19. Owners of the Elephant
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
(19) Owners of the Elephant
"Have you (O Muhammad (peace and blessings 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 Abrahah 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)". [Noble Quran 105:1-5]
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, Abrahah Al-Ashram built a huge and very lofty church, 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: Abrahah 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 Abrahah 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 Abrahah sent to Negus, a man from Kinanah got angry. He set out till he reached the church where he urinated on its walls.[l0] No body noticed him, and upon that he returned home safely. The news reached Abrahah 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, Abrahah 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 Abrahah who was about to kill him, but Dhu Nafar said: "O king! Don't kill me, I may be of any use to you." Abrahah did not kill him and he kept him tied up in custody. Then Abrahah 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. Abrahah intended to kill him, but Nufail said: "O king! Don't kill me. I may guide you to the destination you desire. Here you are! My pledge of allegiance. `Abrahah 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: "O 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.
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 Abrahah 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 and blessings 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 Abrahah 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, Quraysh, Kinanah and Hudhail decided to fight against Abraha, but they comprehended that they cannot afford that and thus quitted the idea. Then, Abrahah 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, I only came to destroy the Sacred House. If you do not stand in our way, we will not harm any of you all. `Abrahah 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: "O 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 I 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 Abrahah and do whatever you see useful for him. Anis said: Surely, I will do. Anis presented himself before Abrahah and then said: O king! The chief of Quraysh is here and wants to present himself before you, so give him permission to, please! Abrahah gave his consent. 'Abdul Muttalib was very handsome and grand and when seen by Abraha, Abrahah 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, Abrahah 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 Abrahah 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". Abrahah said: No one can defend it from me. 'Abdul Muttalib said: You are on your own! Finally, Abrahah gave him the camels back.
Ibn Ishaq said: It is said that when 'Abdul Muttalib entered upon Abrahah 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 Khuwaylid Ibn Wa'ilah the chief of the Hudhail tribe who offered Abrahah one-third of the properties of Tihamah district in return for his going back and leaving the Ka'bah alone. But, Abrahah 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 Abrahah 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 Abrahah 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, Abrahah got prepared to enter Mecca, and got his elephant and troops prepared. The elephant's name was Mahmud. When he was directed towards Mecca, Nufail Ibn Habib came near him and whispered in his ear: Kneel down Mahmud 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 Abrahah was hit with a stone as well. They carried him and his body began to tear up part after part till they reached San'a. 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 and blessings 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 (O Muhammad (peace and blessings 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 Abrahah 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)". [Noble Quran 105:1-5]
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 Quran. But as for the word "Sijjil", I was told by Yunus An-Nahwi and Abu Ubaydah 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: 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, 'Ubayd Ibn 'Umair said: they were marine black birds, holding stones in their beaks and legs. 'Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas 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 Shaybah after Mu'awiyah after Al-A'mash after Abu Sufyan after 'Ubayd 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 Abrahah 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 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 and blessings be upon him) was born. Some scholars say that it took place two years prior to his (peace and blessings 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 and blessings 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 Quraysh, but the victory was granted to the Sacred House itself in preparation for the advent of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings 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 Abrahah 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 Abrahah and his succeeding two sons, the Abyssinian rule over the Yemen came to an end, the church built by Abrahah 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: "O 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. O 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. "
[1] As for the Prophetic Hadith that was transmitted by some other narrators that reads: "The killer will bear all sins of the slain", no one even knows its degree of validity: whether it be Authentic, Good, or even Weak. It cannot be found in any of the Prophetic Hadith Compilations.
[2] Shahr Ibn Hawshab is a Weak (i.e. not trustworthy) Narrator.
[3] The Unfamiliar Hadith: That is narrated only by one narrator even if he were in one class. Many scholars name the Unfamiliar Hadith as (the Single). (Translator)
[4] Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah forgives my followers those (evil deeds) their own selves may whisper or suggest to them as long as they do not act (on it) or speak." [Sahih Al-Bukhari] Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If somebody eats something forgetfully while he is fasting, then he should complete his fast, for Allah has made him eat and drink." [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
[5] I.e. Near Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (a lote-tree of the utmost boundary over the seventh heaven beyond which none can pass). (Translator)
[6] These are not the inhabitants of Turkey. (Translator)
[7] The 'Turk' here does not mean those of Turkey. (Translator)
[8] On the sixties, an archeologist called Muhammad Taysir Zabyan discovered a cave in Jordan, six miles away from Amman, in a region called" Ar-Rajib" whose description goes with that which is mentioned in the verses. The great scholar, Abu Al-A'la Al-Maududi visited it and agreed with many scholars who viewed the same opinion. And, I myself visited it in 1986. (Majdi M. Ash-Shahawi)
[9] This narration has a weak sub-narrator in its chain, i.e. Qaz'ah Ibn Suwaid Ibn Hujair Al-Bahili (as mentioned in An-Nasa'i's Weak and Rejected Narrators)
[10] As a sign of showing anger and mockery.