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Sunday 5 July 2015

Ramadan Reading Challenge 2015 Day 18: The Owners of the Elephants


The story of the elephants comes from a whole surah of the Qur'an (Al Fil 105:1-5). It's a story of how Allah protects the Ka'bah.

Have you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) not seen how your Lord dealt with the owners of the Elephant? [The Elephant army which came from Yemen under the command of Abrahah Al-Ashram intending to destroy the Ka'bah at Makkah]. 

Did He not make their plot go astray? 

And He sent against them birds, in flocks, 

Striking them with stones of Sijjil (baked clay). 

And He made them like (an empty field of) stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by cattle).

You might like to read Ibn Kathir's commentary in Stories of the Qur'an.


Lesson and Activity

To understand this story you'd need to read Ibn Kathir's commentary or watch the video.

Basically, it's about a ruler in Yemen who wanted to destroy the Ka'bah. He set out with his army and elephants. But when they got there, the leading elephant wouldn't move towards the Ka'bah. Allah then sent birds with clay stones to rain down and destroy the army.

The lesson is that you can plot and plan but it will go awry if Allah does not plan for it to happen.

This is just an idea for a lesson. If you have any others then feel free to do them and share.

Comments Required

There are so many other lessons to learn. Can you think of any others? I'd love to hear them. Please write in the comment below.

At the end of this Ramadan Reading Challenge, if you or your children have participated then you will get a prize. (Please go here to see the prize). To be eligible, please leave a comment on what lesson you have learnt from the reading of the story and include any activities that you did to extend it. Just a line or two would be fine (so that I can contact you).

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