In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful The Bestower of Mercy
Taariq Suwaydaan’s False Belief on Gog and Magog:
Taariq Suwaydaan said: “Despite (the) many narrations, there is not to be found an authentic evidence-neither with myself nor other than me- with regards to who Gog and Magog are precisely; but looking at the ahaadith about them and their description, it has become clear to me–and Allaah knows best– that they are the people of China.”
Shaikh Ahmad At-Tuwayjiree replied to Suwaydaan saying:
“This is the likes of what Taariq Suwaydaan stated that Gog and Magog are the people of China. The statement that Gog and Magog are the people of China is a statement that is in opposition to the evidences in the Kitaab and the Sunnah, and it is a mockery of the Aqeedah of pious predecessors. And before I begin refuting this corrupt statement O noble reader, I will begin with an introduction pertaining to the Aqeedah of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa-ah regarding Gog and Magog. Allaah (subhaanahu ta’ala) said:
“Until when he reached between two mountains, he found, before (near) them (those two mountains), a people who scarcely understood a word. They said: O Dhul-Qarnain! Verily Gog and Magog are doing great mischief in the land. Shall we then pay you a tribute in order that you might erect a barrier between us and them? He said: That (wealth, authority and power) in which my Lord established me is better (than your tribute). So help me with strength (of men), I will erect between you and them a barrier. Give me pieces of (blocks) of iron; then, when he had filled up the gap between the two mountain-cliffs, he said: Blow; then when he had made them (red as) fire, he said: Bring me molten copper to pour over them. So they (Gog and Magog) could not scale it or dig through it. (Dhul-Qarnain) said: This is a mercy from my Lord, but when the Promise of my Lord comes, He shall level it down to the ground. And the Promise of my Lord is ever true. And on that day (i.e. the day Gog and Magog) will come out, We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another; and the Trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them (the creatures) all together” [Quran 18:93-99]
And Allaah (subhaanahu ta’ala) also said:
“Until when Gog and Magog are let loose (from their barrier), and they swoop down from every mound. And the true promise (Day of Resurrection) shall draw near (of fulfilment). Then (when mankind is resurrected from their graves), you shall see the eyes of the disbelievers fixedly staring in horror. (They will say): Woe to us! We were indeed heedless of this-nay, but we were (polytheists and wrong-doers)” [Quran 21:96-97]
So these two places in the Book of Allaah show clear evidences regarding the appearance of Gog and Magog before the establishment of The Hour; and their appearance is from the signs of the Hour before its establishment. There is to be found in the Sunnah many narrations showing, making it clear and clarifying this (affair). Amongst these evidences is the hadeeth of Hudhaifah bin Usayd Al Ghaf-faaree (radhiallaahu anhu) in (saheeh Muslim No: 4/2225) (Abu Dawood 4/115)
Hudhaifah bin Usayd said, “We were sitting in the shade of the chamber of the Prophet (Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) discussing, and he said, what are you discussing? They said, we are talking about the Hour. He Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam said: The Last Hour will not come until there appear ten signs before it: the Smoke, the appearance of ad-Dajjaal, the Beast, the rising of the sun in its place of setting, the coming forth of the descent of Eesaa the son of Maryam, the appearance of Gog and Magog, and the three Subsidences, (one in the West, one in the East, and one in the Arabian Peninsula), and at the end a fire will issue forth from the Yemen and drive the people to their place of assembly. (Abu Daawood 4/115)
After quoting few more ahaadith, Sheikh Ahmad At-Tuwayjiree then stated on page 12…
Indeed this statement that Gog and Magog are the people of China is in opposition to what is firmly established in the texts that their appearance is NOT TO BE until after the descent of Eesaa, (alayhis salaam), and after the killing of Dajjaal. It is also established in the texts that (Gog and Magog) will not live except for a short time after their appearance, and the people of China HAVE BEEN UPON THE STATE THEY ARE IN AT PRESENT FOR LONG PERIODS.
Indeed, the saying that Gog and Magog are the people of China is in opposition to that which Allaah (Jalla-Wa-Alaa) has stated in relation to what He (Jalla-Wa-Alaa) informed (us) about Dhul Qarnain, that he (Dhul Qarnain) constructed a huge IRON BARRIER between Gog and Magog and the people; and that they (Gog and Magog) are not able to penetrate it up until the coming close of the Hour. Also the statement of Taariq Suwaydaan that Gog and Magog are the people of China is against what As-Saadiq Al Masdooq (Muhammad- Sallallaahu alayhi wassallam) has stated, that Gog and Magog excavate everyday (to make a hole through the barrier) till they are about to see the rays of the sun, then the one in charge of authority over them would say, ‘’Go back; we will dig it tomorrow.’’ Then Allaah makes it as strong as it was till Allaah intends to send them upon the people, when they will dig it till they see the rays of the sun and the one in authority over them would say, ‘’Go back we will dig it tomorrow if Allaah wills and they will say, ‘’if Allaah wills.’’ They will return to it and will find it in the same condition they left it. They will dig and come out to the people and drink the whole water and people will fortify themselves in their forts against them.
Sheikh Ahmad states after relating this narration: And this is not what takes place with the people of China, rather they move when they wish and to any place as they wish. There is neither a barrier preventing (them) nor a blockage restraining (them).
Source: Page 6-35 ”Idaaha Wal Bayaan Fee Akhtaa-I Taariq Suwaydaan