Jabulqa and Jabulsa

[1] In a conversation between Muhammad and his cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cities are described as situated in darkness and contiguous to the primeval Mount Qaf.

The figure Dhu al-Qarnayn, mentioned in the Quran, is said to have tried to visit the cities but gave up halfway.

Each city is 12,000 parasangs (at least 36,000 miles) long and wide, with 12,000 gates, and each are guarded by 12,000 men until the Day of Resurrection, when the Qa'im will appear.

The cities are guarded by 1,000 men each night for a year for each of the 12 fortresses due to enemies called Tharis and Taqil, who behave like Gog and Magog.

[1] In the Kitab al-Haft wa-l-azilla (8th–11th century CE), transmitted by Nasayri Shi'a, the sixth Imam al-Sadiq states that the Qa'im will live in these cities.