Chapter 105 - 22
The Elephant (Surah Al-Fil)
(5 verses in total; revealed in Makkah)
Another short chapter making reference to a recent event (some say during the year of Prophet’s birth) when the king of Yemen, a Christian king jelous of the reverence and trade activities attracted by the Kabah came with a large army to detroy Kaba and direct ancient pilgims and traders to a city he built in Sana. God protected the Kabah, a favor that the people to Makkah to whom Prophet Mohammad preacing should take notice and be mindful of God and revelations that came to them.
Key themes in this short chapter are as follows:
- God’s protection happens in ways that average person do not always understand or anticipate
- Birds, one of God’s creation, came in flocks against a powerful army that Arabs at the time had neither capacity nor equiment to fight with but God’s agency prevails as God wills
In the Name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
Have you seen it?
How your Sustainer God dealt with the army of the elephant?
Did He not thoroughly confound their plan?
He sent against them a flock of birds
Pelting rocks of baked clay
Destroying them like hays chewed up! (v. 1-5)
