سورة الفيل

١ أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ

Alam tara kayfa fa'ala rabbuka bi-ashaabil-feel

Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?

أَلَمْ تَرَHave you not seen

رَبُّكَyour Lord

أَصْحَابِcompanions

الْفِيلِthe elephant

٢ أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِي تَضْلِيلٍ

Alam yaj'al kaydahum fee tadleel

Did He not make their plan into misguidance?

٣ وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ

Wa arsala 'alayhim tayran abaabeel

And He sent against them birds in flocks,

٤ تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ

Tarmeehim bihijaaratim-min sijjeel

Striking them with stones of hard clay,

٥ فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ

Faja'alahum ka'asfim-ma'kool

And He made them like eaten straw.

📖 About This Surah - The Story of the Elephant

Historical Context: In the year 570 CE (the year the Prophet ﷺ was born), Abraha, the Abyssinian ruler of Yemen, built a grand church and wanted to divert the Arabs from visiting the Ka'bah. When the Arabs didn't come, he marched with a huge army and elephants to destroy the Ka'bah.

Allah's Miracle: As the army approached Makkah, Allah sent flocks of birds (Ababil) carrying stones of baked clay. Each bird carried three stones - one in its beak and two in its claws. The army was completely destroyed, becoming like eaten straw.

Lesson: Allah protects His Sacred House. No power can overcome Allah's will.