THE INCIDENT OF ABRAHA AND THE ELEPHANTS

In Surah Feel (Alam Tara) in the Holy Quran, the blessings of the Noor of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) through Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib is mentioned.  Here it is summarized briefly.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Abraha was sent by Najashi, the king of Abyssinia was sent to conquer <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Yemen</st1:place></st1:country-region>.  There Abraha built a church.  His intention was that people should come to visit it like they visit the Ka'aba.  When he did not succeed in this, he thought of destroying the Ka'aba, so that people come to visit the church.  He took a lot of army including elephants with him and went to Makkah.  A white elephant was also with him.  When this news reached him, Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib called the Quraish and told them not to worry as the Ka'aba does not need their protection, but is their protector.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On reaching Makkah, the army started plundering and caught 400 camels of Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib took the Quraish with him to the top of a mountain.  From there, the Ka'aba was clearly visible.  The Noor of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) which was in the forehead of Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib had taken the shape of crescent and was shining on his forehead.  The rays of this Noor were falling on the Ka'aba.  On seeing this, Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib told the Quraish: O Quraish, you have been saved from all kinds of difficulties and nothing will happen to the Ka'aba.  By Allah! When this Noor is expressed the way it is now, I have been victorious.  On hearing this, the Quraish returned and busied themselves in their work.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Abraha made a person an envoy and sent him to Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib and told his envoy that I have come to destroy the Ka'aba and fighting you is not my intention.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> When the envoy reached Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib and saw the Noor of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) in his forehead, he fainted.  Some sounds started coming from him as if a cow is being slaughtered.  After considerable time, the envoy came to his senses and as soon as he did so, he prostrated before the Noor and told Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib: Verily you are the leader of the Quraish.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib went to Abraha.  On hearing about his coming, Abraha called him into his court and also sent for his white elephant, which he had brought for destroying the Ka'aba.  The reason for sending for the elephant was to frighten Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> When the elephant came to the court and saw Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib and the Noor in his forehead.  The moment he saw it, he fell prostrate before the Noor, although this elephant would not prostrate to anyone.  After this the elephant talked in an eloquent language: O Abdul Muttalib! My Salaam (greetings) to the Noor to in your back and to the Noor shining in your forehead.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On seeing this, Abraha came down from the throne and sat on the ground along with Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib.  The prostration of the elephant affected Abraha in such a way that he treated Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib with great respect and asked him what he wanted.  Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib demanded his camels.  Abraha expressed his astonishment at this that he is not talking about the Ka'aba, but his camels.  Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib told that he is the owner of the camels and I am worried about them.  The Lord of the Ka'aba will take care of the Ka'aba.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Abraha returned the camels of Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib.  He returned and held the curtain of the Ka'aba and prayed:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Summarized translation:  <o:p></o:p> The enemy of this house is your enemy.<o:p></o:p> Whom can we turn to, except you!<o:p></o:p> Save your house from them O Lord!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The Dua is showing that he was a monotheist otherwise he would have asked for the idols to intercede.  With what a truthful heart is he saying that I don’t have any hope from anybody excepting you.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friends! See how on the Dua of Wali, Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib, Allah Ta'ala saves His house.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Abraha and his army are ready to go and destroy the Ka'aba.  Suddenly he sees that a flock of birds is coming.  They have pebbles in their beaks and claws.  With the command of Allah Ta'ala, these birds dropped these pebbles on Abraha and his army.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Friends! How should I describe how those pebbles were!  On whichever rider they fell, they would make a hole from the head through the body of the rider and the horse and reach the ground.  Abraha and his whole army were destroyed.  Ka'aba stood with all its glory and will remain standing.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> This was a miracle of the Noor of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) before its birth.

Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

Scholarly Articles

THE INCIDENT OF ABRAHA AND THE ELEPHANTS