Abraha
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| AI visualization of Abraha |
The first thing to know is that Abyssinia was located in present-day Ethiopia, with its capital in Addis Ababa.
Abyssinia encompassed regions that include modern-day Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Kenya.
This vast area was collectively known as Abyssinia, and it was the third most powerful kingdom on Earth, after the Roman and Persian empires.
Additionally, the term "Najashi" means "king" and was a title given to the ruler of Abyssinia.
Abraha was a soldier in the Abyssinian army who arrived in Yemen as part of a campaign sent by the Negus, or King of Abyssinia. This campaign, led by Aryat, aimed to invade Yemen and avenge the deaths of Christians killed in the "Incident of the Trench" by King Dhu Nuwas.
After the campaign succeeded, Yemen became a vassal state of Abyssinia, and Aryat assumed governance there.
I recommend checking out the article on Dhu Tholoban for a complete understanding of this story.
Abraha becomes king
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| AI visualization of The duel of Ariat and Abraha |
After Yemen became a dependency of the Negus, "Al-Samyafa" was appointed as king of Yemen, under the command of Najashi, Aryat remained the commander of the army.
Abraha, having shown exceptional strength in battle, rose to prominence, becoming the second most powerful figure in the Negus’s army after Aryat, However, Abraha aspired to the position of army commander.
A dispute arose between Abraha and Aryat over control of Yemen, leading to a duel in which Aryat injured Abraha, cutting his eye and nose.
This led to Abraha’s nickname, "Abraha Al-Ashram." "Ashram" is an Arabic masculine name meaning "the man whose nose tip is cut."
Eventually, Aryat was killed by one of Abraha’s young supporters, and Abraha assumed command of the army.
After assembling a powerful force, Abraha overthrew Al-Samyafa and declared himself king of Yemen in 531 AD.
He then declared independence from the Negus, ceased sending tribute, and took on the title "King of Yemen."
The Najashi vowed not to allow Abraha to rule Yemen, so he sent two army battalions against him, However, Abraha successfully defeated each battalion, one after the other.
To ease tensions, Abraha wrote a letter to the Negus, expressing his respect and apologizing for the conflict.
This gesture helped smooth relations, and the Negus confirmed Abraha’s position as ruler in Yemen.
Although Abraha nominally acknowledged the Negus’s authority and paid tribute, he effectively became an independent king, stabilizing the relationship between them.
During his forty-year reign, Abraha faced several revolts in Yemen, He managed to suppress these uprisings, either through force or by negotiating peace treaties with some of the rebels.
Delegations from Abyssinia, Persia, Byzantium, and the Levant visited him to strengthen trade and political relations, underscoring the power and influence Abraha had attained.
Abraha's Kaaba
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| The Real Place Now, Al-Qalis Church |
Abraha successfully reintroduced Christianity in Yemen, building several churches.
He was also interested in urban development; he restored the Marib Dam and constructed the Al-Qalis Church in Sana’a, known for its grandeur, scale, and intricate decoration, making it a marvel of its time.
Abraha aspired to link Yemen with the Levant, but a significant obstacle lay in his path—the Arabian Peninsula, especially the revered Kaaba in Mecca, held in high religious regard by the Arabs.
To draw pilgrims away from the Kaaba and toward the Al-Qalis Church, Abraha placed idols similar to those worshiped by Arabs around the church, accommodating their rituals.
His ultimate plan, however, was to demolish the Kaaba, thus redirecting pilgrimage to Al-Qalis Church.
This would establish his control over the route from Yemen to the Levant, while elevating the Al-Qalis Church as the primary religious site.
Abraha saw this as a way to gain wealth, agricultural prosperity, trade, and religious prominence, potentially making him the most powerful king in the world.
Driven by ambition, Abraha prepared a formidable army and set out toward Mecca, with the sole objective of destroying the Kaaba.
Quraysh
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| AI visualization of Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim |
Fihr ibn Malik is considered the ancestor to whom all the Quraysh tribes trace their lineage.
The Quraysh held a prominent position among the Arabs due to their reputation in trade, intelligence, and their renown in poetry and literature.
Through skillful diplomacy, they maintained connections with major powers of the time, including Rome, Abyssinia, Persia, and the Ghassanids.
Their trade caravans traveled twice a year, once in winter and again in summer, selling dates, ivory, incense, and ebony to these kingdoms.
The Quraysh also had the distinguished role of caring for the Kaaba, overseeing its maintenance, cleaning, and adornment.
Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim was the leader and chief of the Quraysh, His appearance was striking, with a thick white beard and a dignified presence.
Known for his integrity, Abd al-Muttalib honored covenants, showed kindness to the poor, served pilgrims, and provided for the needy even in times of hardship.
His generosity extended to feeding animals and birds on mountaintops, and his noble character earned him the title *Al-Fayyad*, meaning "the exceedingly generous." Abd al-Muttalib was also the grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
The Kaaba Has a God Who Protects It
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| AI visualization of Abraha's army |
Abraha ordered his army to prepare for the journey to Mecca with the intent of demolishing the Kaaba.
Leading his vast army, he rode a colossal elephant brought from the jungles of Abyssinia.
News of his approach spread quickly through Mecca, and the people, determined to protect the Sacred House of God, prepared to defend it, ready to sacrifice themselves to prevent Abraha from destroying the Kaaba.
As Abraha’s army advanced, every Arab tribe they passed tried to resist, but each time, Abraha's forces triumphed, capturing the leaders of those who opposed him.
His campaign continued until he reached Khath'am on the outskirts of the Arabian Peninsula, where they too attempted to stand against him, but were swiftly defeated, and their leader, Nufail ibn Habib, was captured.
Abraha continued his march and eventually reached Taif, where he encountered the leader of the Thaqif tribe, Masoud ibn Moatab, he addressed Abraha: “O king, we are your slaves, obedient to you, with no dispute.
You do not seek our homes—what you want is the Kaaba in Mecca. We will send someone to guide you to it.” With that, they sent Abu Raghal to lead Abraha's army to the Kaaba, as they were unfamiliar with its exact location.
Although many Arabs had refused to guide Abraha, no matter how much money was offered, Abu Raghal agreed to show them the way.
To this day, Arabs and Muslims consider Abu Raghal a symbol of treachery and betrayal.
His name became synonymous with betrayal, so much so that, for many years, whenever someone passed by his grave, they would throw stones at it.
When Abraha’s army reached the outskirts of Mecca in 571 AD, they found 200 camels belonging to Abd al-Muttalib, Abraha seized the camels and set up camp on the outskirts of Mecca.
He sent a messenger, "Hanata", to Abd al-Muttalib, informing him that King Abraha’s only goal was to destroy the Kaaba and that there was no need for conflict.
"Hanata" invited Abd al-Muttalib to meet with Abraha and negotiate to avoid war, Abd al-Muttalib agreed to go.
Upon seeing Abd al-Muttalib, Abraha stood in respect due to his stature, The first thing Abd al-Muttalib said was, “I want my camels back.”
Abraha, initially respectful, replied, “I respected you when I saw you, but that respect faded when you spoke, You came to negotiate about your camels, and I am here to destroy the house you revere!.”
Abd al-Muttalib then famously responded, “I am the owner of the camels and have come to claim them, but the Kaaba belongs to Allah, and He is capable of protecting it.”
Abraha instructed his guards to return the camels, and Abd al-Muttalib took them and left, Meanwhile, Abraha, with his vast army and the giant elephant, prepared to demolish the Kaaba.
From a high hill, Abraha watched his army and the elephant as they moved towards the Kaaba.
The Quraysh stood before the Kaaba, praying to God for its protection, fully confident that Allah would shield it from Abraha’s attack.
As the elephant approached the Kaaba, something unusual occurred, The elephant would turn to the right and left, refusing to move toward the Kaaba, It then sat down, and despite the soldiers' efforts to make it rise—hitting it with hammers—it would not budge.
While the army struggled with the elephant, flocks of birds appeared in the sky above Mecca, Each bird carried three stones the size of lentils—two in its legs and one in its beak.
The birds began to drop these stones on Abraha’s army, and not a single stone missed its target, Each stone struck a soldier, causing them to be destroyed.
In panic, Abraha and his soldiers tried to flee, but the stones continued to rain down, destroying them all.
Abraha himself managed to escape to Yemen, but his body was ravaged by the effects of the stones.
His skin fell off, his limbs were severely damaged, and he arrived in Yemen in a pitiful state, his body deteriorating, and his head resembling that of a decayed corpse.
Thus, Allah protected the Kaaba from Abraha’s evil plans, The story of the "Army of the Elephant" is mentioned in the Holy Quran in Chapter 105, "Al-Fil."
The year 571 AD became known as the "Year of the Elephant," marking the year of the birth of the Messenger of God, the master of creation, Muhammad (peace be upon him).