The Qur’ān Translated

Sūrah 105

Sūrah al-Fīl

Makkan · 5 verses · 2 passages · paired with Sūrah al-Quraysh

Introduction to this pair

Both these sūrahs form a pair with regard to their topics. The first sūrah warns the Quraysh with reference to the incident of the Elephant that they should fear God, while the second sūrah urges them to give due regard to the favours they enjoy because of the Baytullāh and leave aside rebelliousness against God and worship Him only.

Both sūrahs are directed at the leadership of the Quraysh. It is evident from their topics that like the previous sūrahs they were also revealed in Makkah in the phase of conclusive communication of the truth (itmām al-ḥujjah) of Prophet Muḥammad’s (sws) preaching mission, a little before his migration to Madīnah.

The theme of Sūrah al-Fīl is to warn the Quraysh of the fact that the Lord Who routed His enemies in this manner before them will also not spare them now that they too have stood up in enmity against Him. He will also devastate them in a similar manner.

The theme of Sūrah al-Quraysh is to urge the Quraysh to at least recognize their obligation to the Lord of the House – Who has blessed them with the favours of peace and sustenance – that they should worship Him only and serve Him in this world.

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful.

1–3

Have you not seen what your Lord did to the People of the Elephant? Did He not foil their plot? And not sent down upon them swarms of birds?1

4–5

Such that you were pelting them with stones of baked clay, and He rendered them like straw that is eaten.