Abraha and his army

Thus, the elephant was brought to the court.  The moment the white elephant saw Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib and the radiance in his forehead, it fell into prostration although it wasn’t the habit of that elephant to prostrate to anyone.  Then, he addressed Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib thus:  O Abdul Muttalib!  My greetings on the radiance that is in your back and is shining in your forehead!

 

On seeing this, Abraha got down from his throne.  He sat on the floor along with Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib.  The prostration of the elephant had affected Abraha to such an extent that he treated Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib with extreme respect and asked him to ask for anything he wanted.  Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib said:  You people have taken my camels.  Return them.

 

Abraha was astonished and asked:  You are asking for your camels.  You are not even talking about saving the Ka’aba, although your respect and reverence is because of the Ka’aba.  This is very astonishing.

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib said:  These camels are mine.  I am worried about them.  The Master of Ka’aba will save it Himself.  I don’t have to say anything about it.

 

Abraha returned all the camels of Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib.  Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib returned.  He held the cloth of the Ka’aba and supplicated:

 

The enemy of this house is Your enemy.  Who else is there apart from You?  Save Your house O Lord!

 

The words of this supplication show that Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib was a monotheist.  Otherwise, he would have appealed to the idols.  With what certitude did he say, “There is no one apart from You!”

 

Friends!  Look at the effect of the supplication of Hadhrat ‘Abdul Muttalib, how the Lord of the Ka’aba safeguards the Ka’aba!  Abraha was ready with his army and his elephants that he would simply go and demolish the Ka’aba.  Suddenly he saw that a flock of birds is flying towards them.  They had small pebbles in their claws and beaks.  On the command of Allah, these birds dropped these pebbles on Abraha and his army.

 

Friends!  What kind of pebbles were those!  They would pierce the rider on which they would fall, pierce his mount and fall to the ground.  The rider and his mount would both die.  In this manner, Abraha, his army and all his elephants were destroyed.  Even their traces were not left.  The Ka’aba remained standing with all this majesty and grandeur and will remain standing.

 

This was the miracle of the radiance of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), which was expressed before its arrival in this world.