Under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V (may Allah be his Helper), question-and-answer sessions are being held across Canada with Respected Amir Sahib. As not all questions can be addressed during these gatherings, selected questions and their answers, prepared by the National Tarbiyat Department, are published in the Gazette for readers’ benefit.
QUESTION: “In Surah Kahf, Gog and Magog are mentioned. Why do Ahmadis interpret Gog and Magog as symbolic and not real creatures, despite the fact that Allah has written that there is a physical barrier between us and them, a barrier made of iron?”
ANSWER:
When interpreting any text — whether it’s a verse of the Holy Qur’an, a Hadith, or a prophecy — the first and primary approach is to take the literal meaning.
But if the literal meaning contradicts clear reason, established reality, or other definitive texts, then we move to an interpretative (majazi) meaning. Such interpretive meaning is only adopted when the literal sense is impossible or inconsistent with fundamental Islamic teachings.
As an example, the Holy Qur’an says the following regarding the Bai’at taken by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) at Hudaybiyah:
Verily, those who swear allegiance to thee indeed swear allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. (48:11)
Now, this verse cannot mean that Allah has a physical hand because He is far beyond human attributes. Therefore, we interpret “the hand of Allah” symbolically to mean power, authority, or support, since the literal sense cannot apply to His Divine Being.
In the same way, there are certain verses and prophecies which must be taken metaphorically rather than strictly literally. Gog and Magog fall into this category.
Regarding the identity of Gog and Magog, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) stated:
“Since ajij, from which the words Gog and Magog are derived, means ‘fire’, God Almighty has disclosed to me that Gog and Magog are a people who are greater experts in the use of fire than any other people. Their very names indicate that their ships, trains and machines will be run by fire. They will fight their battles with fire. They will excel all other people in harnessing fire to their service. This is why they will be called Gog and Magog. These are the people of the West, as they are unique in their expertise in the use of fire.
“In Jewish scriptures too it was the people of Europe who were described as Gog and Magog. Even the name of Moscow, which is the ancient capital of Russia, is mentioned. Thus it was preordained that the Promised Messiah would appear in the time of Gog and Magog.”
[The Essence of Islam, vol. 3, p. 305; vide Ayamus-Sulh, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 14, pp. 424-425]
Furthermore, in Chashma-e-Ma‘rifat, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) wrote:
“On the one hand, it is proved from the Bible that the Christians of Europe are Gog and Magog, and on the other, the Holy Qur’an has mentioned specific signs concerning Gog and Magog, which can only be applied to European powers, as, for instance, it is written that they will scale every height, i.e. they will overcome all other powers and be supreme in all worldly matters. Similarly, it is also mentioned in the ahadith that no country will be able to stand up to them. Thus it is conclusively established that these powers are Gog and Magog. To deny this is sheer obstinacy and opposition to God’s word.
“Who can deny that in accordance with the word of God Almighty and the explanation of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), these are the people who, in their worldly power, are superior to every other people. They have no equal in the art of war and statecraft. Their inventions and machines have established new patterns, both in war and in worldly comforts and luxuries. They have brought about an amazing revolution in the culture of mankind and have displayed such mastery in statecraft and in providing equipment for war and peace, as has no parallel since the creation of the world.
“Thus, centuries after the prophecy of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the rise of European powers is the event in accordance with the sign specified in his prophecy. As God has disclosed the meaning of Gog and Magog and events have proven that a certain people fit the signs that have been mentioned, refusal to acknowledge this would be denial of an established verity. No one can stop a person from persisting in his denial, but every just minded one who is a seeker after truth would, on being informed of all these particulars, testify with full confidence that these people are Gog and Magog.”
[The Essence of Islam, vol. 3, pp. 307–308; vide Chashma-e-Ma’rifat, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 23, pp. 87– 88]
