming inner Miracles and Prophecies that had proven beyond doubt that Islam is the True Divine Religion from GOD Almighty.
Mr. Walid, while the Biblical Prophecies that you presented are indeed overwhelming
and accurate, but let me ask you this:
What if the GOD Almighty of Israel got mad at the Jews? Couldn't He really either remove His promises of victory from them, or give it to other nations?
I mean are you here suggesting that GOD Almighty is pretty much *stuck* with the People of Israel, that He now must prevail them no matter what they do from evil?
What about Jesus' own curse upon the Jews when he told them: "Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (From the KJV Bible, Matthew 21:43)" Who is that "nation"? Couldn't it be the Muslims, since all Muslims are "one nation" in Islam? Christians aren't "one nation". Muslims on the other hand are one "Ummah" (nation).
What about Ishmael (The Arab's father), when GOD Almighty in the Bible's Old Testament said that He will make a "great nation" out of him:
"And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. (From the KJV Bible, Genesis 17:19-21)"
How can the Muslims be a "great nation" and cursed at the same time?
Please visit: Jesus told the Jews that GOD Almighty will take His Kingdom from them and give it to the Muslims.
My simple answer to all of this confusion is this: The Jews were GOD Almighty's chosen People, because they were the first people to fight idol worship and associated no partners with GOD Almighty. Remember that Pharoah considered himself as "GOD". The Jews were the first to defy him, and that's why GOD Almighty loved them.
Unfortunately, later on, the Jews had changed, and they were cursed. As you said above, GOD Almighty allowed for other nations to torture them, and He caused them to scatter all over the earth and be mistreated and killed by others. Truly, the Jews had suffered a great deal, no question about that.
Now, the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948 might have been a Prophecy fulfillment in the Bible, but it also could be a Sign for their destruction. GOD Almighty said in both the Bible and Noble Quran:
"You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? "From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, 'Yes, I knew of them.' You have neither heard nor understood; from of old your ear has not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are; you were called a rebel from birth. For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. (From the NIV Bible, Isaiah 48:6-9)"
"It may be that your Lord may (yet) show Mercy unto you; but if ye revert (to your sins), We shall revert (to Our punishments): And we have made Hell a prison for those who reject (all Faith). (The Noble Quran, 17:8)"
GOD Almighty in both the Bible and the Noble Quran left it open on deciding what to do with the People of Israel. Frankly, I think that the Jews had been cursed too much that GOD Almighty had finally given up on them. The State of Israel today doesn't mean anything. The Jews had actually suffered a lot from True Muslims like Hamas. While the Arabs lost greatly when they were led by corrupted governments, the True Muslims like Al-Qaeda and Hamas can bring Great Empires like the United States of America and Israel down to their knees as we clearly saw that on 9/11/2001 and what happened to the US.
Please visit: The corruptions and infidel dictatorships in the Muslim world today were prophesized by Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
Prophet Muhammad predicted the coming of the "dictators" and bad leaders.
Allah Almighty never committed Himself to any nation in
neither the Bible or the Noble Quran. Even the Muslims are not guaranteed victory:
"Behold, ye are those Invited to spend (Of your substance) In the Way of Allah: But among you are some That are niggardly. But any Who are niggardly are so At the expense of Their own souls. But Allah is free Of all wants, And it is ye that are needy. If ye turn back (From the Path), He will Substitute in your stead Another people; then they Would not be like you! (The Noble Quran, 47:38)"
"Because God will never change the grace which He hath bestowed on a people until they change what is in their (own) souls: and verily God is He Who heareth and knoweth (all things). (The Noble Quran, 8:53)"
"This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God; (The Noble Quran, 2:2)"
Back to my rebuttal to Walid's "Dear Muslim, Let Me Tell You Why I Believed" Book.