The word · History
عَامُ الفِيل
Am al-Fil
The year an army with an elephant marched on the Ka'bah and was destroyed, around 570.
Also written · Aam al-Fil · Year of the Elephant · Am ul Fil · Amul Feel · Aam ul Feel · Abraha · Abrahah · Ashab al-Fil · Year of Elephant · Fil year · Am al Feel
The meaning
What Am al-Fil means in Islam
Abrahah, ruling Yemen, came to pull the Ka'bah down so pilgrims would come to his own church instead. Surah al-Fil describes birds pelting the army with stones of baked clay until they were left like chewed straw. The Prophet was born in that year or close to it, and Arabs dated events from it for a generation afterwards. Abd al-Muttalib's answer to Abrahah is famous: the House has a Lord who will protect it.
Evidence · Qur’an · Stated directly in the Qur’an
Read beside it
Rooms that name it
Words that sit beside it
- Ka'bahThe stone cube at the centre of Makkah that Muslims face in every prayer.الكَعْبَة
- MakkahThe valley city holding the Ka'bah, where the Prophet was born and revelation began.مَكَّة
- SirahThe life story of the Prophet Muhammad, told in order, from birth to death.السِّيرَة
- JahiliyyahThe age of ignorance in Arabia before Islam, and any conduct that still belongs to it.الجَاهِلِيَّة
More from History
- Abu BakrThe Prophet's closest friend, his companion in the cave, and the first caliph.أَبُو بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيق
- Battle of Mu'tahThe first clash with Byzantine forces, in year eight, where three appointed commanders fell in turn.مُؤْتَة
- Hijr Isma'ilThe low semicircular wall beside the Ka'bah, enclosing ground that is part of the original house.حِجْرُ إِسْمَاعِيل
- Imam ash-Shafi'iThe imam who wrote the first book on how law is derived, bridging Madinah and Iraq.مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ الشَّافِعِيّ
- Khulafa RashidunThe four caliphs after the Prophet: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali.الخُلَفَاءُ الرَّاشِدُون
- SahabahThe Companions: anyone who met the Prophet as a believer and died still believing.الصَّحَابَة