Surah Al-Fil Meaning: Understanding the Story and Lessons Behind the Chapter

The Meaning of Surah Al-Fil ~ Hi all readers! Surah Al-Fil is one of the surahs in the Quran. In general, this surah tells the story of King Abraha and his army, who failed to attack Mecca because they were destroyed by Allah's army of birds. If we examine Islamic historical records about this event, we will find that King Abraha misunderstood what was happening in Mecca. He was told that the Kaaba had become a center of paganism. That's why he wanted to invade Mecca to destroy the Kaaba.

Of course, as Muslims, we must know this. That's why I wrote this article. So, make sure you read it to the end!

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Before I explain the meaning of Surah Al-Fil, I want to clarify that this is a Makkiyah surah, meaning that Allah revealed it to the Prophet Muhammad before he migrated to Medina. This surah consists of five verses, twenty-three words, and ninety-six letters.

The Verses of Surah Al-Fil

The verses of Surah Al-Fil are as follows:

أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡفِيلِ ١ أَلَمۡ يَجۡعَلۡ كَيۡدَهُمۡ فِي تَضۡلِيلٖ ٢ وَأَرۡسَلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ طَيۡرًا أَبَابِيلَ ٣ تَرۡمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٖ مِّن سِجِّيلٖ ٤ فَجَعَلَهُمۡ كَعَصۡفٖ مَّأۡكُولِۢ ٥

"Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant? [1] Did He not make their plan into misguidance? [2] And He sent against them birds in flocks, [3] Striking them with stones of hard clay, [4] And He made them like eaten straw." [5] (Surah Al-Fil, 105:1-5).

Read Also: Meaning of Surah Al-Fatihah

The Meaning of Surah Al-Fil

(أَلَمۡ تَرَ) means "Do you not know, O most noble Messenger (Prophet Muhammad)?"

(كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡفِيلِ) means "[Do you not know] how your Lord dealt with the people who came with elephants?" There are different opinions regarding the name of the king who led the army. According to Qatadah, the king's name was Abraha al-Ashram, who came from Ethiopia or Abyssinia (Habasha). But according to Sa'id bin Jubair, the king's name was Abu al-Kaisyum.

Read Also: Meaning of Surah An-Nas

(أَلَمۡ يَجۡعَلۡ كَيۡدَهُمۡ فِي تَضۡلِيلٖ) means "Surely, your Lord (Allah) turned their plans into utter destruction for them."

(وَأَرۡسَلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ طَيۡرًا أَبَابِيلَ) means "And your Lord (Allah) sent Ababil birds to destroy them."

(تَرۡمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٖ مِّن سِجِّيلٖ) means "The birds pelted them with stones." There are differences of opinion regarding the stones. Some say they were stones used for punishment, while others say they came from Hell.

(فَجَعَلَهُمۡ كَعَصۡفٖ مَّأۡكُولِۢ) means "Allah made them like leaves devoured by caterpillars."

Read Also: Meaning of Surah Quraysh

All readers! That is a brief explanation of the meaning of Surah Al-Fil. Do you understand? If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I think that's enough for this article. May it be useful, Ameen!

See you in the next article!