How do I tell my child the story of the Year of the Elephant (Surah Al-Fil)?

Question

Bloomtivo Academy · Accepted Answer

Abrahah, a ruler from Yemen, marched on Makkah with an army and elephants to destroy the Ka‘bah. Allah sent flocks of birds carrying small stones of baked clay that destroyed the army. It happened in the year the Prophet ﷺ was born, and Surah Al-Fil (105) tells it in five short verses. The storyA jealous ruler: Abrahah built a grand church in Yemen and wanted people to go there instead of the Ka‘bah.The march: he came with a large army and at least one great elephant.‘Abdul-Muttalib: the Prophet’s grandfather is reported to have said the House has a Lord who will protect it.The birds: Allah sent flocks of birds (ababil) throwing stones of baked clay (Surah Al-Fil).The result: the army became like chewed-up straw.Surah Al-Fil, verse by verseVerseSimple meaning1Have you not seen what your Lord did to the people of the elephant?2Didn’t He ruin their plan?3He sent birds against them in flocks4Throwing stones of baked clay at them5And made them like chewed-up strawLessonsAllah protects His House.Big armies are nothing against Allah’s power.It prepared Makkah for the birth of the Prophet ﷺ that same year.Teacher’s tip: Once your child knows the story, Surah Al-Fil becomes easy to memorise because every verse is a picture.Related: the Prophet’s childhood.

Verse	Simple meaning
1	Have you not seen what your Lord did to the people of the elephant?
2	Didn’t He ruin their plan?
3	He sent birds against them in flocks
4	Throwing stones of baked clay at them
5	And made them like chewed-up straw

How do I tell my child the story of the Year of the Elephant (Surah Al-Fil)?

The story

Surah Al-Fil, verse by verse

Lessons

Parents also ask

Ready to watch your child bloom?