Surah al-Fil was revealed in reference to events that are said to have occurred in 570 CE, the year of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Christian ruler of Yemen at the time, Abrahah, attacked Mecca with his army (including war elephants, hence the name of the surah) and attempted to destroy the Kaaba.
The conflict between Yemen and Mecca began when Abrahah insisted that pilgrims traveling to Mecca divert their pilgrimages from the Kaaba to his new cathedral in Sana’a. This demand was rejected by the Arab tribes, including the Quraysh. When the Yemeni guardians heard of this, they proclaimed they would demolish the Kaaba. Abrahah assembled a massive army and marched toward Mecca with the intention of destroying the Kaaba.
This article provides the complete translation and tafsir of Surah al-Fil, and recounts how Allah dealt with Abrahah’s army.
Translation and Tafsir of Surah al-Fil
First, the complete Arabic text of Surah al-Fil:
Translation
- Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the people of the Elephant?
- Didn’t He render their cunning completely futile?
- and sent flocks of birds upon them.
- who were throwing clay stones at them?
- And He made them like chewed straw.
- And He made them like chewed straw.
Tafsir
1. Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the people of the Elephant?
This surah recounts a blessing given to the Quraysh by Allah as He favored them and defended them from the army of Abrahah.
2. Has He not rendered their plan completely futile?
Allah destroyed Abrahah’s army and preserved the Ka’abah.
3. And sent flocks of birds upon them
4.who threw clay stones at them?
Allah sent birds, each carrying three small stones in its feet and beak. They gathered in rows above the army commanders and then hurled the stones at the army below. The stones were amplified by a strong wind sent by Allah, piercing the bodies of the men beneath them, and they were destroyed piece by piece. None of the men returned to their land unharmed, and Abrahah died upon reaching Sana’a after recounting the story of the battle.
5. And He made them like chewed straw.
All that remained after the battle were the remnants of the annihilation of an army that had intended to destroy something as sacred as the Kaaba.
Featured image (C) Shabnam Mayet