toward the Kaaba. Its handler urged it forward, but it refused. Whenever they turned it toward Yemen, it would set off at a run, but whenever they turned it toward Mecca, it would stop.(1) This was one of Allah’s signs—Glorious and Exalted is He. They remained there until Allah sent against them birds in flocks, pelting them with stones of baked clay:
“Did He not cause their scheme to go astray? And He sent against them birds in flocks, pelting them with stones of baked clay.”
The scholars said that “birds in flocks” means separate groups. Each bird carried a hard stone in its beak. The “baked clay” was fired clay, which is harder. These stones were not large but small: one would strike a man on the head and emerge from his rear—Allah’s refuge is sought. “And made them like devoured straw”—that is, like crops eaten by animals and trampled underfoot until they crumbled.
This is a summary of this magnificent surah, in which Allah—Glorified and Exalted is He—explained what He did to the Companions of the Elephant and how their scheme recoiled upon them. Likewise, whenever anyone intends evil against the truth, Allah Most High causes his scheme to recoil upon him.
Allah protected the Kaaba from this elephant, even though near the end of time He will set over it a man from Abyssinia who will demolish it stone by stone until it is level with the ground.(2) This is because the account of the Companions of the Elephant was a prelude to the mission of the Messenger Muhammad—may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace—during which the House would be venerated. Near the end of time, however, when the people of the House dishonor it, seek therein deviance through wrongdoing, and fail to recognize its sanctity, Allah will set over them someone who will demolish it until it no longer remains upon the face of the earth.
The people of Mecca in particular must therefore guard against acts of disobedience, sins, and major transgressions, lest they dishonor the Kaaba and Allah—Glorified and Exalted is He—humiliate them. We ask Allah Most High to protect our religion and His Sacred House from the schemes of every schemer. He has power over all things.