Al-Feel (ٱلْفِيل)

Al-Feel (الْفِيل) is the 105th Surah of the Quran. Al-Feel, sometimes also written as "Al-Feel", is an Arabic word which means "Elephant." The title of the surah comes from its first verse, اَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِاَصْحٰبِ الْفِيْلِ, (Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the people of the elephants?). Surah Al-Feel narrates a very famous incident that occurred in the year 570 CE, just around a couple of months before the birth of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. With reference to this incident, this year was popularly remembered among Arabs as the "Year of the Elephants". Abraha, the ruler of Yemen, planned an attack on Mecca in an attempt to destroy Ka'aba (Baitullah). He led his army with a huge force of Elephants. By the Will of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ, the entire army, along with their elephants, was destroyed by a huge flock of Ababil (اَبَابِيْلَ), (Martin Swallow Birds). The birds threw small stones at the army, destroying them. 

Surah Al-Feel, or Al-Fil, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ during the earlier days of Islam, in Mecca; hence it is known as a Makki Surah. It is at number 19 in the order of revelation, whereas it comes at number 105 in the recitation sequence. Surah Al-Feel appears in the Juzz 30 of the Quran. Within the 30th Juzz, it falls at number 28. It is a short Surah, having 5 verses grouped in one Ruku. It consists of a total of 23 words with 96 letters. It is a unique type of surah, where the verses are expressed by way of raising questions.

Themes and Subject Matter of Al-Feel (الْفِيل)

To better understand the theme and subject matter of Surah Al-Feel, we should keep in mind the historical event of the "people of elephants". Abraha, the ruler of Yemen, was a Christian. He constructed a big church in Yemen. He expected that people would come to Yemen for pilgrimage instead of going to Ka'aba, which was situated in Mecca, but it did not happen. So, in anguish, he planned to destroy the Ka'aba. For this purpose, he led a huge army having war elephants and attacked Mecca. The Meccans were not in a position to avert this attack, so they prayed to Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ to protect the Ka'aba from the forces of Abraha. 

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ sent a huge group of small birds, referred to as Ababil (martin swallow birds), in the Quran. The birds threw small stones at the army of Abraha so severely that the entire army, along with their elephants, was destroyed, which is expressed in the Quran as فَجَــعَلَہُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّاْكُوْلٍ, (and made them like straw eaten up (by cattle).

This incident was still fresh in the memories of the Meccans, when the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ was inviting the Meccans to worship only One Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. So they were reminded of the incident of the "People of the Elephants" when they were protected from the huge army of Abraha not by their Idols but only by One Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ, Whom they prayed for help. 

So, the surah just reminds them of that historic happening to make them realize how Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ punished the evil forces of Abraha to protect the Meccans and the Ka'aba. Through this short surah, it was made clear to the disbelievers that they should stop worshipping the Idols. It was further hinted that if they don't come to the right path, they would be inviting the anger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. 

Virtues and Benefits of Al-Feel (الْفِيل)

Like every word, verse, and surah of the Quran, Surah Al-Feel also carries huge spiritual benefits. Recitation of any part of the Quran brings rewards, being a form of worship. The same is true with the recitation of Surah Al-Feel. Being a short surah of just five verses, it can be memorized easily. It is a common practice to recite this surah in the five regular daily prayers.  

The short surahs of the 30th Juzz, including  Surah Al-Feel, are also a great source of inspiration for us to memorize the whole Quran. Memorizing short surahs of the 30th Juzz is relatively easy for beginners, which paves the way to memorize the entire Quran. As a common practice, the process of memorizing the Quran often starts with the short Surahs of the 30th Juzz.

It is believed that regular recitation of this surah may protect from the enemies, just as Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ protected Ka'aba and the Meccans from the evil forces of Abraha. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ made it happen by sending a flock of small birds. So, reciting this surah not only reminds us of that historical incident but also strengthens our faith that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ is the Only One Who can protect us from all enemies, no matter how strong and powerful they might be.