لِنُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِّن طِينٍ 33
Translations
To send down upon them stones of clay,
Transliteration
Linursila alayihim hijaratan min tin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's punishment upon the People of the Elephant (Ashab al-Fil) who attempted to destroy the Ka'bah. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'stones of baked clay' (hijaratan min tin) refer to hardened clay stones sent by Allah through birds (as mentioned in Surah Al-Fil 105:4), which destroyed Abraha and his army. This demonstrates Allah's protection of His Sacred House and His power to defend His religion through seemingly insignificant means.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Adh-Dhariyat, which was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period. It references the historical event of the Year of the Elephant (Aam al-Fil), approximately 50-60 years before the Prophet Muhammad's birth, when Abraha al-Ashram's army marched toward Mecca to destroy the Ka'bah but was miraculously defeated. This event is also detailed in Surah Al-Fil (Chapter 105).
Related Hadiths
The event is corroborated in multiple hadith collections describing the Year of the Elephant. Imam At-Tirmidhi and others record that the Prophet Muhammad was born in the Year of the Elephant, and various historical narrations detail how Allah sent birds carrying stones of baked clay that killed Abraha's soldiers.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah actively protects His religion and sacred places, and that material power and military might are insignificant against the Will of the Almighty. Modern readers should derive confidence that sincere faith and reliance upon Allah provide greater security than worldly strength or numbers.