The story of the elephant owners

The state of Yemen belonged to the king of Abyssinia, who was called Negus. And the governor of Yemen (Abraha) built a great and large church, and Abraha wanted to change the destination of the Arab pilgrimage. He makes them make a pilgrimage to this church instead of performing the rituals of pilgrimage in the Sacred House of God

Abraha wrote to the Negus: I have built for you, O king, a church that no one has built for a king before, and I am not of his favor to spend the Arab pilgrimage to it.

The Arabs refused, and their pride took hold of their inherited beliefs and lineages. They are the children of Ishmael and Abraham, so how can they leave the house that their fathers built and make the pilgrimage to a church that was built by a Christian?

And because of their strong rejection of that, it was said that a man from the Arabs went and spoke in the church to humiliate its status

At that time, Abraha decided to demolish the Kaaba, and for that purpose he prepared a large army, and placed in front of him an elephant famous among them, whose name was said to be Mahmoud. The Arabs then decided to fight Abraha. The first to go out to meet him was a man from the nobles of Yemen called Dhu Nafar. He called his people, and they answered his call, and joined forces with Abraha's army. But he was defeated and taken prisoner to Abraha

After that, Nufail bin Habib Al-Khathami came out and fought Abraha. Abraha defeated them, and Neville was taken prisoner, and he became a guide for Abraha's army. Until they reached Taif, so men from Thaqif came out, and told Abraha that the Kaaba is in Mecca - so that the house of Lat that they built in Taif would not be destroyed - and they sent a man with the army to guide them to the Kaaba! And his name was Abu Rghal. He died on the way and was buried there, and his grave became a stone for the Arabs.

The poet said:

Stone his grave every year * * * People stoned the grave of Abu Raghal

In a place called Al-Mughhams between Taif and Makkah, Abraha sent a detachment of his soldiers, who provided him with the money of Quraysh and other tribes. Among these funds were two hundred camels belonging to Abd al-Muttalib bin Hashim, the chief and master of the Quraysh. The Quraysh, Kinana, Hudhail and others agreed to fight Abraha. Then they knew that they had no power over it, so they surrendered and left it

And Abraha sent a messenger to Mecca asking about the master of this country, and informing him that the king did not come to war against them, but rather came to demolish this house, and if they do not oppose him, then he does not need him in their blood! If the master of the country did not want war, he would bring him to the king. When the messenger informed Abd al-Muttalib of the king's message, he answered him: By God, we do not want his war, and we have no energy for that. This is God's sacred house. And the house of his friend Ibrahim, peace be upon him.

After that, Abd al-Muttalib set out with the Messenger to talk to Abraha. Abdul Muttalib was one of the most beautiful, handsome and great people. When Abraha saw him, he honored him and honored him, and said to his interpreter: Tell him: What do you need? He replied: My need is for the king to return to me the two hundred camels that he took for me. When he said that, Abraha said to his interpreter: Say to him: I liked you when I saw you, then I rejected you when you spoke to me! Are you talking to me about two hundred camels that I got for you and leaving a house that is your religion and the religion of your forefathers that I have come to demolish, so that you do not talk to me about it? Abdul Muttalib said to him: I am the owner of the camels. And if the house Lord will prevent it. So Abraha was arrogant and said: He would not refuse me. He said: You and that!

Abd al-Muttalib then returned to the Quraish and told them what happened with him, and ordered them to leave Mecca and stay in the surrounding mountains. Then he went with men from the Quraish tribe to the Kaaba and grabbed the ring of its door, and they prayed to God and sought His help. And then they all went to the mountain

Abraha ordered his army, with the elephant in front, to enter Mecca. But the elephant did not move and pools in place. beat him and prick, but not move from his place. They directed him towards Yemen, so he ran. Then they directed him towards the Levant, so he headed. Then they directed him to the east, so he moved. They directed him to Mecca, and he fabricated it

Then what God wanted was for the commander and his army to perish, so God sent groups of birds against them. Each bird of these birds carries three stones: one in its beak, and two others in its legs, like chickpeas and lentils. So I left them like torn dry leaves

Abraha's army went into a great agitation, and they started asking about Nafeel bin Habib, asking him to show them the way to Yemen. Nufail bin Habib said when he saw what God had sent down on them of His vengeance

Where is the escape and the seeking God....... And the defeated Ashram is not the victor

I thanked God when I saw a bird....and was afraid of stones being thrown at us

All the people ask about Nafeel

And Abraha was wounded in his body, and they took him out with them, his flesh falling off small pieces after the other, until they reached Sanaa, and he did not die until his chest was split from his heart, as it is said.