the grammarians say: its singular is abūl, just as ʿajūl has the plural ʿajājīl (1).

It was also said that its singular, derived from its own wording, is ibbīl (2).

Ibn Abbas said: “They were birds with beaks like those of birds and paws like those of dogs” (3).

Ikrimah said: “They had heads like the heads of beasts of prey.” Al-Rabi said: “They had fangs like the fangs of beasts of prey.”

Sa‘id ibn Jubayr said: “They were green, with yellow beaks.” Qatadah said: “They were black birds that came from the direction of the sea in company after company. Each bird carried three stones: two in its feet and one in its beak. Nothing was struck by them without being crushed.”

“Pelting them with stones of baked clay, and making them like chewed-up straw.”

“Pelting them with stones of baked clay”: Ibn Abbas (4) and Ibn Mas‘ud said: “The birds cried out and pelted them with stones. Then Allah sent a wind which drove the stones, increasing their force. Whenever a stone fell upon a man, it would emerge from his other side; and if it struck his head, it would emerge from his rear.”

“And making them like chewed-up straw”: like crops and straw that animals have eaten and excreted, after which it dries up and its parts scatter. Their limbs being torn apart were likened to the scattered fragments of dung. Mujahid said: “Al-ʿasf means the leaves of wheat.” Qatadah said: “It is straw.” Ikrimah said: “Like grain which, once eaten, becomes hollow.” Ibn Abbas said: “It is the outer husk found upon grains of wheat, like a covering around them.”