The Majestic Quran

105. Al-Fil The Elephant This is an early Makkan chapter, which reminds the people of Makkah how they were saved from the army of Abraha. He was a Yemenite Christian king, whose capital Sana housed a magnificent cathedral. The only rival to this cathedral in the Arabian Peninsula was the Kaaba in Makkah. Abraha was enthusiastic about spreading Christianity throughout the Arabian Peninsula, so Makkah was his natural target. He decided to attack it in 570 ce, but his plan went badly wrong, as described by this chapter. This was also the year the Messenger r was born. The defeat of Abraha was a wonderful sign that marked the beginning of a new era of spiritual change, and the coming of the Messenger r . In the name of God, the Kind, the Caring T A 1 Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the army of the elephant? 2 Didn’t He smash their plan? 3 When He sent a flock of birds against them, 4 they pelted them with flint-stones. 5 So, He turned them into what looked like chewed hay.