How can we understand chapter 105 without reference to any historical sources?
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Peace,
Here's a quote from Dr. Shabbirs rendition of the Qur'an. You can find it here
http//ourbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/admin2/2010/11/qxp_arabic1.8.pdf
Surah 105. Al-Feel The Elephant
Good planning and timely action can ward off a strong
invasion.
This brief Surah with five verses has a very interesting history behind it. As we
have seen in the history of the Empire of Sheba (Surahs An-Naml 27, Saba 34,
and Qaaf 50), the Kingdom of Sheba had collapsed in 115 BC. They were
overtaken by the Himairis who ruled until 300 CE when other tribes overtook
the control of Yemen. They were in turn defeated by the Christian Kingdom of
Ethipoia-Abyssinia when they invaded Yemen in 525 CE. Abrahah was then
appointed Viceroy of Yemen.
The Roman and the Abyssinian Christians longed for converting the idolaters
of Arabia to Christianity. They also sought control of the trade routes between
Arabia, Persia and the Western Roman Empire. They saw Kabah in Makkah as
a hindrance to their imperialistic and religious designs. Abrahah, the Viceroy
of Yemen made a smart move. Between 550 and 555 CE he built a gorgeous
cathedral EKKLESIA in Sanaa, Yemen, and invited people and neighboring
countries to come for pilgrimage there instead of going to Makkah. When
Ekklesia remained unpopular, Abrahah decided to invade Makkah and
demolish the Kabah.
Since he correctly anticipated the presence of hostile tribes en-route, he came
up with a 60,000 Strong army aided by thousands of horses, camels and
thirteen elephants.
I agree with the research of Hamiduddin Farahi, Amin Ahsan Islahi and
G.A.Parwez on what eventually happened. As Abrahahs army approached
Makkah, the Makkans who had been alerted by some travelers beforehand,
saw flocks of birds that normally fly over caravans in search for food. The
Makkans mounted the hills around and threw stones on the troops. The
elephants, and in turn, other rides panicked and trampled the soldiers. This
incident took place in 570 CE when the exalted Messenger was born. The
event carried such significance that the Arabs, in their Calendar, marked it as
the Year of the Elephant (Aam-il-Feel) as a point of reference in history.With the Glorious Name of God, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all Mercy
and Kindness
1051 Are you not aware of how your Lord dealt with the Army of the
Elephant?
1052 Did He not bring their strategy to utter failure?
1053 And sent upon them swarms of flying creatures.
611
1054 Then you showered them with hard stones earmarked with requital.1055 And made them like a field of grain eaten down to stubble.
Dunno if that helps but hope it gives more answers (or questions) for you.
Peace
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I dislike the interpretation about the 60000 troops is because it depends on hearsay. Actual archaeological proofs and quranic verses together makes more sense I think.
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Peace
I dislike the interpretation about the 60000 troops is because it depends on hearsay. Actual archaeological proofs and quranic verses together makes more sense I think.
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_of_the_Elephant
Personally the historical aspect of it is not of importance for me. I personally get the idea of strategy as the main message of this sura.
Peace
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Shalom Aleikhom,
I do not know much about the "HISTORICAL" part of this. But everytime I read it... this is how my brain interprets it
Chapter 105
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
1051 Have you not seen what your Lord did to the people of the "Mighty Tanks"?
1052 Did He not cause their plans to go astray?
1053 And He sent upon them formations of "Strategic Bombers" in flight.
1054 Striking them with fiery "Air to surface weapons".
1055 Until He turned them like devoured hay.This isnt necessarily what this Chapter stands for. I do realize that, but I cant help..lol. Take a look at these short videos to understand the devastation that AIR POWER can do in Bombing to MIGHTY ground troops. I do know that anti aircraft guns are available, but trust me, an aicraft can escape anti aircraft guns alot more effectively than a ground target can escape these bombings
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMYnWTd8v8M
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYXdk-qTl5U&feature=related
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HH0uNLFuco&feature=related
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sks6D2l8erA&feature=related
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhS2YCpnIEY&feature=related
Just bare in mind that I am talking about AIR POWER on Mighty enemy ground forces, not on civilians. Since the time man learnt to use airpower, control over air became the decisive factor in combat. If you look at those videos you can imagine why. Similarly, if you can gather an airforce of as much birds as you can get and make them fly to their maximum altitude and drop tiny stones from that height, the stones will have enough kinetic energy to obliterate the ground force (elephants/horses/etc). The funny part of the lesson here is that God was being shown to be using superior technology, whereas these days the muslims are depending on poor technology. They have not learnt the lesson of using superior technology and better strategy. The lesson I get from THE BOOK is that "I" have to strive and excell, if "I" dont do it, I shouldnt expect any help. But in the muslim world, people are busy dressing up like the thief of Baghdad , wearing a cap and beard, eating dates and reciting durud on prophets family and expecting MIRACLE on the battlefield !! This is how Israel defeated 4 arab nations alone in 6 DAYS !! The mindset !!
Peace
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That is an interesting understanding, cool! I however, find the style of the verses seem to be indicative of an event related to past people as it tells have you seen how we dealt with a certain people of the elephant. Which is why I agree with max q's translation in idea, but I am not sure if he stretched the arabic too far to get his translation and therefore if anyone knows arabic can they verify max q's translation?
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Salam,
My reading Sura 105 is historic, but it is speaking about the people of Lot.
The key phrase is "fiery rocks" which we see in another sura referring to the town of Lot.
The "elephant" would have been a symbol of these people.
An alternative way to look at it is as "Student" said...Using "out of the box" thinking and say that the town of Lot had mechanized vehicles "elephants" and that the destruction that God brought upon them was to be destroyed by bombers "jets"- thus Lot was told not to glance back as the blinding flash from the explosion would have destroyed his retina.
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Chapter 105
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
1051 Have you not seen what your Lord did to the people of the "Mighty Tanks"?
1052 Did He not cause their plans to go astray?
1053 And He sent upon them formations of "Strategic Bombers" in flight.
1054 Striking them with fiery "Air to surface weapons".
1055 Until He turned them like devoured hay.Salaam,
Very interesting MashaAllah!
May Allah increase us all in knowledge and guide us all to His true path pr
mmKhan -
Peace Layth, why do you think it refers to people of Lut? Is there any evidence that elephants were associated with the people of Lut? Also, how come this understanding is not reflected in the monotheist translation of the quran?
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Salam,
Chapter 105
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
1051 Have you not seen what your Lord did to the people of the elephant?
1052 Did He not cause their plans to go astray?
1053 And He sent upon them formations of birds in flight.
1054 Striking them with fiery projectiles.
1055 Until He turned them like devoured hay.I am wondering how can we understand this chapter without any reference to history and using the quran alone. Anyone has any ideas? Who are the people of the elephant described?
I think it sounds like the destruction of the people of Noah and Lot and others.
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Salam Matin,
Peace Layth, why do you think it refers to people of Lut? Is there any evidence that elephants were associated with the people of Lut? Also, how come this understanding is not reflected in the monotheist translation of the quran?
I have not looked at this from an archeological point - so I can't answer. However, I can say from this aspect that I believe the remains of the town of Lot to be the ancient town of "Qumran" located near the dead sea shore at the end of the Kidron valley (where the dead sea scrolls were found).
As for the Monotheist Translation, not sure what you mean by it not being reflected - the translation tries to be as literal as possible, so without the use of footnotes, people would have to make the link between the words used in 1054 and the same words used for Lot's town in 1182 and 1574.
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Perhaps it does not refer to one event, but a kind of recurring theme. Several armies in history tried to make use of the elephant, including the Sassanid Persians. I would imagine that an elephant decked out in armor would be an intimidating sight on the battlefield, a way of showing off one's tremendous military power to one's opponents. But elephants were never very effective in war. Perhaps it is an allegory for those who rely on impressive displays of power and might. In the end, God's power and might is greater. An elephant is as tall as a tower to a foot soldier, but what could be taller than God-sent birds in formation with fiery rock bombs?
-Joel
