The Mahdi Times November 2011 | Page 28

Companions of " Elephant By: Hussain"eSho#comer {Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Companions of the Elephant? * Did He not make their treacherous plan go astray? * And He sent against them flights of Birds, * Striking them with stones of baked clay. * Then did He make them like an empty field of stalks and straw, (of which the corn) has been eaten up.}   {Surat Al-Fil (105:1-5)} Chapter of The Elephant The "Year of the Elephant" is a famous year in Islam's history, marking the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuhap) and also the attempted destruction of the Holy Ka'aba, the House of God (swt). According to Islamic history the year was 570AD, Abrahah ibn Ashram (titled 'King of Yemen') built a great church called "Al-Qullays" which became very famous. Abrahah wanted the Arabs to change their pilgrimage from the Ka'aba to Al-Qullays and he made an announcement for this but the Arabs ignored it.  It is said that a person defiled the church by defecation after the announcement. This made Abrahah very mad and he decided to demolish the Ka'aba. After hearing of the army of Abrahah the Arabs got very scared, forty thousand men. Before this attack went ahead, Abd al-Muttalib the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali (pbut) had around 100-200 camels which were plundered by the people of Abrahah. Abd al-Muttalib decided to speak to Abrahah. Abrahah was very impressed with Abd al-Muttalib and was awed by him, he rose from his throne, warmly welcomed him, and seated him beside him on the carpet. However, upon hearing the request of Abd alMuttalib to release his camels, he said:  "When my eyes fell upon you, I was so impressed by you that had you requested me to withdraw my army and go back to Yemen, I would have granted that request. But now, I have no respect for you. Why? Here I have come to demolish the House which is the religious center of yours and of your forefathers and the foundation of your prestige and r