Men of the Elephant

Negus, the king of Abyssina decided to propagate Christianity in different ways and revive it again as it was before. When he found people rushing to Mecca from different parts of the world, he started to think of a way to distract the people's attention from Kaaba and Mecca and attract them to his own country. Therefore, he established a magnificent church in Sanaa that was built with great care and art and decorated with the best ornaments. Despite his prediction, he found that not only the people of Mecca but also the inhabitants of Yemen and Abyssina were still firm in their ideas so he again went back to Mecca to do the pilgrimage rituals. Thus Negus called his army commander, Abraha to his presence and told him to equip the army with all kinds of military facilities and take it to The Israelites foolish requestMecca. Abraha did so and set out for Mecca with his enormous army. They stopped in a place close to Mecca to rest for a while and get ready to attack. Abraha after commanding the army to put up the tents there went to his own pavilion and sat on his bed to rest. It was at this time that a soldier came in and said:

Soldier: " Abdol-Motaleb has come here to attend to your presence and talk with you."

Abraha said: " Let him in. "

The soldier went out and showed him into the commander's tent. When he entered the tent, Abraha said:

Abraha:" Welcome you Abdol-Motaleb. Take a seat. "

While sitting, he replied:

Abdol-Motalleb: " It seems you're heading for Mecca."

Abraha: " It's true. Now tell us why you've come here and what do you went? "

A.M.:" Your soldiers have taken my camels and I've come here to ask you to return them back to me. "

Abraha: " How strange! I've come to destroy Kaaba and you're still thinking of your camel. "

Abdol-Motalleb replied

A.M.: " I am the owner of these camels and shall take care of them. The house of Kaaba also has an owner who shall protect it from any harm or damage. "

Abraha surprisingly called one of his soldiers and ordered:

Abraha: " Return his camels to him and make the army ready. We shall now move to Mecca. "

The army started out to the city to destroy Kaaba. They hadn't still entered Mecca when they saw a great swarm of small birds called Ababil, which were each carrying stones of baked clay. The birds, getting over Abraha's army, started to throw their stones on the soldiers' heads and killed them one after another. This way Abraha's army was destroyed and the owner of the house of Kaaba took best care of it.