The army of the elephant.

The story of the owners of the elephant is given in Sura Al-Fil (105:1-5).

This is a story illustrating the fate of those who tried to attack the Ka’aba. The incident took place just before the birth of Prophet Muhammad salAllahu alaihi wasallam.

Before Prophet Muhammad salAllahu alaihi wasallam was born, the governor of Abyssinia, Abraha Al-Ashram, had built a grand place of worship and asked all Arabs to worship there. This site was richly decorated with all sorts of treasures. But the Arabs refused to bow down. Their loyalty lay with the Ka’aba, built by Ibrahim alaihis salam. This angered him so much that he swore to destroy the Ka’aba. The Abyssnians had tame elephants that they used in wars. Abraha gathered his army of men and elephants and marched towards Makkah. As he advanced towards the Ka’aba, he defeated the tribes, enslaving the people and seizing their property. Included in this were two hundred camels that belonged to ‘Abdul Muttalib Ibn Hashim, the Prophet’s (salAllahu alaihi wasallam) grandfather, who was then, the leader of the Quraish. The tribes of Quraish, Kinanah and Hudhail decided to fight against Abraha, but they realized that they could not afford such a war and gave up the plan.

Abraha, meanwhile, sent a messenger to the Quraish. In his message, Abraha declared that he had come only to destroy the Sacred House and wouldn’t harm anyone unnecessarily. He said that if the people didn’t want to fight, their leader should come and meet Abraha. Abdul Muttalib, after listening to the message, said: “By Allah! We do not intend to fight. Really we cannot afford it. This is the Sacred House of Allah and His Khalil (friend) Ibrahim alaihis salaam. He Alone can protect it if He wills to.”
The messenger then took him to Abraha. Abraha asked what the chief of the Quraish wanted. Abdul Muttalib asked for a compensation for the two hundred camels that were taken from him and did not say a word about the expected attack on the Ka’aba. When Abraha expressed surprise, ‘Abdul Muttalib answered: “I am the master of the camels, whereas the Ka’ bah – house of worship – has its Lord to defend it.”

Abraha, arrogantly claimed that no one could defend the Ka’aba from him to which Abdul Muttalib replied: “You are on your own!” Abraha then gave him his camels back. Abdul Muttalib went home and told the Quraish about his conversation with Abraha and ordered them to evacuate Makkah and move to the mountains. He then went to the Ka’aba, along with some men, and holding the ring of the Ka’bah’s door, invoked Allah and sought His aid against Abraha and his troops.

Abdul Muttalib set out with all the Quraish to the mountains seeking shelter and waiting to see what would happen next. The next morning, Abraha prepared himself, his troops and his elephant, Mahmoud, to enter Makkah. When Mahmoud was directed towards Makkah, a man called Nufail Bin Habib came near him and whispered in his ear: “Kneel down Mahmoud and go back home safe, you are in Allah’s Sacred Town.” He let go his ear and the elephant kneeled down. Nufail Bin Habib then went away and climbed up the mount till he was far and safe. The Abyssinians tried everything to make the elephant stand again but in vain. They beat him, hurt him with weapons but still the elephant refused to get up and march towards Makkah. While trying to get him to stand they turned his direction to Yemen and he immediately got ready to move. Similarly he was ready to go to Sham (Syria) but still refused to budge in the direction of the Ka’aba.

Allah the Almighty then sent birds from the seaside that resembled hawks. Each bird held three stones: one in its beak and one in its each leg. The birds dropped these stones on the Abyssinians killing them. Some Abyssinians fled while death pursued them every way they went. They tried to go back the way they had come and asked Nufail Bin Habib to guide them back to Yemen. Allah the Almighty also sent a severe wind that added to the speed and strength of the stones and caused the majority of the army to perish.

Abraha was hit with a stone as well. His people carried him and his body began to tear apart by the time they reached San’aa. After a short while, his chest cracked and he died. Ibn Ishaq said some of the Abyssinians managed to return to Yemen and related to their people what had happened to them and to the whole army.

This incident was revealed in the Sura Al Fil as a reminder to the Quraish of Allah’s Favor bestowed on them through defeating the Abyssinians and defying them:

• “Have you [O Muhammad (salAllahu alaihi wasallam)] not seen how your Lord dealt with the owners of the Elephant?
• Did He not make their plot go astray?
• And He sent against them birds, (Ababil) in flocks
• Striking them with stones of Sijjil (baked clay).
• And He made them like (an empty field of) stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by cattle)” (Al Fil, 105:1-5).

Source: Tafseer by Ibn Katheer.