Surah al-Anbiya , 21...Fragmentation and Schism, Gog and Magog

Recitation of surah al-Anbiya by Shaykh Mishari Rashid al-Afasy,

THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPHETS known to man have emerged from the eastern and southern Mediterranean regions, scenes of great ancient civilizations. They have all advocated and taught the same message which is now fully contained in the Qur'an.

The accounts of these prophets have been sandwiched in the surah between two passages on the Day of Judgement. The first one says:

And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no soul is wronged in aught. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We bring it. And We suffice for reckoners. (47)

The second passage is more detailed and starts with verse 93 which condemns the fragmentation, schisms and religious divisions which had beset the followers of those prophets. Although these followers were expected to show greater tolerance for one another, history tells us that the opposite was the case. Two thousand years later, the Israelites continue to reject Jesus. When Muhammad emerged as a prophet, the Christians rejected him and united with the Israelites against him and his followers.

Sadly, it seems that these divisions and conflicts are set to continue until a time in the future, when according to the surah, hordes from the eastern part of the globe, who had never received divine revelation, would sweep across the civilized world, plundering and pillaging everything in their way. The surah says:

Until, when Gog and Magog are let loose, and they hasten out of every mound, (96) And the True Promise draweth nigh; then behold them, staring wide (in terror), the eyes of those who disbelieve! (They say): Alas for us! We (lived) in forgetfulness of this. Ah, but we were wrong-doers! (97)

Some scholars are of the opinion that this is a reference to the Mongols and the Tartars who invaded Baghdad in the thirteenth century AC. They ravaged Baghdad and brought down Muslim rule there. But this is incorrect, because the surah clearly indicates that the eruption of Gog and Magog would usher in the Day of Judgement and represent a sign of its imminent arrival.



" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali





Reflection and commentary by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda :


ayat 94 to ayat 98
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SGqUEcuONQ



ayat 99 to ayat 103
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnGqyQLnG8