أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِى تَضْلِيلٍ 2
Translations
Did He not make their plan into misguidance?
Transliteration
Alam yaj'al kaidahum fi tadlil
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah asks rhetorically: 'Did He not make their plot go astray?' referring to the plot of Abrahah and his army to destroy the Ka'bah. According to classical tafsir scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse emphasizes how Allah rendered their military scheme completely ineffective and confused, turning their well-laid plans into utter failure. The ayah underscores Allah's power to nullify the schemes of those who oppose His religion and sacred sites, demonstrating divine protection over the Ka'bah.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Fil was revealed in Mecca and commemorates the historical event of the Year of the Elephant (approximately 570 CE), when Abrahah, the Christian Abyssinian ruler, led an army with an elephant to destroy the Ka'bah. This ayah is part of the narrative describing how Allah miraculously defeated this invasion, which occurred around the time of the Prophet Muhammad's birth. The surah celebrates this divine intervention as a sign of Allah's protection over His House.
Related Hadiths
While no single hadith directly quotes this ayah, the historical event is confirmed in various biographical sources (Sirah). Imam Ahmad and others recorded that the Year of the Elephant marked a significant divine sign. Additionally, Surah Al-Fil itself serves as a Quranic confirmation of this historical event, which demonstrates Allah's power against those who plot against His religion.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that no matter how powerful or well-organized the plans of those who oppose Allah and His religion may appear, Allah will ultimately render them futile and expose their weakness. Believers should find confidence and reassurance that Allah protects His faith and His sacred places, and should trust in His power rather than fear the schemes of enemies.