فَمَا ٱسۡطَٰعُوٓاْ أَن يَظۡهَرُوهُ وَمَا ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْ لَهُۥ نَقۡبٗا ٩٧
So they [i.e., Gog and Magog] were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.
Translation: Saheeh International (English)
Word by word
Each word's meaning and sound
- فَمَاSo notfamā
- ٱسۡطَٰعُوٓاْthey were ableis'ṭāʿū
- أَنtoan
- يَظۡهَرُوهُscale ityaẓharūhu
- وَمَاand notwamā
- ٱسۡتَطَٰعُواْthey were ableis'taṭāʿū
- لَهُۥin itlahu
- نَقۡبٗا(to do) any penetrationnaqban
Tafsir
So Gog and Magog were unable to climb over it due to its height nor were they able to make a hole in it from beneath due to its hardness.
Al-Mukhtasar in interpreting the Noble Quran