How should we understand the hadith, “For every one of you, nine hundred and ninety-nine from Gog and Magog will enter Hell”?

- Does it mean that those who do not believe are considered to be from the tribe of Gog (Yajuj) and Magog (Majuj) according to the hadith?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Abu Sa’id (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“On the Day of Resurrection, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, will call out:
“O Adam!” Adam will reply:
“O my Lord, I am at your service, all good is in your hands!” Then there will be a loud call saying:
“Allah commands you to bring forth the assembly of Hell!’ Adam will ask:
“O my Lord, how many people are in the assembly of Hell?”
“Nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand!’
“This is the time when pregnant women will miscarry, children will grow old, and people, though not drunk, will become like drunkards from the severity of the torment.”

This news weighed heavily on the Companions. So much so that their faces changed color. They said,
“O Messenger of Allah! Which of us will be among this one in a thousand? “He said,
“Nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand will be from Gog and Magog, and one from you. And know this: You are like a black strand of hair on a white ox or a white strand on a black ox among the people.” [Bukhari, Tafsir, Hajj 1, Anbiya 7, Riqaq 46, Tawhid 32; Muslim, Iman 379, (222).]

Firstly, the number of people called Gog and Magog, who are described in the Quran and hadiths and are considered unbelievers, supports this ratio.

In this sound hadith, which is also included in reliable sources like Bukhari, we see that the rate of the believers to enter Paradise will be only one in a thousand while nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand will be destined for Hell. Indeed, this small number of those who will go to Paradise frightened the Companions to such an extent that they turned pale.

However, Kirmani states that the numbers mentioned in the narration should not be taken literally, noting that this does not prevent the number from being greater for the believers, and says, “The first of the two numbers mentioned here, that is, ‘one,’ signifies a small number, while the second, ‘nine hundred and ninety-nine,’ signifies a large number. “

Thus, the number used for those destined for Paradise symbolizes a small number, while the number used for those destined for Hell symbolizes a large number.

Ibn Hajar says, “Considering all the children of Adam, the number of believers may be so small.”

According to a second interpretation: The “people of Hell” mentioned in the hadith do not only refer to unbelievers who will remain there eternally, but also to sinful transgressors who will enter Hell for a limited time, and their number may reach nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand.

Similarly, the number of those who will enter Paradise can only refer to those who will enter Paradise directly without going through hell. This number is reasonable in this respect. Accordingly, this number will increase exponentially when those who leave Hell and enter Paradise are included.

Those who heed good sense, divine revelation, and the inspiration of the angels will pass the test; as for those who heed the lower self and Satan’s whispers, they will fail.

The fact that most people will fail should not be considered a defeat for humanity as a whole because this test focuses on quality, not quantity, on merit, not numerical majority. One winner in this test is, in the sight of Allah, superior to a million losers.

Yes, it is true that most people will go to Hell. However, merit lies not in numbers but in quality. Even if ninety out of a hundred eggs placed under a hen turn out to be rotten, it is a matter of common sense not to abandon the process for the sake of the ten that will become valuable chicks. If these eggs are not incubated, there will be no chicks at all. One should not give up a great benefit for the sake of a small loss. The ten healthy chicks will compensate for the loss of the ninety, and even yield additional profits.

If there were no tests, it would be impossible for prophets, saints, and even stars like Muhammad to emerge. To prevent the emergence of such valuable individuals, each worth more than the whole world, by withholding tests— so that a herd of unbelievers, who have no value in the eyes of the Creator, might not enter Hell—is diametrically opposed to Allah’s infinite wisdom.

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