(أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَـبِ الْفِيلِ)
(1. Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the Owners
of the Elephant)
(أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِى تَضْلِيلٍ)
(2. Did He not make their plot go astray)
(وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْراً أَبَابِيلَ)
(3. And He sent against them birds, in flocks (Ababil).)
(تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ)
(4. Striking them with stones of Sijjil.)
(فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولِ)
(5. And He made them like `Asf, Ma'kul.)
This is one of the favors Allah did for the Quraysh. He
saved them from the People of the Elephant who had tried to tear down the
Ka`bah and wipe out all traces of its existence. Allah destroyed them, defeated
them, thwarted their plans, made their efforts in vain and sent them back
routed. They were people who were Christians, and thus, their religion was
closer to the True Religion (Islam) than the idolatry of the Quraysh. However,
this was a means of giving a sign and preparing the way for the coming of the
Messenger of Allah . For verily, he was born during that same year according to
the most popular opinion. So the tongue of destiny was saying, "We will
not help you, O people of Quraysh, because of any status you may have over the
Ethiopians (Abyssinians). We are only helping you in order to defend the Ancient
House (the Ka`bah), which We will honor, magnify, and venerate by sending the
unlettered Prophet, Muhammad , the Finality of all Prophets.''