1
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ
Alam tara kayfa fa'ala rabbuka bi-ashabi l-fil
Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?
Surah 105 of 114
Surah Al-Fil
Quick Answer
Surah Al-Fil (الفيل) is Surah 105 of the Quran — The Elephant, 5 verses, meccan. UK Prayer Times provides the Arabic text, transliteration and English translation for each verse.
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الفيل
The Elephant · 5 verses · Meccan
Surah al-Fil refers to the Year of the Elephant (approx. 570 CE) when Abraha al-Ashram led an Ethiopian army with war elephants to destroy the Ka'bah in Makkah. Allah sent birds carrying stones of baked clay that destroyed the army — the same year the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born.
Virtues & Benefits
- A reminder that Allah protects what He wills — the Ka'bah was defended without human army.
- A historical sign proving the special status of the Sacred House.
When to read
- Memorised as part of the short surahs.
- Recited to remember Allah's protection of His sacred house.
Verses (5)
2
أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِي تَضْلِيلٍ
Alam yaj'al kaydahum fi tadlil
Did He not make their plan go astray?
3
وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ
Wa arsala 'alayhim tayran ababila
And He sent against them birds in flocks,
4
تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ مِّن سِجِّيلٍ
Tarmihim bihijaratin min sijjil
Striking them with stones of hard clay,
5
فَجَعَلَهُمْ كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ
Faja'alahum ka'asfin ma'kul
And He made them like eaten straw.