Al-Fil 105:5
The Elephant · Meccan · Juz 30 · Page 601
Eaten Straw
فَجَعَلَهُمۡ كَعَصۡفࣲ مَّأۡكُولِۭ ٥
And made them like green crops devoured (by cattle).
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
And made them like eaten straw.
Insight
Elmalılı explains “‘asf” as the leaves of crops: the straw left after harvest, chewed by animals. A great army was reduced to something that worthless.
Reflect
Think about how temporary something you rely on for strength is.
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 ›