Dhu Al-Qarnayn and the Ya’juj and Ma’juj

The Book is an English research-based study exploring the Qur’anic account of Dhu Al-Qarnayn, his barrier, and Ya’juj and Ma’juj (Gog and Magog). The book examines historical theories surrounding Dhu Al-Qarnayn and Cyrus, his journeys and conquests, the proposed location of the barrier, and various scholarly discussions concerning the identity, lineage and location of Ya’juj and Ma’juj. Drawing substantially on the research of scholars such as ‘Allamah Anwar Shah al-Kashmiri and Shaykh Hafiz ar-Rahman Suharwi, this work provides readers with a detailed Islamic perspective on a fascinating Qur’anic subject.

Description:

Dhu Al-Qarnayn and the Ya’juj and Ma’juj is a detailed English-language study of one of the most intriguing subjects mentioned in the Qur’an: Dhu Al-Qarnayn and his encounter with Ya’juj and Ma’juj.

The book begins by examining who Dhu Al-Qarnayn was, why his story was mentioned in the Qur’an, and the circumstances surrounding the questions that led to the revelation of the relevant verses of Surah Al-Kahf. It then explores different scholarly approaches to identifying Dhu Al-Qarnayn, his historical background, and the possible location of the barrier he constructed.

A substantial portion of the work investigates the theory connecting Dhu Al-Qarnayn with Cyrus, including the history of the Banu Isra’il during the era of Cyrus, descriptions of Cyrus, his conquests towards Lydia in the West, his journey towards the East, the conquest of Babylon, and his religious background. These discussions are presented alongside references to historical sources and Islamic scholarship.

The book then turns specifically to Ya’juj and Ma’juj (Gog and Magog), followed by an extensive discussion of the barrier, including the proposed Darial/Dariel Gorge location, the availability of iron and copper in the region, Derbent, and the eventual descent of Ya’juj and Ma’juj. The later chapters also examine their identity, lineage, possible geographical location and references to them in Islamic literature.

The author's preface explains that much of the research draws upon the works of ‘Allamah Anwar Shah al-Kashmiri concerning Ya’juj and Ma’juj and Shaykh Hafiz ar-Rahman Suharwi concerning Dhu Al-Qarnayn. It also emphasizes that some questions surrounding these subjects allow scholarly disagreement, while matters explicitly established by the Qur’an and Sunnah are treated differently.