Surah Al-Fil in Arabic with Translation and Transliteration

Table of Contents

Surah Al-Fil, also known as "The Elephant," is the 105th surah (chapter) in the Quran. It is a short chapter with only five verses, yet it carries profound historical and spiritual significance. In this blog post, we will delve into the overview, content, and virtues of Surah Al-Fil, exploring its historical context and its enduring lessons for Muslims and humanity.

Surah Al-Fil is a chapter of the Quran that recounts a remarkable historical incident involving an army of elephants, an event that holds great significance in Islamic tradition. The surah's name, "Al-Fil," translates to "The Elephant" in English and alludes to the central theme of the chapter.

Content of Surah Al-Fil

The content of Surah Al-Fil revolves around a specific incident that occurred in pre-Islamic Arabia, long before the advent of Islam. This incident is often referred to as "The Year of the Elephant" and has been mentioned in various historical accounts, including the Quran.

Historical Context

The Year of the Elephant is a pivotal moment in Arabian history, occurring approximately in the year 570 CE, the same year in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born. The event involves Abraha, the governor of Yemen, who led a military campaign against the Kaaba in Mecca with the intention of diverting the pilgrimage route to the newly built cathedral in Sana'a.

Abraha's most notable contribution to this campaign was his use of elephants in battle, which was a significant military advantage at the time. However, Allah intervened in a miraculous manner to protect the sanctity of the Kaaba.

Themes and Lessons

Surah Al-Fil carries several key themes and lessons that continue to resonate with Muslims and humanity as a whole:

1. Divine Protection: The central message of this surah is the divine protection of the sacred. It serves as a reminder that Allah has the power to thwart the plans of the arrogant and protect His sacred places and principles.
2. The Power of Faith Despite the apparent weakness of the Quraysh, who had no army to defend the Kaaba, their faith in Allah was unwavering. This event demonstrates that true strength lies in faith and trust in the Almighty.
3. Miracles: The surah highlights the miraculous intervention of Allah, who used a small, seemingly insignificant creature (birds) to defeat a mighty army with elephants. This underscores the concept that Allah's power transcends human comprehension.
4. Historical Significance: The incident of the Elephant serves as a historical marker, aligning with the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the future spread of Islam. It signifies the end of an era and the dawn of a new one.

Virtues of Reciting Surah Al-Fil

While Surah Al-Fil is relatively short, its recitation holds spiritual significance and virtues in Islam:

1. Protection: It is believed that reciting Surah Al-Fil offers protection from harmful forces and negative influences.
2. Enhanced Faith: Reflecting on the surah's message can strengthen one's faith in Allah's ability to protect and guide His believers.
3. Historical Connection: Reciting Surah Al-Fil can help Muslims connect with their historical roots and appreciate the divine protection granted to the Kaaba and the Prophet's birth.
4. Spiritual Reflection: The surah encourages believers to contemplate the miraculous nature of divine interventions and the significance of trust in Allah.

Surah Al-Fil may be short in length, but its historical context and spiritual lessons make it a profound and meaningful chapter in the Quran. It reminds us of the power of faith, the protection of the sacred, and the miraculous nature of divine interventions. Its virtues extend to providing protection and enhancing faith for those who recite it regularly. As we reflect on the story of the Elephant, we are reminded of the enduring message that faith and trust in Allah can overcome even the most formidable challenges.

If you want to listen to the recitation of surah al Fil, please watch the video below:

If you want to read surah al Fil please read below:

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

 

Yusuf Ali:
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful

Abul Ala Maududi:
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate

Muhsin Khan:
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful

Pickthall:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Dr. Ghali:
In The Name of Allah, The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful

Abdul Haleem:
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy!

Muhammad Junagarhi:
شروع کرتا ہوں اللہ تعالیٰ کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم واﻻ ہے

Suhel Farooq Khan:
अल्लाह के नाम से जो रहमान व रहीम है।

Abdullah Muhammad Basmeih:
Dengan nama Allah, Yang Maha Pemurah, lagi Maha Mengasihani.

أَلَمۡ تَرَ كَيۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلۡفِيلِ

1.     Alam tara kaifa fa’ala rabbuka bi ashaabil feel

Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?

 

Yusuf Ali:
Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Companions of the Elephant?

Abul Ala Maududi:
Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the people of the elephants?

Muhsin Khan:
Have you (O Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) 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].

Pickthall:
Hast thou not seen how thy Lord dealt with the owners of the Elephant?

Dr. Ghali:
Have you not seen how your Lord performed with the companions (i.e., owners) of the elephant?

Abdul Haleem:
Do you [Prophet] not see how your Lord dealt with the army of the elephant?

Muhammad Junagarhi:
کیا تو نے نہ دیکھا کہ تیرے رب نے ہاتھی والوں کے ساتھ کیا کیا؟

Suhel Farooq Khan:
ऐ रसूल क्या तुमने नहीं देखा कि तुम्हारे परवरदिगार ने हाथी वालों के साथ क्या किया

Abdullah Muhammad Basmeih:
Tidakkah engkau mengetahui bagaimana Tuhanmu telah melakukan kepada angkatan tentera (yang dipimpin oleh pembawa) Gajah, (yang hendak meruntuhkan Kaabah)?

أَلَمۡ يَجۡعَلۡ كَيۡدَهُمۡ فِي تَضۡلِيلٖ

2.     Alam yaj’al kaidahum fee tadleel

Did He not make their plan into misguidance?

 

Yusuf Ali:
Did He not make their treacherous plan go astray?

Abul Ala Maududi:
Did He not bring their plan to naught?

Muhsin Khan:
Did He not make their plot go astray?

Pickthall:
Did He not bring their stratagem to naught,

Dr. Ghali:
Did He not make their plotting go into great error?

Abdul Haleem:
Did He not utterly confound their plans?

Muhammad Junagarhi:
کیا ان کے مکر کو بےکار نہیں کردیا؟

Suhel Farooq Khan:
क्या उसने उनकी तमाम तद्बीरें ग़लत नहीं कर दीं (ज़रूर)

Abdullah Muhammad Basmeih:
Bukankah Tuhanmu telah menjadikan rancangan jahat mereka dalam keadaan yang rugi dan memusnahkan mereka?

وَأَرۡسَلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ طَيۡرًا أَبَابِيلَ

3.     Wa arsala ‘alaihim tairan abaabeel

And He sent against them birds in flocks,

 

Yusuf Ali:
And He sent against them Flights of Birds,

Abul Ala Maududi:
And He sent against them swarms of birds

Muhsin Khan:
And sent against them birds, in flocks,

Pickthall:
And send against them swarms of flying creatures,

Dr. Ghali:
And He sent upon them baleful birds (in flocks),

Abdul Haleem:
He sent ranks of birds against them,

Muhammad Junagarhi:
اور ان پر پرندوں کے جھنڈ کے جھنڈ بھیج دیئے

Suhel Farooq Khan:
और उन पर झुन्ड की झुन्ड चिड़ियाँ भेज दीं

Abdullah Muhammad Basmeih:
Dan Ia telah menghantarkan kepada mereka (rombongan) burung berpasuk-pasukan, –

تَرۡمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٖ مِّن سِجِّيلٖ

4.     Tarmeehim bihijaaratim min sijjeel
Striking them with stones of hard clay,

 

Yusuf Ali:
Striking them with stones of baked clay.

Abul Ala Maududi:
which smote them with stones of baked clay,

Muhsin Khan:
Striking them with stones of Sijjil.

Pickthall:
Which pelted them with stones of baked clay,

Dr. Ghali:
Throwing against them stones of baked clay;

Abdul Haleem:
pelting them with pellets of hard-baked clay:

Muhammad Junagarhi:
جو انہیں مٹی اور پتھر کی کنکریاں مار رہے تھے

Suhel Farooq Khan:
जो उन पर खरन्जों की कंकरियाँ फेकती थीं

Abdullah Muhammad Basmeih:
Yang melontar mereka dengan batu-batu dari sejenis tanah yang dibakar keras, –

فَجَعَلَهُمۡ كَعَصۡفٖ مَّأۡكُولِۭ

5.     Faja ‘alahum ka’asfim m’akool
And He made them like eaten straw.