Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant) recounts the historic event of the year of the Prophet's birth, when Abrahah, the Christian governor of Yemen, marched toward Makkah with an army of elephants to destroy the Kaaba. It details how God sent swarms of birds throwing stones of baked clay, reducing the tyrant's army to chewed-up straw.
Transliteration
Alam tara kayfa faAAala rabbuka biashabi alfeeli
Translation
Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the People of the Elephant
Memorializes the 'Year of the Elephant' (570 CE, the birth year of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ): Abraha al-Ashram, the viceroy of Yemen, marched on Mecca with an army and war elephants to demolish the Ka'bah. The Prophet's grandfather Abdul-Muttalib placed his trust in God to defend the Sanctuary.
Transliteration
Alam yajAAal kaydahum fee tadleelin
Translation
Did He not make their plan go wrong
Recalls how Abraha's sophisticated military expedition with war elephants to demolish the Ka'bah was completely confounded and neutralized.
Transliteration
Waarsala AAalayhim tayran ababeela
Translation
He sent against them swarms of birds
God dispatched flocks of celestial birds ('Tayran Ababil') carrying pellets of baked clay, raining them upon the invading army.
Transliteration
Tarmeehim bihijaratin min sijjeelin
Translation
Throwing at them rocks of baked clay
Describes flocks of birds ('Ababil') raining down baked clay stones ('Sijjil') upon the invading army, penetrating armor and decimating the troops.
Transliteration
FajaAAalahum kaAAasfin makoolin
Translation
Leaving them like chewed-up leaves
The invading army was completely devastated, left looking like chewed, pulverized agricultural chaff ('Ka-'asfim ma'kul').