Al-Fil

The Elephant(105:1-5) Revealed in Makkah

This Surah tells the story of Abraha and his army who

invaded Arabia to destroy Ka’bah in Makkah. Their army was led by elephants; the Quran calls them “the people of the Elephants.” The Arabs had never seen an elephant before, and were very afraid of these huge animals

This Surah tells how Allah( swt) destroyed Abraha’s army and saved the Ka’bah, by stopping the elephants and sending His own army of small birds to destroy His enemies

When this Surah was revealed, there lived many Makkans who remembered this incident, and told it again and again

Introduction

يل� ال�ف� اب� ح ص�

ب�أ ر‌ب�ك عل ف كي�ف ‌تر لم� أ

Alam tara kayfa fa’AAala rabbuka bi-as-haabi al feel

Have you not seen, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?

Ayah 1:

Could have several meanings:

o Allah (swt) is reminding everyone who witnessed the event when they were children

o Have you not heard, have you not realized how Allah(swt) dealt with the people?

o Are you not Amazed at how Allah(swt) dealt with the people of the elephant? If you look at the size of the army – it is bigger than the amount of people

living in Makkah. When a army with Elephants loses to a people – without any fighting – this shows Allah has plans of keeping this city secure through ways which

He wills. If Allah (swt) wills something it will happen, and he doesn’t need the help

of anyone. An army of Elephant that could easily flatten the city is defeated by Allah (swt)

This theme is continuous, Allah (swt) will bring justice and deal with all future oppressors who try to overpower others

Ayah 1: Explanation

Alam tarra: Prophet (pbuh) didn’t literally see

the event happened because he was born in the same year, 50 days after the event but he has heard about it over and over again

Allah (swt) is not only speaking to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) but also to those who listen to the verse when it is recited including the Quraisho Telling them that Allah (swt) is on

Prophet( pbuh)’s side

Ayah 1: Explanation (cont.)

To the disbelievers: It warns them that they should

remember Allah's favour upon them, and be grateful to Him for that. And that if they do not - they will become His enemies - and He can destroy them like He destroyed Abraha's army.

To the Messenger: Allah is giving reminder to His Messenger that He is on his side; Your Master will give you help through whatever means it takes. The same way your Master protected the Ka'bah when it had no other human to defend it.

Ayah 1: Explanation (cont.)

ل�يل� تض� ف�ي كي�ده�م� عل� يج� لم�

أAlam yajAAal kaydahum fee tadleel

Did He not make their decieving plotting go into great waste?

Ayah 2:

The plan of Abraha was to invade Makkah and

destroy the Kabah. Allah (swt) destroyed their plan.

The Elephant refused to move towards the Kaaba, he would turn away and run to the opposite direction

Confirms the hadith: There is no obedience to a created being if it involves disobedience of the Creator” (reported by Ahmad, 1041; a saheeh hadeeth)

Ayah 2: Explanation

باب�يل أ طي�ر$‌ا م� علي�ه� ل ر�‌س

أ و

Waarsala AAalayhim tayran abaabeelAnd He sent upon them birds in flocks,

Ayah 3

Allah (swt) chose small birds to destroy the big

army Each bird carried 3 stones, two in its feet claws,

and one in its beak. Then the stone that would land – would land on a

person and hit their head and come out from the other side.

huge awesome flocks of many different kinds of birds / species.

They were coming from every part of the sky – so it was very dark in the sky.

Ayah 3 Explanation

يل� ج* س� م*ن ار‌ة� ج ب�ح� م تر�‌م�يه�

tarmeehim bi hijaaratin min sijjeelStriking them with stones of hard clay,

Ayah 4

Kept coming down like continuous rain

(droplets) imagine those big rain drops hitting really hard

So the birds threw from a height. And this hurts because of the force of gravity.

Thrown with a specific target. – so it is like Allah is targeting each criminal with guided missiles.

Amazing: these small, light weighted birds destroyed the powerful Elephant Army- For Allah (swt), anything is possible

Ayah 4: Explanation

ك�ول�

أ� م0 كعص�ف� م� عله� ج ف

FajaAAalahum kaAAasfin ma/koolSo [He] made them like an empty field of stalks

eaten up.

Ayah 5

Like dead, empty cornstalks Eaten up by the enemy: defenseless just like

an animal that is about to be preyed and eaten and just like the grass that is about to be chewed up and spit out

Allah scattered soldiers everywhere and many fell down, bruised and broken, like straw or grass chewed by animals. Those who could return home died of various diseases. It was the total destruction of Abraha’s army.

Ayah 5: Explanation

The Arabs all recognised the Holiness of the Ka'bah, so

the Ka'bah and its guardians - the Quraysh gained more respect due to this event. This was a proof that it was a holy sanctuary which Allah had, and would protect.

The enemies of Islam may have great power and large numbers, but they cannot succeed- eventually they will be brought to justice

Allah (swt) can defeat big powers by a very small force Alah (swt) has power to destroy the enemies

completely

Lessons