The Elephant

 The Elephant

Allah the Almighty says:
{Have you (0 Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) not seen how your
Lord dealt with the owners of the Elephant? [The Elephant army which
came from Yemen under the command of Abraha Al-Ashram intending
to destroy the Ka`bah at Makkah]. Did He not make their plot go
astray? And He sent against them birds, in flocks. Striking them with
stones of Sijjil (baked clay). And He made them like (an empty field on

stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by cattle)}. (Al-Pil, 1-5)
At -Tabari said: The first one to tame elephants was Ifridun Ibn Athqiyan who
killed Ad- Dahhaq. He was the first to use saddle for horses. But, the first one to
tame and ride on horses was Tahmuris, the third king on earth. It is also said
that Isma'il Ibn Ibrahim (Peace be upon them) was the first to ride horses. It is
probably that he was the first one to ride on them from among the Arabs, and
Allah knows the best.
It is said: Though the elephant is so huge, he fears from cats. Thereupon,
some warlords, during their fight against the Indians, brought some cats to the
battlefield the matter that forced the elephants to bolt.
Ibn Ishaq said: the governor or viceroy, Abraha Al-Ashram built a huge and
very lofty churcb, and wrote to the king of Abyssinia, Negus that "I have built
you a church that is unprecedented, and I am intending to divert pilgrimage from
Mecca to Abyssinia " .
Al-Suhaili said: Abraha Al-Ashram subjugated the Yemenites to build that
mean church and forced them to taste several sorts of humiliation. He used to
cut off the hand of the one who comes late for labor till the sun rises. He took
many valuable things from the palace of Bilqis to add thereto. He took marbles,
precious stones, and valuable luggage. Moreover, he erected gold and silver
crosses, built ebony and ivory pulpits, and raised the church's stature and
expanded its width. Afterwards, when Abraha was killed, whosoever tried to take
anything out of its body or ornaments, the Jinn were reluctant and hesitant to do
him harm. For, it was built above the burial of two idols called Ku'aib and his
wife, the height of which was about sixty cubits. So, the Yemenites left it
untouched till the era of Al-Saffah, the first Abbaside Caliph. He, Al-Saffah, sent a
group of pious scholars of will firm who totally demolished it, and it was
destroyed then till the present day.
Ibn Ishaq said: When the Arabs heard of the letter of Abraha sent to Negus,
a man from Kinanah got angry. He set out till he reached the church where he
urinated on its walls.l No body noticed him, and upon that he returned home
safely. The news reached Abraha who asked about the doer. He was answered:
this was done by one of those Arabs who perform pilgrimage to the Ka'bah at
Mecca when he heard of your declared intention that you would divert pilgrimage
from their Sacred House to your (recently-built) church. He (the Arab) got angry
and came to excrete therein declaring it to be unqualified (to the event). Upon
hearing this, Abraha burst with rage and took oath that he would demolish the
Ka'bah. Then, he ordered the Abyssinians (Christians) to get prepared for war.
He led a big expedition against Mecca accompanying an elephant or elephants in
his train. The Arabs heard of the news and they were terrified, but they decided
to fight him when the news was affirmed that he intended to destroy the Sacred
House. A man from among the noblemen of Yemen called Dhu Nafar set out for
him accompanied with his own clan and those who answered his call to fight
against Abraha. The two parties met, Dhu Nafar and his followers were defeated
and he himself was taken as a prisoner of 'war. He was then brought before
Abraha who was about to kill him, but Dhu Nafar said: "0 king! Don't kill me, I
may be of any use to you." Abraha did not kill him and he kept him tied up in
custody. Then Abraha went on intending what he set out for. He arrived at the
land of Khath'am where he encountered with Nufail Ibn Habib Al-Khath' ami who
was leading his two tribes -Shahran and Nahis- along with his followers from
among the Arabs. Nufail was defeated and taken as a prisoner of war to be
brought before Abraha. Abraha intended to kill him, but Nufail said: "0 king!
Don't kill me. I may guide you to the destination you desire. Here you are! My
pledge of allegiance. `Abraha set him free and took him as a guide. When they
passed by Ta'if, there came to him Mas' ud Ibn Mu' tab Ibn Malik Ibn Ka' b Ibn
'Amr Ibn Sa'd Ibn 'Auf Ibn Thaqif along with his followers who said: "0 king! We
are nothing but your slaves, we listen and obey, no hostility is ever there
between you and us, and our House is not that which you want -i.e. Al-Lat - you
only want the House in Mecca. Hence, we send with you someone who leads you
thereto.
1As a sign of showing anger and mockery.
Ibn Ishaq said: Al-Lat was a 'sacred' House in Ta'if, it was to them just as
the Ka' bah was to the rest of the Arabs. They sent a man called Abu Rughal to
show him (Abraha) the way to Mecca. They went on till they arrived at a place
called Al-Maghmas where Abu Rughal died. Abu Rughal was buried there and
afterwards, the Arabs used to stone his grave. However, I mentioned on the
Story of Thamud that Abu Rughal was among the train of Abraha and that he
sheltered himself with the Sacred House (Ka' bah) and when he came out, a
stone hit him and he was dead. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) told his
Companions: "As a sign on this, he was buried with two branches of gold". They
dug and verily, they found them. To compromise between this and the narration
of Ibn Ishaq I say: the later Abu Rughal had the same name as his higher
ancestor whose grave used to be stoned by the Arabs. Moreover, the people
used to stone his grave as they stone that of the former.
Ibn Ishaq said: When Abraha arrived at Al-Maghmas, he sent a man called
Al-Aswad Ibn Maqsud with a cavalry dispatch. Al-Aswad seized some of the
Arab's property which included two hundred camels that belonged to 'Abdul
Muttalib, the Prophet's uncle, who was, then, the principal man among the
nobility. Upon this, Quraish, Kinanah and Hudhail decided to fight against
Abraha, but they comprehended that they cannot afford that and thus quitted
the idea. Then, Abraha sent Hanatah Al-Himiari to Mecca ordering him to ask
about the chief of the people and tell him: "I (the king) did not come to fight
against you, 1 only came to destroy the Sacred House. If you do not stand in our
way, we will not harm any of you all. `Abraha added to his messenger: 'And if he
showed his desire not. to fight, bring him to me.' When Hanatah entered Mecca,
he asked about its chief and master. He was told: it is 'Abdul Muttalib Ibn
Hashim. He saw him and thus delivered the message. 'Abdul Muttalib 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 (Peace be upon him), only Him
Alone can protect it if He wills to." Upon hearing this, Hanatah said: "Come with
me to meet with him (Abraha), he ordered me to do so." 'Abdul Muttalib set out
for him accompanied with some of his sons till they approached the camp. He
asked about Dhu Nafar who was a friend of his. He entered upon him in his
prison and said: "0 Dhu Nafar! Can't you do anything for us in this plight of
ours?" Dhu Nafar said: "What can a prisoner do while waiting for death to come
either in the morning of at night? All that 1 can do is to send to the stableman of
the elephant, Anis, who is a friend of mine to recommend you, say a good word
of you, intercede for you before him, and to seek permission for you to meet
with Abraha." 'Abdul Muttalib said: "That's enough with me." Dhu Nafar sent to
Anis saying: Verily, 'Abdul Muttalib is the chief of the Quraishites, he is generous
to both humans and animals and the king (Abraha) seized two hundred camels
that belong to him. So, seek permission for him to meet Abraha and do whatever
you see useful for him. Anis said: Surely, 1 will do. Anis presented himself before
Abraha and then said: 0 king! The chief of Quraish is here and wants to present
himself before you,so give him permission to, please! Abraha gave his consent.
'Abdul Muttalib was very handsome and grand and when seen by Abraha, Abraha
showed great respect and was highly impressed. So, he refused to make him sit
lowly in front of him, and also disliked to let the Abyssinians see him allowing
him to sit on his own chair (throne). Consequently, he descended from above his
chair and sat besides him on the rich carpet. Then, he said to his interpreter: Ask
him what does he want? However, Abraha was surprised to hear from 'Abdul
Muttalib through the interpreter that all he wanted was a compensation for his
two hundred camels, but did not ask him to leave the Ka' bah alone. 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
said: No one can defend it from me. 'Abdul Muttalib said: You are on your own!
Finally, Abraha gave him the camels back.
Ibn Ishaq said: It is said that when 'Abdul Muttalib entered upon Abraha he
was accompanied with Ya'mur Ibn Nafa'ah Ibn 'Adiy Ibn Ad-Dail Ibn Bakr Ibn
'Abd Manah Ibn Kinanah the chief of the Banu Bakr tribe and Khuwailid Ibn
Wa'ilah the chief of the Hudhail tribe who offered Abraha one-third of the
properties of Tihamah district in return for his going back and leaving the Ka'bah
alone. But, Abraha refused their offer. Ibn Ishaq added: "I am not certain about
the authenticity of this!"
When 'Abdul Muttalib returned home he told the Quraishites about what
happened between him and Abraha and ordered them to evacuate Mecca and
move to the mountains. Then, he accompanied with some men stood holding the
ring of the Ka 'bah' s door invoking Allah and seeking His Aid against Abraha and
his troops.
Ibn Ishaq said: then, 'Abdul Muttalib let the door's ring and set out with his
companions to the mountains seeking shelter and awaiting for what would
happen next. In the morning, Abraha got prepared to enter Mecca, and got his
elephant and troops prepared. The elephant's name was Mahmoud. When he
was directed towards Mecca, Nufail Ibn 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.
As-Suhaili said: this means that the elephant fell to the ground, as elephants
do not kneel down. It is said: that some elephants might kneel down just as
camels. And, Allah Knows Best.
Nufail Ibn Habib went away and climbed up the mount till he was far and
safe. The Abyssinians beat the elephant forcing him to stand up to his feet, but
he refused. They hit his head with axe-like weapons, but he refused. They tried
their best to force him to stand up to his feet, but they could not. They directed
his face back towards the Yemen and he stood up and ran thereto. They directed
him towards the Sham (Syria) and then towards the east and he stood up to his
feet and ran thereto. They again directed him towards Mecca, but he refused.
Thereupon, Allah the Almighty sent upon them birds from the seaside resembling
hawks. Each bird held three stones: one in his beak and two in his two legs. The
stones were like chick-peas and lentils, and none from among the Abyssinians
was hit by a stone, but he was killed. Moreover, the birds did not hit them all.
The rest of them fled away seeking the way they first came from and asking
about Nufail Ibn Habib to guide them back to Yemen.
Ibn Ishaq said: the Abyssinians fled away while death pursuing them on
every path and in every way and Abraha was hit with a stone as well. They
carried him and his body began to tear up part after part till they reached
San'aa. After a short while, his chest cracked (as claimed by historians) and he
died.
Ibn Ishaq said: I have been told by Ya' qub Ibn 'Utbah that that year was the
first in which measles, small-box, and bitter trees such as colocynth and African
rue appeared in the Arab Peninsula.
Ibn Ishaq said: When Allah the Almighty sent His Prophet Muhammad (Peace
be upon him), He reminded the Quraishites with His Grace and Favor bestowed
on them through defeating the Abyssinians and defying them saying: {Have
you (0 Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) not seen how your Lord dealt
with the owners of the Elephant? [The Elephant army which came from
Yemen under the command of Abraha Al-Ashram intending to destroy
the Ka'bah at Makkah]. 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)}.
Then, Ibn Hisham and Ibn Ishaq started to interpret this Surah and the next
stated as follows: Ibn Hisham said: The word "Ababil" means "in flocks", though
the Arabs never used that word before the Revelation of the Glorious Qur'an. But
as for the word "Sijjil", I was told by Yunus An-Nahwi and Abu' Ubaidah that it
was used by the Arabs to mean: solid and strong. Moreover, some interpreters
claimed that this word was originally two in Persian, but the Arabs rendered
them a single word that is "Sinj" and "lil". 'Sinj' means stone and lil' stands for
clay and hard stones consist of these two materials, stone and clay. He added,
“`Assf” stands for leaves. AI-Kasa'i said: I have heard some grammarians saying:
"The singular form of 'Ababil' (flock) is `Abil'. Besides, many of our early scholars
said: `Ababil' are flocks of birds gathering group after group from here and
there.
Narrated 'Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them): Their beaks
were like those of the birds and their legs were like those of the dogs. In
addition, 'Ikrimah transmitted: their heads were like those of the lions and they
came from the seaside and their color was green. Also, 'Ubaid Ibn 'Umair said:
they were marine black birds, holding stones in their beaks and legs. 'Abdullah
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said also: they looked like the
Phoenix, and the smallest stone they carried was equal to the head of a human
being and other stones were equal to camels. The same view was held by Yunus
Ibn Bakir after Ibn Ishaq. Some interpreters said: The stones were too small.
Allah knows best!
Ibn Abu Hatim said: Abu Zar'ah told us on the authority of Muhammad Ibn
'Abdullah Ibn Abu Shaibah after Mu'awiyah after Al-A'mash after Abu Sufyan
after 'Ubaid Ibn 'Umair saying: When Allah the Almighty wanted to destroy the
owners of the elephant He sent against them birds in flocks from the seaside
resembling hawks, each one of them carried three stones: one in his beak and
two in his two legs. They flew over till they were directly above the .army, then
they screamed and let go of the stones. The stones used to cut off or crack
whom they hit from his head to his toes. In addition, Allah the Almighty sent a
severe wind that hit the stones and added to their speed and strength, the
matter that caused the majority of the army to perish.
Ibn Ishaq said as stated earlier that not all of them were hit by the stones.
Rather, some of them managed to return to the Yemen and related to their
people what had happened to them and to the whole army. And Abraha himself
was hit with the stones and was carried till he reached the Yemen where he
died, may Allah the Almighty damn him!
Narrated Ibn Ishaq saying: I was told by `Abdullah Ibn Abu Bakr after
Samurah after 'A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) that she said: "I have
seen the rider and stableman of the elephant at Mecca blind, crippled and asking
the people to feed them up." However, it was mentioned earlier that the
stableman was called Anis, but the rider was unidentified. Allah knows best!
In his Tafsir (interpretation), An-Naqqash mentioned that the flood carried
away their dead bodies and threw them into the sea. At the same year of this
great incident, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was born. Some
scholars say that it took place two years' prior to his (Peace be upon him) birth.
Then, Ibn Ishaq cited the poetry the Arabs composed pertaining to that great
incident in which Allah the Almighty made victorious His Sacred House which He
wanted to grant honor, dignity, purification and respect through sending His
Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and the Legislation He sends with
him. One of the fundamental pillars of this Legislation is the Prayer whose Qiblah
direction would be made to the honorable Ka' bah. That which Allah the Almighty
did to the owners of the elephant was never for the sake of the Quraishites
themselves. As the Christians who were represented in the Abyssinians were
really nearer to the Ka' bah than the polytheists of Quraish, but the victory was
granted to the Sacred House itself in preparation for the advent of Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
Added Ibn Ishaq and others: After the death of Abraha, the Abyssinians were
ruled by his son, Yaksum, then by his brother, Masruq Ibn Abraha who was their
last king.
The incident of the elephant took place in Al-Muharram, 882 according to the
Roman Calendar. Following the death of Abraha and his succeeding two sons,
the Abyssinian rule over the Yemen came to an end, the church built by Abraha
was deserted. No one could even approach it for it was built over the burial place
of two idols -that of Ku'aib and his wife. The two idols were made of wood, their
height was about sixty cubits and they were touched with the jinn. For this very
reason, no one could take the risk to come near the church or to take anything
of its building or ornaments fearing the evils of the jinn. It stayed deserted till
the time of the first Abbaside Caliph, As-Saffah whom the news of the riches
found inside the church reached. He sent his ruler over the Yemen, Al-'Abbas Ibn
Ar-Rabi' to destroy it and bring him all the precious objects he might find there.
Finally, one should raise his hands to Allah the Almighty and supplicate,
saying: "0 Allah! All the Praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens
and the Earth. And all the Praises are for You; You are the Keeper of the
Heavens and the Earth. All the Praises are for You; You are the Lord of the
Heavens and the Earth and whatever is therein. You are the Truth, and Your
Promise is the Truth, and Your Speech is the Truth, and meeting You is the
Truth, and Paradise is the Truth and Hell (Fire) is the Truth and all the prophets
are the Truth and the Hour is the Truth. 0 Allah! I surrender to You, and believe
in You, and depend upon You, and repent to You, and in Your cause I fight and
with Your orders I rule. So please forgive my past and future sins and those sins
which I did in secret or in public. It is You Whom I worship, None has the right
to be worshipped except You. "