It is widely reported that the scholar al-Sa'di said that Ya'juj and Ma'juj exist in our present time and that they are the people of China; did he retract this statement?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : It is well established that Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that Ya'juj and Ma'juj have appeared and that they are the people of China.
After reviewing his tafsir, it became clear that Ya'juj and Ma'juj will emerge at the end of time and that they will cause corruption on earth, and that their emergence is one of the major signs of the Hour. Did the Shaykh retract his initial statement, or does he have two positions? And what do you consider the stronger position in this matter? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) is our Shaykh, and a commotion has been raised regarding the attribution to him that Ya'juj and Ma'juj are the people of China and those beyond the Caucasus Mountains. The truth is that he (may Allah have mercy on him) did not say anything except based on evidence grounded in the Book and the Sunnah, and based on what those before him said. However, the people of desires cling to a spider's thread in their attempt to tarnish the reputation of those to whom Allah has granted from His bounty, so they wanted to envy him.
Our Shaykh did not say (may Allah have mercy on him) that Ya'juj and Ma'juj, who will emerge at the end of time, are the ones who exist now. No sane person could say such a thing, let alone a scholar who is considered a mark of his time (may Allah have mercy on him). Rather, he said that Ya'juj and Ma'juj exist, and the Qur'an indicates this. Allah the Exalted said regarding Dhul-Qarnayn:[Al-Kahf 18:90-92] meaning: he traveled [Al-Kahf 18:93-94] So are they existing or not existing? Answer!
The student: They exist.
The Shaykh : They exist[Al-Kahf 18:94] meaning: wealth [Al-Kahf 18:94] So he responded to that and said: [Al-Kahf 18:96] So they brought him bars of iron and he piled them one upon another: meaning: between the two mountains: [Al-Kahf 18:96] meaning: bring me a molten iron, meaning molten iron to pour over it, so they brought him that, and this barrier became like a mountain, and it is a barrier of iron [Al-Kahf 18:97] meaning: they could not climb over it [Al-Kahf 18:97] [Al-Kahf 18:98] meaning: at the end of time: [Al-Kahf 18:98-99].
So the conclusion is that our Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) did not hold two opinions on this issue, but rather it is one opinion indicated by the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and also by the statements of the scholars. In fact, it is established from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he said: Look, nine hundred and ninety-nine of the children of Adam, all of them in the Fire, and one in Paradise, and this is explicit that Ya'juj and Ma'juj are from the children of Adam, and that they enter the Fire.
So in any case, we see what the Book and the Sunnah indicate, which is that Ya'juj and Ma'juj exist, but these existing ones are not the ones who will emerge at the end of time. Rather, other people from their descendants will come, and they will emerge at the end of time and cause corruption on earth just as their fathers caused corruption.
After reviewing his tafsir, it became clear that Ya'juj and Ma'juj will emerge at the end of time and that they will cause corruption on earth, and that their emergence is one of the major signs of the Hour. Did the Shaykh retract his initial statement, or does he have two positions? And what do you consider the stronger position in this matter? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Shaykh Abd al-Rahman ibn Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) is our Shaykh, and a commotion has been raised regarding the attribution to him that Ya'juj and Ma'juj are the people of China and those beyond the Caucasus Mountains. The truth is that he (may Allah have mercy on him) did not say anything except based on evidence grounded in the Book and the Sunnah, and based on what those before him said. However, the people of desires cling to a spider's thread in their attempt to tarnish the reputation of those to whom Allah has granted from His bounty, so they wanted to envy him.
Our Shaykh did not say (may Allah have mercy on him) that Ya'juj and Ma'juj, who will emerge at the end of time, are the ones who exist now. No sane person could say such a thing, let alone a scholar who is considered a mark of his time (may Allah have mercy on him). Rather, he said that Ya'juj and Ma'juj exist, and the Qur'an indicates this. Allah the Exalted said regarding Dhul-Qarnayn:
(90) Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had not made against it any shield. (91) Thus. And We had encompassed [all] that he had in knowledge. (92) Then he followed a way
حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَى قَوْمٍ لَمْ نَجْعَلْ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهَا سِتْراً * كَذَلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْراً * ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَباً(93) Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech. (94) They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?"
حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِنْ دُونِهِمَا قَوْماً لا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلاً * قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجاً عَلَى أَنْ تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدّاًThe student: They exist.
The Shaykh : They exist
corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure
مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجاًthat you might make between us and them a barrier?"
عَلَى أَنْ تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدّاًBring me sheets of iron
آتُونِي زُبَرَ الْحَدِيدِUntil when he leveled it between the two mountains.
حَتَّى إِذَا سَاوَى بَيْنَ الصَّدَفَيْنِhe said, "Bring me, that I may pour over it molten copper."
قَالَ آتُونِي أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْراًSo Gog and Magog were unable to pass over it
فَمَا اسْطَاعُوا أَنْ يَظْهَرُوهُnor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.
وَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا لَهُ نَقْباً[Dhul-Qarnayn] said, "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord
قَالَ هَذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّي فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّيHe will make it level, and ever is the promise of my Lord true." (99) And We will leave them that day surging over each other
جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاءَ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي حَقّاً * وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِي بَعْضٍSo the conclusion is that our Shaykh (may Allah have mercy on him) did not hold two opinions on this issue, but rather it is one opinion indicated by the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and also by the statements of the scholars. In fact, it is established from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) that he said:
Allah the Exalted says: "O Adam" — meaning: on the Day of Resurrection — so he says: "Here I am, at your service," and He says: "Bring forth from your descendants a group for the Fire." He said: "O my Lord, what is the group for the Fire?" He said: "Nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand."
يقول الله تعالى: يا آدم - يعني: يوم القيامة -فيقول: لبيك وسعديك، فيقول: أخرج من ذريتك بعثاً إلى النار قال: يا ربِّ وما بعث النار؟ قال: تسعمائة وتسعة وتسعون بألفThis was a great shock to the Companions and it weighed heavily on them, so they said: "O Messenger of Allah! Who is that one person?" He said: "Rejoice, for you are among two nations that were never few in number: Ya'juj and Ma'juj."
فَكَبُر ذلك على الصحابة وعظم عليهم وقالوا: يا رسول الله! أينا ذلك الواحد؟ قال: أبشروا فإنكم في أمتين ما كانتا في شيء إلا كثرتاه يأجوج ومأجوجSo in any case, we see what the Book and the Sunnah indicate, which is that Ya'juj and Ma'juj exist, but these existing ones are not the ones who will emerge at the end of time. Rather, other people from their descendants will come, and they will emerge at the end of time and cause corruption on earth just as their fathers caused corruption.