Nations of the QuranA group of the Quran

The companions of the elephant

أصحاب الفيل

Abraha's army marched with an elephant to destroy the Ka'ba, and birds pelted them with stones.

Where: Makkah

Their story

Surah al-Fil reminds of what Allah did to the companions of the elephant: He made their plot go astray and sent flocks of birds against them, striking them with stones of baked clay (105:1–5).

islamweb's article, from Ibn Ishaq and Ibn Kathir, tells that Abraha, ruling Yemen for the Negus, marched on the Ka'ba with an elephant; the elephant would not go toward Makkah, and his army was destroyed. It was the year the Prophet ﷺ was born, on the best-known view.

Evidence

QuranAl-Fil (The Elephant)Quran 105:1

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْفِيلِ ١

Have you not considered, [O Muḥammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?[1992]

Translator's notes

[1992] i.e., the army under the command of Abrahah al-Ashram which was accompanied by a huge elephant and came with the intention of destroying the Kaʿbah at Makkah.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

1. Have you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) not seen how your Lord dealt with the owners of the Elephant? [The Elephant army which came from Yemen under the command of Abrahah Al-Ashram intending to destroy the Ka‘bah at Makkah].

Read in context on Quran.com

Scholarly opinionThe companions of the elephant (islamweb)islamweb.net

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