Let us experience the Quran: Surah al Feel
In the name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful!
Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the people of the Elephant?
Did He not cause their treacherous plan to be futile,
and send against them flights of birds,
which pelted them with stones of sand and clay?
Thus He made them like devoured dry leaves. (The Glorious Quran, 105:1-5)
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The Surah derives its name from the word ashab al fil in the very first verse.
Period of Revelation: This is unanimously a Makki Surah; and if it is studied against its historical background it appears that it must have been sent down in the very earliest stage at Makkah.
This surah refers to the famous incident of the elephants which took place before the birth of holy prophet Muhammad (saw), and clearly shows how Allah (swt) protected the Holy ka'ba. The story is well known to all of us, but just to recap -
Abraha, the Abysinnian governon of Yemen, built a luxurious church and wanted it to be the centre of attraction for Arab land. But Ka'ba was very special to the arabs because its heritage dated back to their forefathers, Ibrahim (as) and Ismael (as). Determined to achieve his goal, Abraha, marched to Mecca with a strong army equipped with elephants. Reaching Mecca, Abraha sent for Abdul Muttalib ibn Hisaham, the holy Prophet's (saw) grandfather, the then Meccan chief. His response to Abraha's messenger was:
'By God, we do not want to fight him and we have no power to resist him. This is God's sacred house, built by His chosen frien, Ibrahim. If He protects it against him, it is because the House is His, and if He leaves it to him to destroy, we cannot defend it.'
Abraha ordered his army to march, but just outside Mecca, their renowned big elephant refused to go any further, despite all attempts. Then Allah's (swt) will to destroy the Abyssinian army and its commander was fulfilled. He (swt) sent groups of birds to stone the attackers with stones of sand and clay, leaving them like dry and torn leaves. This story teaches us how Allah (swt) has power over all things and how he can bring about the destruction of a great army through some humble bird carrying tiny stones. This is also an example of how Allah (swt) protects His sanctuaries and preserves them.
'Have you not see how your Lord dealth with the people of the elephant?'
1. This was a famous incident among the Arabs. (the holy Prophet (saw) was also born in the elephant year itself). With this ayah, Allah (swt) reminds the Quraysh and the Arabs of a well known incident. He (swt) then goes on to add -
'Did He not cause their treacherous plan to be futile?'
2. This is perhaps a reminder to the Quraysh of the grace Allah (swt) bestowed on them when He protected and preserved the House at a time when they felt too weak to face the mighty aggressors. So, they should not deny the truth after Allah (swt) has helped them out of their weakness.
3. It may also be a lesson to the Quraysh. Allah destroyed the mighty army of elephants, and similarly He may destroy these aggressors who try to oppress the Messenger the suppress the truth.
'And send against them flights of birds, which pelted them with stones of sand and clay. Thus He made them like devoured dry leaves.'
4. Allah (swt) did not want the polytheists to protect His (swt) house, inspite their deep respect for it. He (swt) made it clear that He (swt) Himself was the protector of the House. Thus the polytheists did not have the chance to 'do a favour to Allah (swt)'.
5. The direct intervention by Allah (swt) made it manifest to the Arabs that there is infact a supreme Lord. Thus, they should have embraced Islam when conveyed the message by the Prophet (saw).
6. The event also suggests that Allah (swt) did not allow even the people of earlier revelations to impose their authority over the Holy land in order that the new faith would grow up there completely free, not subjected to the authority of any despot.
7. The other aspect hightlights the reality of the Arabian situation at the time. Though (only) the heart land of the Arabian Peninsula escaped foreign rule, they were also divided and weak. For the first time in their history did they rise to the leadership of the world when they substituted their Arabism with the noble message of universal brotherhood and truth, Islam. But when they deserted Allah (swt), Allah (swt) deserted them too, and they were relegated from their leadership position.
This applies not only to the Arabs, but to all Muslims. If we are to assume the leadership of humanity once again, if we want to 'save humanity from the worship of creatures and bring it to the worship of Allah (swt) alone, to save it from the narrowness of this life so that it may look forward to the broadness of the life hereafter, and from the oppression and injustice so that it may enjoy the peace, justice and equality' there is no option other than to return to the path of Quran and Sunnah.
Wallahu 'aleemun hakeem. "They said: Glory be to Thee! we have no knowledge but that which Thou hast taught us; surely Thou art the Knowing, the Wise." (Quran, 02:32)
references:
fi zilal al quran, Syed Qutb Shaheed (r)
introduction to surah al Feel, Mawdudi (r)
Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the people of the Elephant?
Did He not cause their treacherous plan to be futile,
and send against them flights of birds,
which pelted them with stones of sand and clay?
Thus He made them like devoured dry leaves. (The Glorious Quran, 105:1-5)
-------------------------------------------------------
The Surah derives its name from the word ashab al fil in the very first verse.
Period of Revelation: This is unanimously a Makki Surah; and if it is studied against its historical background it appears that it must have been sent down in the very earliest stage at Makkah.
This surah refers to the famous incident of the elephants which took place before the birth of holy prophet Muhammad (saw), and clearly shows how Allah (swt) protected the Holy ka'ba. The story is well known to all of us, but just to recap -
Abraha, the Abysinnian governon of Yemen, built a luxurious church and wanted it to be the centre of attraction for Arab land. But Ka'ba was very special to the arabs because its heritage dated back to their forefathers, Ibrahim (as) and Ismael (as). Determined to achieve his goal, Abraha, marched to Mecca with a strong army equipped with elephants. Reaching Mecca, Abraha sent for Abdul Muttalib ibn Hisaham, the holy Prophet's (saw) grandfather, the then Meccan chief. His response to Abraha's messenger was:
'By God, we do not want to fight him and we have no power to resist him. This is God's sacred house, built by His chosen frien, Ibrahim. If He protects it against him, it is because the House is His, and if He leaves it to him to destroy, we cannot defend it.'
Abraha ordered his army to march, but just outside Mecca, their renowned big elephant refused to go any further, despite all attempts. Then Allah's (swt) will to destroy the Abyssinian army and its commander was fulfilled. He (swt) sent groups of birds to stone the attackers with stones of sand and clay, leaving them like dry and torn leaves. This story teaches us how Allah (swt) has power over all things and how he can bring about the destruction of a great army through some humble bird carrying tiny stones. This is also an example of how Allah (swt) protects His sanctuaries and preserves them.
'Have you not see how your Lord dealth with the people of the elephant?'
1. This was a famous incident among the Arabs. (the holy Prophet (saw) was also born in the elephant year itself). With this ayah, Allah (swt) reminds the Quraysh and the Arabs of a well known incident. He (swt) then goes on to add -
'Did He not cause their treacherous plan to be futile?'
2. This is perhaps a reminder to the Quraysh of the grace Allah (swt) bestowed on them when He protected and preserved the House at a time when they felt too weak to face the mighty aggressors. So, they should not deny the truth after Allah (swt) has helped them out of their weakness.
3. It may also be a lesson to the Quraysh. Allah destroyed the mighty army of elephants, and similarly He may destroy these aggressors who try to oppress the Messenger the suppress the truth.
'And send against them flights of birds, which pelted them with stones of sand and clay. Thus He made them like devoured dry leaves.'
4. Allah (swt) did not want the polytheists to protect His (swt) house, inspite their deep respect for it. He (swt) made it clear that He (swt) Himself was the protector of the House. Thus the polytheists did not have the chance to 'do a favour to Allah (swt)'.
5. The direct intervention by Allah (swt) made it manifest to the Arabs that there is infact a supreme Lord. Thus, they should have embraced Islam when conveyed the message by the Prophet (saw).
6. The event also suggests that Allah (swt) did not allow even the people of earlier revelations to impose their authority over the Holy land in order that the new faith would grow up there completely free, not subjected to the authority of any despot.
7. The other aspect hightlights the reality of the Arabian situation at the time. Though (only) the heart land of the Arabian Peninsula escaped foreign rule, they were also divided and weak. For the first time in their history did they rise to the leadership of the world when they substituted their Arabism with the noble message of universal brotherhood and truth, Islam. But when they deserted Allah (swt), Allah (swt) deserted them too, and they were relegated from their leadership position.
This applies not only to the Arabs, but to all Muslims. If we are to assume the leadership of humanity once again, if we want to 'save humanity from the worship of creatures and bring it to the worship of Allah (swt) alone, to save it from the narrowness of this life so that it may look forward to the broadness of the life hereafter, and from the oppression and injustice so that it may enjoy the peace, justice and equality' there is no option other than to return to the path of Quran and Sunnah.
Wallahu 'aleemun hakeem. "They said: Glory be to Thee! we have no knowledge but that which Thou hast taught us; surely Thou art the Knowing, the Wise." (Quran, 02:32)
references:
fi zilal al quran, Syed Qutb Shaheed (r)
introduction to surah al Feel, Mawdudi (r)
posted by bodda at 8:09 AM
4 Comments:
salam all.
i have enabled comment moderation, just to do away with unsolicited ones.
jazakallah
Alhamdulillah that was a good read-the interpretation is ofcourse a very good one.
I want to add a morale of this Surah that i think can be added to our daily life- we see that Abraha, though having so much of rich and wealth, could not do any harm to Allah's house. Indeed he was destroyed.
This indicates (i think) that pride of worldy affairs is sure to be destroyed.
Surely ALlah knows the best.
Jazaak Allah
here are my inputs:
Lessons
-------
1. Allah can achieve greatest of objectives through smalles of means. so as muslims we should never loose hope, esp at difficult times (personally and for the ummah)
2. Allah is enough for His deen and he dusnt need any of us. it is indeed His Mercy and Generosity to us that He granted us to work for Islam.
3. we should not be haughty and unjust (abraha was such and therefore destroyed)
4. we must do our best, but at the same time, not be concerned about that which is beyond our capabilities. (knowing he cant protect the Ka'ba, 'Abdul Muttalib left it to Allah)
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