Ramadhan 2016 – Day 30 (Al-Fiil)

Day 30: Al-Fiil

This is very short chapter located almost at the end of Quran. I believe that it is the final explanation of the people of luth and what happened to them. The reason I believe this is the exact same punishment (being pelted by ‘stone from sijjil’) is given to the people of the elephant in this chapter and to the people of luth (11/82 and 15/74) and it is a Quranic principle of equivalency to be given the same punishment for the same crime.

Why are they called ‘ashaab al-feel’ (people of the elephant)? The elephant is something unstoppable and unrelenting. The people of luth are similarly powerful as he confesses his powerlessness against them. They favour the independent (elites) and choose to fertilise the nation as they so choose. Consequently, they demand rights from everyone. It is a privileged mentality.

The solution against them are the ‘thayran abaabil’, people who have mastered their destinies and are highly skilful. This may be the equivalent of what the messengers brought to luth and were his building blocks (banat).