Al-Fil 105:3
The Elephant · Meccan · Juz 30 · Page 601
Flocks of Birds
وَأَرۡسَلَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ طَيۡرًا أَبَابِيلَ ٣
And send against them swarms of flying creatures.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
And sent against them birds in flocks.
Insight
Elmalılı explains “ababil” as birds coming in flocks, one after another, from different directions. The indefinite word “birds” also suggests they were strange, unfamiliar birds.
Reflect
Consider that even small things can be Allah’s army.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›