The Year of the Elephant
Abraha’s march on the Ka‘bah, the elephant that would not advance, the birds and the stones of baked clay — and, in the same year, the birth of the Prophet ﷺ in Makkah.
Updated 6 November 2026
26 pagesGuide
A4 & US Letterprint at home
50 minutestime it takesAbraha’s march on the Ka‘bah, the elephant that would not advance, the birds and the stones of baked clay — and, in the same year, the birth of the Prophet ﷺ in Makkah.
This is Part 3 of the Seerah Series, a detailed history of the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in thirty parts, written for adults as a plain history book in 16 chapters.
A reference follows each statement: the Qur'an by surah and ayah, hadith by collection and number, and the early biographies by name. Reports from the Sirah books are identified as such.
How to use it well
- 1Makkah and Its World
The Arabian Peninsula in the second half of the sixth century of the Common Era lay between two great powers.
- 2Abyssinian Rule in Yemen
Part 1 described how the Himyarite kingdom of Yemen came to an end.
- 3Al-Qullays, the Church of San‘a
Having secured his position, Abraha built a great church in San'a, the chief city of the Yemeni highlands.
- 4The Man of Kinanah
Ibn Ishaq reports that when the news of Abraha's letter spread, a man of Kinanah, one of the nasa'ah, was angered by it.
- 5The March North
The road from San'a to Makkah ran north through the highlands of Yemen and then through the mountain country of the tribes of 'Asir and the Hijaz.
- 6Ta’if and Abu Righal
The army passed on until it came near Ta'if, the town of the tribe of Thaqif in the cool highlands south-east of Makkah.
- 7The Raid on the Herds
From al-Mughammas Abraha sent an advance party towards Makkah.
- 8‘Abd al-Muttalib Before Abraha
When 'Abd al-Muttalib reached the camp he asked for Dhu Nafar, the Yemeni nobleman held prisoner there, who had been his friend.
- 9The Night at the Door of the Ka‘bah
'Abd al-Muttalib returned to Quraysh and told them what had passed.
- 10The Elephant Kneels
In the morning Abraha made ready to enter Makkah.
- 11Surah al-Fil and Its Commentators
The event is the subject of the one hundred and fifth surah of the Qur'an, Surah al-Fil, revealed in Makkah.
- 12After the Elephant
The defeat of Abraha changed the standing of Quraysh among the Arabs.
- 13The Birth: Year, Day and Month
In that same year, in the house of Aminah bint Wahb in Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ was born.
- 14Aminah and the Light
The Prophet ﷺ was born an orphan: his father 'Abdullah had died before his birth, as told in Part 2.
- 15The Name Muhammad
Ibn Ishaq reports that when Aminah had given birth she sent word to his grandfather 'Abd al-Muttalib: "A boy has been born to you; come and see…
- 16Thuwaybah and Umm Ayman
In the first days of his life the Prophet ﷺ was nursed by his mother Aminah.
What this part covers
- Makkah and Its World.
- Abyssinian Rule in Yemen.
- Al-Qullays, the Church of San‘a.
- The Man of Kinanah.
- The March North.
- Ta’if and Abu Righal.
- The Raid on the Herds.
- ‘Abd al-Muttalib Before Abraha.
- The Night at the Door of the Ka‘bah.
- The Elephant Kneels.
- Surah al-Fil and Its Commentators.
- After the Elephant.
- The Birth: Year, Day and Month.
- Aminah and the Light.
- The Name Muhammad.
- Thuwaybah and Umm Ayman.
Seerah Series
Part 3 of 30. Follow the path to the other parts.
How to use it
The text runs to about 26 pages in 16 short chapters. It can be read in one or two sittings, or one chapter a day. Read the earlier parts first. A new part of the Seerah Series is released every Friday.
Learn the Qur'an live with a teacher
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Year of the Elephant?
The year in which Abraha, the Abyssinian ruler of Yemen, marched on Makkah with an army and an elephant to destroy the Ka'bah, and was destroyed. Allah describes it in Surah al-Fil (Qur'an 105).
When was the Prophet ﷺ born?
In the Year of the Elephant, around 570–571 CE, on a Monday (Sahih Muslim 1162) in the month of Rabi' al-Awwal. Scholars differ over the exact date of the month.
Is it free to print?
Yes. Download the A4 or US Letter PDF and print or share it freely.
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