The qualification to this law (i.e. Rise and Fall of Nations: Discussion 22313 & Guidance and Error: Discussion 22255) is w.r.t Qiyamah of which onslaught of Gog and Magog is one of the biggest signs of Qiyamah [See Footnote 1].

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[Footnote 1]

وَحَرَامٌ عَلَى قَرْيَةٍ أَهْلَكْنَاهَا أَنَّهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ. حَتَّى إِذَا فُتِحَتْ يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ وَهُم مِّن كُلِّ حَدَبٍ يَنسِلُونَ. وَاقْتَرَبَ الْوَعْدُ الْحَقُّ فَإِذَا هِيَ شَاخِصَةٌ أَبْصَارُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا قَدْ كُنَّا فِي غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَذَا بَلْ كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ.

[Now [116] there is no need to go after these disbelievers, O Prophet! because] for whichever settlement We have destined destruction [according to Our law] [117] it is forbidden for them to turn to the truth [118] because they will never turn until that time arrives when Gog and Magog are let loose [119] and they launch an onslaught from every high place and the true promise [of the Day of Judgement] draws near and all of a sudden these disbelievers will stare in astonishment and will cry out: “It is our wretchedness! We remained indifferent to it. In fact, it is we who were unjust [120].” (Quran 21:95-97)

(Excerpt from Quranic Exegesis: Javed Ahmed Ghamidi)

(Translated by Dr. Shehzad Saleem)

[116]. From here onwards are the closing verses of the surah. The same topic is taken up again in them with which the surah began. This style is called عود علی البدء (return to the beginning). The purpose of this is that if the real purport starts to elude the eyes, it is refreshed in the mind of the addressees at the end.

[117]. The verb أَهْلَكْنَا occurs in the verse. It is used to express intention.

[118]. This sentence is suppressed. It is explained by the words أَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَرْجِعُوْنَ. The implication is that the addressees of the Prophet (sws) were facing an established practice of God. Hence they would reach the same fate which was met by earlier nations. It was then not possible for them to be guided to repentance and to giving up evil turning towards the truth. Because of their stubbornness, destruction had been ordained for them.

[119]. Ie., when the certain signs of the manifestation of the Day of Judgement appear and it becomes an indisputable reality. It is evident from the next verse that this situation will arise after the onslaught of Gog and Magog. Both of them are from the descendents of Noah’s son Japeth who inhabited the northern areas of Asia. Later, some of their tribes reached Europe and after that settled in America and Australia. In the book of Ezekiel, they are called the leaders of Russia, Moscow and Tobalsac:

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Rush, Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him. (Ezekiel, 38:1-2)

Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Rush, Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around and drag you along. I will bring you from the far north. (Ezekiel, 39:1-2)

It is evident from the revelation of John the Divine that the onslaught of Gog and Magog will begin sometime after a thousand years have passed after the advent of Muhammad (sws) as a Prophet. At that time, they will surround the earth from all sides. When the disorder they spread reaches its culmination, fire will descend from the heavens and the tremors of the Day of Judgement will begin:

When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth – Gog and Magog – to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (Revelation, 20:7-9)

It may be noted that “the camp of God’s people” is a reference to Madinah, and “the city he loves” is a reference to Makkah. So evident are these allusions that anyone acquainted with the style of divine scriptures and with the history of these two cities cannot fail to decipher them.

[120]. Ie., it is not as though no one came to warn them and they remained indifferent; on the other hand, by rejecting the warners and making fun of their warnings they themselves were guilty of this injustice to their own selves.