Sūrat al-Fīl

Meccan. Its verses are 5 (revealed after al-Kāfirūn).

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

{ Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant? }

{ Did He not make their plan into misguidance? }

{ And He sent against them birds in flocks, }

{ Striking them with stones of hard clay, }

{ And He made them like eaten straw. }

It is narrated that Abrahah ibn al-Sabah al-Ashram, the King of Yemen on behalf of Ashama the Negus, built a church in Sana’a called al-Qullays. He intended to divert the pilgrimage to it. A man from Kinana went out and sat in it at night, which angered him. It is also said that a group of Arabs kindled a fire, and the wind carried it, burning the church. He swore to demolish the Kaaba, so he set out with the Abyssinians, accompanied by an elephant named Mahmud—a strong, massive beast—along with twelve other elephants. Some say eight, others say a thousand, and some say he was alone.

When he reached al-Mughammis, Abd al-Muttalib went out to him and offered him a third of the wealth of Tihama to turn back, but he refused. He arrayed his army and brought the elephant forward. Whenever they directed it toward the Sanctuary, it would kneel and refuse to move; but when they directed it toward Yemen or other directions, it would trot. Then, Allah sent birds—black, some say green, others say white—each carrying a stone in its beak and two in its claws, larger than a lentil but smaller than a chickpea. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrated that he saw one of these stones with Umm Hani, striped with red like Zafari onyx. The stone would strike a man’s head and exit through his backside; each stone bore the name of the one it was to strike. They fled and perished on every road and watering hole. Abrahah suffered, his fingertips and limbs falling off, and he did not die until his chest split open, revealing his heart. His minister, Abu Yaksum, escaped with the bird hovering over him until he reached the Negus and recounted the story; as he finished, the stone fell upon him, and he collapsed dead before him.

It is said that Abrahah was the grandfather of the Negus who lived during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) by forty years, or by twenty-three years. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "I saw the leader of the elephant and its keeper, both blind and crippled, begging for food."

It is mentioned that Abrahah had seized two hundred camels belonging to Abd al-Muttalib. When he went out to him, Abrahah was struck by his appearance, for he was a large, handsome man. It was said, "This is the master of Quraysh and the provider of the caravans of Mecca, who feeds the people in the plains and the beasts on the mountain peaks." When he mentioned his need, Abrahah said, "You have fallen in my estimation. I came to demolish the House which is your religion, the religion of your fathers, your protection, and your ancient honor, yet you are distracted from it by a few camels taken from you?" He replied, "I am the lord of the camels, and the House has a Lord who will protect it." He then returned, took hold of the ring of the House’s door, and said:

O Lord, a man protects his own, so protect Your Sanctuary. Let not their cross and their might overcome Your might. If You leave them and our Kaaba, then do as You will. O Lord, I hope for none but You; O Lord, protect Your sanctuary from them.

As he turned away, he saw birds coming from the direction of Yemen. He said, "By Allah, these are strange birds; they are neither of the sea nor of Tihama." It is said that the people of Mecca gathered their wealth, and Abd al-Muttalib collected their jewels and gold, which became the source of his prosperity. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked about the birds and said, "The pigeons of Mecca are from them." It is said they came in the evening and destroyed them in the morning. Ikrimah said: "Whoever was struck by them developed smallpox; it was the first smallpox to appear."

Exegesis:

• "Have you not considered" (Alam tara): The ra is read with a sukun to emphasize the effect of the jussive. The meaning is that you have seen the traces of Allah’s action upon the Abyssinians and heard the reports so frequently that it stands in place of witnessing it yourself.
• "How" (Kayfa): It is in the accusative case governed by "your Lord," not by "have you not considered," because of the interrogative meaning in "how."
• "In misguidance" (fi tadlil): Meaning in loss and invalidation. It is said, "He caused his plot to go astray" (dallala kaydahu) when he makes it lost and wasted.
• "Ababil" (Ababil): Flocks. The singular is ibala, meaning a large bundle. They are compared to a bundle of birds in their density.
• "Sijjil" (Sijjil): As if it were the name of the register in which the punishment of the disbelievers is written, just as Sijjin is the name of the register of their deeds. It is derived from isjal, meaning "sending," because the punishment is described as such. Ibn Abbas said it is baked clay, like bricks.
• "Like eaten straw" (ka-asfin ma'kul): Like the leaves of crops when they are eaten—meaning the worm has consumed them—or like straw eaten by livestock and excreted. It is phrased according to the etiquette of the Quran.

From the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): "Whoever recites Surah al-Fil, Allah will exempt him for the days of his life from being swallowed by the earth or transformed."