Al-Fil 105:5
The Elephant · Juz 30 · Page 601
فَجَعَلَهُمۡ كَعَصۡفٖ مَّأۡكُولِۭ ٥
And He made them like eaten straw.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., husks which have been chewed by cattle. This event took place in the year of the Prophet's birth. ↩
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
Detailed · A modern classic, with rulings and practical points.
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Commentary on 105:5
Verse [ 105:5] فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ (And thus He turned them into an eaten-up chaff.) The word ` asf means 'chaff, straw, husk or bran'. Usually the ` asf is scattered and when it is eaten or devoured by animals, it does not remain in the same state. This is what happened to Abrahah and his army.
Conclusion
The miraculous event of the 'People of the Elephant' enhanced in the hearts of the entire Arabian society the love, respect and honor of the Quraish. When Arabia witnessed that Allah has, on their behalf, miraculously destroyed their enemy, they were convinced that the Quraish are men of God, and custodians of the Sacred House of Allah [ Qurtubi ]. That is why they were respected and protected wherever they went; although other caravans in Arabia had to fear attacks from highway robbers, the Quraish travelled untouched and enjoyed high social status. As a result, they could freely and safely carry out their commercial activities in the neighboring states, and enjoy economic prosperity. The Surah that follows refers to these journeys and invites the Quraish to be thankful to Allah and worship Him alone for providing them with all of their needs.
Al-hamdulillah
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Surah Al-Fil
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Page 601
سورة العصر
Al-'Asr
The Declining Day · Meccan · 3 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
103:1
وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ ١
By time,1
1 translator’s note
- An oath in which Allāh swears by time throughout the ages. ↩
103:2
إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ لَفِي خُسۡرٍ ٢
Indeed, mankind is in loss,
103:3
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ ٣
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
سورة الهمزة
Al-Humazah
The Traducer · Meccan · 9 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
104:1
وَيۡلٞ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٖ لُّمَزَةٍ ١
Woe to every scorner and mocker
104:2
ٱلَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالٗا وَعَدَّدَهُۥ ٢
Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it.1
1 translator’s note
- Rather than spending in the way of Allāh. ↩
104:3
يَحۡسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُۥٓ أَخۡلَدَهُۥ ٣
He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.
104:4
كـَلَّاۖ لَيُنۢبَذَنَّ فِي ٱلۡحُطَمَةِ ٤
No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., Hellfire, which crushes and destroys all that enters it. ↩
104:5
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡحُطَمَةُ ٥
And what can make you know what is the Crusher?
104:6
نَارُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمُوقَدَةُ ٦
It is the fire of Allāh, [eternally] fueled,
104:7
ٱلَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى ٱلۡأَفۡـِٔدَةِ ٧
Which mounts directed at the hearts.1
1 translator’s note
- Covering them and penetrating them. ↩
104:8
إِنَّهَا عَلَيۡهِم مُّؤۡصَدَةٞ ٨
Indeed, it [i.e., Hellfire] will be closed down upon them
104:9
فِي عَمَدٖ مُّمَدَّدَةِۭ ٩
In extended columns.1
1 translator’s note
- Interpreted to be either columns of fire or columns of iron to which are chained the inmates of Hell. ↩
سورة الفيل
Al-Fil
The Elephant · Meccan · 5 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
105:1
أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡفِيلِ ١
Have you not considered, [O Muḥammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., the army under the command of Abrahah al-Ashram which was accompanied by a huge elephant and came with the intention of destroying the Kaʿbah at Makkah. ↩
105:2
أَلَمۡ يَجۡعَلۡ كَيۡدَهُمۡ فِي تَضۡلِيلٖ ٢
Did He not make their plan into misguidance?1
1 translator’s note
- Causing them to perish. ↩
105:3
وَأَرۡسَلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ طَيۡرًا أَبَابِيلَ ٣
And He sent against them birds in flocks,
105:4
تَرۡمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٖ مِّن سِجِّيلٖ ٤
Striking them with stones of hard clay,
105:5
فَجَعَلَهُمۡ كَعَصۡفٖ مَّأۡكُولِۭ ٥
And He made them like eaten straw.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., husks which have been chewed by cattle. This event took place in the year of the Prophet's birth. ↩