Surah
Juz
In retaliation for the mistreatment of Jesus' followers in Najran by the Jewish ruler of Yemen, Abyssinia, a Christian kingdom, teamed up with the Byzantine Empire to take control of Yemen in 525 C.E. The Abyssinians, lacking naval power, received support from Byzantium to send troops across the Red Sea. This alliance aimed to gain economic and political advantages rather than just religious reasons. Byzantium sought to control trade routes, disrupted by the Persian Empire's rise, while Abyssinia aimed to spread Christianity and control trade between the East and Byzantine territories. Abrahah, a key figure in Abyssinia's conquest, rose to power in Yemen, initially as a viceroy appointed by the Abyssinian king. He later became an independent ruler and focused on spreading Christianity in Arabia. Abrahah built a grand cathedral in Yemen's capital, Sana, to divert pilgrimage from the Ka'bah to his cathedral, intending to provoke the Arabs. Abrahah's attempt to attack Makkah with elephants in 570 or 571 C.E. was met with resistance from various tribes. Abdul Muttalib, a leader in Makkah, negotiated with Abrahah, emphasising God's protection of the Ka'bah. Despite Abrahah's initial plans, his elephant refused to advance, and his army faced destruction from natural phenomena, possibly smallpox. The miraculous event, known as the Year of the Elephant, demonstrated God's protection of the Ka'bah. The Quraysh, the tribe in Makkah, worshipped only God for a significant period afterward. This event, occurring in the same year as the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ birth, became a significant event in Arabian history, highlighting divine intervention and the sanctity of the Ka'bah.
When studying this Surah in light of the historical context mentioned earlier, it becomes clear why only a brief reference is made to God's punishment of the people in the year of the elephant. This event was recent and well-known to the people of Makkah and Arabia. They believed that the Ka'bah was protected by God alone during this invasion, and the Quraysh leaders had invoked only God for help. As a result, for several years, the Quraysh and others worshipped only God. Therefore, a detailed explanation wasn't necessary; a mere mention of the event was sufficient to remind the Quraysh and all of Arabia of the Prophet Muhammad's message: worship and serve only one God. They should also reflect on the consequences of resisting this message, as seen in the complete defeat of the people in the year of the elephants by God's wrath.
