Alam Tara Kaifa Surah: Have you ever had a situation that appeared impossible? Maybe you felt weak. Maybe you felt small. There may be a massive challenge before your eyes. Surah Al-Fil narrates a great tale. It begins with the words Alam Tara Kaifa. Here we are presented with something significant in this chapter. Allah protects His people. God guards his holy locations. Size does not matter. Power does not matter. Only Allah’s will matters.
This commentary straightforwardly describes Surah Al-Fil. You will learn the history. The verses you will comprehend. You will get lessons in your life. We shall examine this wonderful chapter of the Quran.
The Historical Background of Surah Al-Fil
The tale took place earlier than the birth of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It took place in the year 570 CE. This is known as the Year of the Elephant.
The Ambition of Abraha
Yemen was ruled by a man by the name Abraha. He was a powerful governor. He would witness scores of Arabs going to Makkah. They also pilgrimage to the Kaaba. Abraha felt jealous. He desired to have this honor. Instead, he desired people to visit his city.
Abraha constructed a massive church in Yemen. He called it Al-Qullays. It was magnificent. It was tall. He decorated it with gold. Therefore, he instructed the Arabs to go to his church. He wanted them to abandon the Kaaba.
The Reaction of the Arabs
The Arabs loved the Kaaba. Prophet Ibrahim was its builder. It was their spiritual home. They refused Abraha’s order. One of the Arab gentlemen even offended the church. Abraha became furious. He swore revenge. He made the choice to burn down the Kaaba.
The March to Makkah
Abraha assembled a huge army. He introduced something the Arabs had never witnessed. He brought elephants. The lead elephant was huge. Its name was Mahmud. The army was heading towards Makkah. They were sought to be halted by the Arab tribes. The army overcame them without difficulty. Abraha got to the Makkah periphery. He set up camp. The Makkah inhabitants were terrified. They fled to the mountains. They were not able to struggle against such a large force.
The Divine Intervention
Abdul Muttalib had been the chief of Makkah. He was a grandfather of the Prophet. And, he went to Abraha. He demanded back his stolen camels. Abraha was surprised. He inquired the reason as to why Abdul Muttalib did not enquire about the Kaaba. A well-known line was said by Abdul Muttalib. “I am the master of the camels. The House will have its Master, to defend it.
Abraha gave the order to the elephant to attack. The elephant refused. It sat down. They hit the elephant. It was not going towards Makkah. It would take flight in some other direction. But it would not make war upon the house of Allah.
Suddenly, the sky turned dark. Birds appeared. The Quran calls them Ababil. They came in flocks. Every bird had three small stones. They hurled the stones upon the army. The stones hit the soldiers. The soldiers were destroyed. They became like eaten straw. The Kaaba was saved.
Understanding the Verses of Alam Tara Kaifa
Surah Al-Fil is short. It has five verses. Each verse carries deep meaning.
Verse 1: A Call to Reflection
“Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?”
Allah speaks to the Prophet. He also speaks to us. He asks a question. “Have you not seen?” This makes us think. We must look at history. We must see Allah’s power. The “companions of the elephant” felt strong. They felt arrogant. But their end was clear.
Verse 2: The Failure of Their Plan
“Did He not make their plan into misguidance?”
Abraha had a plan. He wanted to destroy the Kaaba. He wanted to divert pilgrims. Therefore, he spent money. He gathered soldiers. Allah ruined this plan completely. Their efforts were wasted. Their plot went astray. No human plan succeeds against Allah.
Verse 3: The Army of Birds
“And He sent against them birds in flocks,”
Allah did not send a bigger army. He did not send giants. He sent birds. Small creatures defeated a big army. This shows Allah’s might. He uses the smallest soldiers to defeat the biggest enemies.
Verse 4: The Punishment
“Striking them with stones of hard clay,”
The birds dropped stones. These were not normal stones. They were made of baked clay. They were specially designed for punishment. Each stone hit its target. The soldiers could not hide. Their armor did not help. Their elephants did not help.
Verse 5: The Complete Destruction
“And He made them like eaten straw.”
The result was total ruin. The Quran uses a powerful image. Imagine cattle eating grass. They chew it. They trample it. It becomes waste. The powerful army became like this waste. They were crushed. They were humiliated.
Key Lessons from Surah Al-Fil
This Surah is educative. These lessons help us today.
Allah is the Ultimate Guarantor.
We often worry about safety. We fear powerful enemies. And, we are afraid of hard circumstances. Surah Al-Fil reminds us. Allah protects what is His. He protected the Kaaba. He can protect you. Trust in Him. Do not fear worldly power.
Superiority Means Destruction.
Abraha was arrogant. He believed that he could not be stopped. He challenged Allah. Arrogance blinds people. It makes them make mistakes. Allah is not a fan of arrogance. Humble yourself. Remember your limits. Allah is the only one with true power.
Size Does Not Determine Victory
We look at numbers. We look at resources. So, we believe that the larger side always wins. This is wrong. The birds were small. The elephants were huge. The birds won. Success comes from Allah. Do not think up because you are little. Do your best. Rely on Allah.
The Sanctity of Allah’s House
The Kaaba is special. Allah defends it personally. We must respect it. The symbols of Allah should be honored. This happened immediately before the birth of the Prophet. It prepared the way for Islam. It presented the truth to the tribe of Quraish. They saw a miracle.
Plans to Dodge the Verity Will Not Succeed.
Individuals can conspire against the fact. They may try to hide it. They may try to destroy it. Verse 2 poses the question, “Did He not turn their plan astray? Plans of evil can never work out. The truth always stands tall. Have patience. Justice will come.
Significance of Reading Surah Al-Fil
The recitation of this Surah has its advantages. It recalls you of the power of Allah. It takes away the fear in the heart.
Comfort in Hard Times:
Recite this Surah when you are in a state of conquering. It teaches you that you find assistance where you least expect.
Protection from Enemies:
The Surah refers to the protection. It is recommended to read it in order to be safe. It builds trust in Allah.
Historical Connection:
It relates you with Islamic history. You know what was the miracle of the Year of the Elephant. You admire the year of birth of the Prophet.
How to Apply This Surah in Daily Life
We can live by these verses. Here is how.
Trust Allah in Difficulties:
You might face a bully. You might face a hard boss. Also, you might have a huge debt. Remember the elephant. The problem looks big. Allah is bigger. Ask Him for help.
Check Your Intention:
Abraha had bad intentions. He wanted fame. He wanted power. His plan failed. Always check your heart. Do things for Allah. Nor covetly worldly glory seek.
Be Humble:
Do not show off your strength. Do not oppress others. You might be strong today. Allah has the power to remove that strength. Be kind. Be fair.
Defend the Truth:
Abdul Muttalib defended his rights. He trusted Allah for the rest. Do your part. Defend what is right. Leave the outcome to Allah.
FAQs
Is Surah Al-Fil a Makki Surah?
Yes. It was revealed in Makkah. It talks about a Makkah event. Everybody there was familiar with the story.
What are Ababil birds?
The word Ababil means flocks. It is not a specific species. They were birds sent by Allah. They came in waves.
Did the elephants destroy anything?
No. They stopped at the boundary. Allah held them back. The Kaaba remained safe.
Why did Allah destroy them?
They desired to bring His House down. They invaded a religious sanctuary. Therefore, they were arrogant, and they had to be punished.
Conclusion
Surah Al-Fil is something everlasting. We are in the world of power craziness. We see huge armies. Also, we see massive corporations. We see influential leaders. Sometimes we feel helpless. This Surah tells us the truth. Real power is not physical. Real power is not financial. The Lord of Kaaba is the real power.
Abraha is gone. His church is gone. His army is dust. The Kaaba still stands. Millions visit it every year. The birds did their job. Allah’s promise came true. Take this lesson home. Turn and fight your own elephants. Trust in the Lord of the birds. Your problems will shrink. Your heart will find peace. God, who defended the Kaaba, safeguards the believers today. Stand firm. Have faith. Allah is sufficient for you.
