Ashrat al-Saah - al-Wabil - Yusuf al-Wabil - (375)

The Barrier of Gog and Magog:

Dhu al-Qarnayn built the barrier of Gog and Magog to separate them from their neighbors, who had sought his aid against them.

Allah Most High mentions this in the Quran: “They said, ‘O Dhu al-Qarnayn, Gog and Magog are spreading corruption throughout the land. May we pay you tribute on condition that you erect a barrier between us and them?’ He said, ‘What my Lord has granted me is better. So assist me with your strength, and I will build a rampart between you and them.’” [al-Kahf: 94–95].

This is what has been stated concerning the construction of the barrier. As for its location, it lies toward the east (1), as indicated by the words of Allah Most High: “Until, when he reached the place where the sun rises” [al-Kahf: 90].

The precise location of this barrier is unknown, and some kings have tried

“This is a *hasan gharīb* hadith.” Also in *Sunan Ibn Mājah*, Book of Tribulations (2/1364–1365, hadith no. 4080), edited by Sheikh Muhammad Fuād Abd al-Bāqī. Al-Hākim also narrated it in *Al-Mustadrak* (4/488), saying: “This hadith is authentic according to the criteria of the two Sahīh collections, though neither included it.” Al-Dhahabī concurred. Al-Hāfiz said in *Al-Fath* (13/109): “Its narrators are among those of the Sahīh; however, Qatādah was a *mudallis*—a transmitter known to use ambiguous formulas of transmission.” However, Ibn Mājah’s version explicitly states that Qatādah heard it from his teacher, Abū Rāfi. Al-Albānī also authenticated it in *Sahīh al-Jāmi al-Saghīr* (2/265–265, hadith no. 2272). (1) See *Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr* (5/191).

* سدُّ يأجوج ومأجوج: بني ذو القرنين سدَّ يأجوج ومأجوج؛ ليحجز بينهم وبين جيرانهم الذين استغاثوا به منهم. كما ذكر الله تعالى ذلك في القرآن الكريم: ﴿قَالُوا يَاذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَى أَنْ تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا. قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا﴾ [الكهف: ٩٤ - ٩٥]. لهذا ما جاء في الكلام علي بناء السد، أمّا مكانه؛ ففي جهة المشرق (١)؛ لقوله تعالى: ﴿حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ﴾ [الكهف: ٩٠]. ولا يُعْرَف مكان هذا السد بالتحديد، وقد حاول بعض الملوك

= التّرمذيّ: "هذا حديث حسن غريب". وسنن ابن ماجه، كتاب الفتن، (٢/ ١٣٦٤ - ١٣٦٥) (ح ٤٠٨٠)، تحقيق الشّيخ محمّد فؤاد عبد الباقي. ورواه الحاكم في "المستدرك" (٤/ ٤٨٨)، وقال فيه: "حديث صحيح على شرط الصحيحين، ولم يخرجاه"، ووافقه الذهبي. وقال الحافظ في "الفتح" (١٣/ ١٠٩): "رجاله رجال الصّحيح؛ إِلَّا أن قتادة مدلس". ولكن جاء في رواية ابن ماجه أن قتادة صرح بالسماع من شيخه أبي رافع. وصححه أيضًا الألباني في "صحيح الجامع الصغير" (٢/ ٢٦٥ - ٢٦٥) (ح ٢٢٧٢). (١) انظر: "تفسير ابن كثير" (٥/ ١٩١).