Tafsir of Al-Feel 105:3

And He sent against them birds, in flocks (Ababil). Hammad bin Salamah narrated from Asim, who related from Zirr, who related from `Abdullah and Abu Salamah bin `Abdur-Rahman that they said, (

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birds Ababil.) "In groups.'' Ibn `Abbas and Ad-Dahhak both said, "Ababil means some of them following after others.'' Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Qatadah both said, "Ababil means many.'' Mujahid said, "Ababil means in various, successive groups.'' Ibn Zayd said, "Ababil means different, coming from here and there. They came upon them from everywhere.'' Al-Kasa'i said, "I heard some of the grammarians saying, "The singular of Ababil is Ibil.'' Ibn Jarir recorded from Ishaq bin Abdullah bin Al-Harith bin Nawfal that he said concerning Allah's statement,

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"This means in divisions just as camels march in divisions (in their herds).'' It is reported that Ibn `Abbas said,

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"They had snouts like the beaks of birds and paws like the paws of dogs.'' Ikrimah said commenting on Allah's statement,

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"They were green birds that came out of the sea and they had heads like the heads of predatory animals.'' It has been reported from `Ubayd bin `Umayr that about

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he commented: "They were black birds of the sea that had stones in their beaks and claws.'' And the chains of narration (for these statements) are all authentic

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