ADHIKR

This Surah got the name “Al-Feel (the Elephant)” from the first verse, “Haven’t you seen how your Lord dealt with the army of the elephants?” This Surah, containing 5 verses, was revealed in the early period of the Messenger’s Meccan life. With the intention of attracting pilgrims to Yemen instead of Ka'aba—the House of the Lord—at Mecca, an army including elephants, under the leadership of Abrahath—the Yemen ruler—came to demolish It in the year 570 CE. At that time, the duty of protecting the Ka'aba was in the hands of Abdul Muthwalib, the grandfather of the Messenger Muhammad. Abrahah and his army, including elephants, camped at Mina, which is approximately 3 km from Mecca, and contacted Abdul Muthalib, informing him of the aim of their mission. But Abdul Muthwalib informed them that Ka'aba would be protected by Its Lord, and he demanded that they return the 200 camels which they had seized on the way. Holding fast to the “Khilla”—the cover of Ka'aba—he prayed to the Lord with his soul touching the heart, saying, “Oh Lord! We have no strength to protect Your House by encountering them, so You Yourself protect Your House.” Then Abdul Muthwalib and the Arabs who were living around the Ka'aba left helplessly for the hills. At that time, as explained in this Surah, some birds named “Ababeel” came with small baked stones of clay and showered them upon the army of elephants, which made the army like chewed-up chaff.

This Surah reminds the Messenger, and thereby the believers until the Last Day, that even though there were 360 idols in Ka'aba, when they invoked the single Lord alone and entrusted themselves to Him only, Lord Allah saved His House by destroying the enemies. By pointing out the “Elephant incident,” this Surah, containing 5 verses, teaches that the Lord of the universe—the Wise and the Exalted—can help beyond any cause and reasoning those believers who entrust themselves to Allah alone and depend on Him alone, without associating others in His dominion.