Not mocking Islam to laugh at the names 'Gog and Magog'

18-3-2015 | IslamWeb

Question:

As-salaamu 3laikum, Once I was asked by somebody about the English translation of the names of Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj. I replied that in English they refer to them as Gog and Magog. This lady could not stop laughing when I said that. I think it is because the English versions of the names sound very strange. I know that these are the names of an evil people, but since believing they exist is part of our religion, is it ok to laugh about the English version of the names? Jazaakum Allahu khair

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Laughing at these names just because they sound strange does not imply deficiency in faith or mockery of something belonging to the Islamic beliefs. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was once relating something as a Bedouin was sitting with him: "One of the inhabitants of Paradise asked Allaah to allow him to cultivate land. Allaah asked him, 'Are you not living in the pleasures you like?' He said, 'Yes, but I like to cultivate the land.' The man sowed the seeds and the plants grew and became ripe, ready for reaping, until they were as huge as mountains within a wink. Then Allaah said to him, 'Take it, son of Aadam (Adam), for nothing satisfies you.'" On that, the Bedouin said, "The man must be either from the Quraish or the Ansaar, for they are farmers, whereas we are not farmers." The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, smiled (at this). [Al-Bukhari]

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, smiled at the Bedouin's comment although the context was about Paradise.

Allaah Knows best.