لخّصلي

I have a big long trunk.I heard the soldiers cry out: "look at the huge flights of birds, dropping stones of baked clay!" The stones were mere pebbles, perhaps no larger than beans or grains of wheat or corn, but if one fell on the biggest elephant in our

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army, the animal simply fell senseless to the ground! If one hit the biggest camel, the animal feel too on the sand; if on the sturdiest man, his death was certain! For an eminent elephant like me, who has been through a great deal, the scene was astounding--exceedingly terrifying! I trembled in trepidation, as I have never seen anything like it before, and, almost involuntarily, fell down on my knees in awe as a strange beam of celestial light shone brilliantly, extending from the heavens to the earth, but centering around Mecca. In the distance I saw Abdul-Muttalib, chief of the Quraysh tribe, rejoicing in the joy of Meccans who flocked to congratulate him, now that Abraha's army was decimated, and was unable to conquer Mecca or abolish the Ka'ba! Abdul-Mutalib was at the time recounting a vision he had in his sleep the previous night. He had seen something that looked like a chain of silver come out of his loins, with one end in the earth, the other in the sky! The silver chain soon turned into a tree, with one leaf radiating a light to which all people clung! Expert dream-interpreters said that Abdul-Muttalib's son, Abdullah, would have a son to whom all people, east and west, would cling! The listener rejoiced, congratulated him and said: "What would you like to call him?"Intent on getting to Mecca as soon as possible, we received a report of an incident involving Abdul-Muttalib, Mecca's potentate, whose implications made us all pause and ponder; indeed, we were quite shaken to hear it. It said that, learning of the advance by Abraha's army on the Ka'ba, he was not in the least afraid, but simply said: "The House has a Lord, who protects it."You see, he had ordered that a

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huge temple be built so as to surpass the old temple in Mecca, visited by all people from the four corners of the earth.I listened intently and learned that it was built by Prophet Abraham, that his son Ismail took part in the work, that Abraham was well known for a few miracles, as his people had thrown him into a pit of fire but he emerged perfectly unscathed.I also learnt that at the Ka'ba was a noble shrine, located in God's Holy Mosque, called the 'Inviolate House of God.'Everybody in the army looked admiringly at me; some

For the Love of Abdel-Tawab Youssef

cried: "March on, Abraha's elephant! There's no elephant like you, ever!"Inside the new temple, a shrine of gold was built to which people, he hoped, would make pilgrimage rather than to the shrine in Mecca--the Ka'ba.Thus I helped my people, the Abyssinians, in their conquest of Yemen.Leader Abraha bestowed on me the honour of making me his private elephant.However, people never came to Abraha's shrine, but continued to visit Mecca.Abraha mustered a huge army for his campaign against Mecca and the Meccans.I heard of the shrine's doves, which are equally inviolate.The road lay ahead quite open, and Mecca stood no chance and the Ka'ba was as good as smashed to smithereens!The weighty words of Abdul-Muttalib made me afraid--me, the awesome elephant who strikes fear in everybody's heart!They obviously wouldn't allow me to turn back until I have rid them of the burden of Mecca, the Ka'ba, and, perhaps, the Meccans too!I had been a wild elephant until captured by the hunters there.Abraha was, understandably, alarmed; and so were the soldiers.

I have a big long trunk. But I do not live in a jungle or in the zoo. In fact, I lived in times long gone. I enjoyed a vast reputation, and had a strange tale which I would like you to hear.
The tale begins in Abyssinia, which is modern Ethiopia. I had been a wild elephant until captured by the hunters there. Being huge and strong, I was enlisted to serve in the army. And with the army, I left for Yemen.
People feared me, and trembled to hear of my advance. The fact is I spelt destruction wherever I went. If I stepped on anything, I simply crushed it! Thus I helped my people, the Abyssinians, in their conquest of Yemen.
Leader Abraha bestowed on me the honour of making me his private elephant. He refused to let me share in transporting stories and timber to the new temple being built. You see, he had ordered that a

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huge temple be built so as to surpass the old temple in Mecca, visited by all people from the four corners of the earth. Inside the new temple, a shrine of gold was built to which people, he hoped, would make pilgrimage rather than to the shrine in Mecca—the Ka’ba. However, people never came to Abraha’s shrine, but continued to visit Mecca.
Abraha was livid with rage. He decided to pull down the Mecca shrine, so that only one would be available—the shrine he built of gold.
Abraha mustered a huge army for his campaign against Mecca and the Meccans. Naturally, I marched at the forefront of that army, carrying the army commander, Abraha. He wanted me to take him to the Ka’ba, in Mecca, to lean against it with my huge body until flattened out. Indeed, I had done that many times with the houses of Abraha’s enemies.
Though hardly happy with the task, I had no choice and still marched along. About me members of the army spoke of Mecca and the Meccans, of the Ka’ba and its history. I listened intently and learned that it was built by Prophet Abraham, that his son Ismail took part in the work, that Abraham was well known for a few miracles, as his people had thrown him into a pit of fire but he emerged perfectly unscathed.
I also learnt that at the Ka’ba was a noble shrine, located in God’s Holy Mosque, called the ‘Inviolate House of God.’ It is indeed inviolable, where everybody is safe inside. I heard of the shrine’s doves, which are equally inviolate. It is a quiet, safe, and sacred place—beloved by all, where people pray and take refuge.
From the soldiers I learnt that the Meccans were afraid to hear of my advance on them, having heard of my strength, and my ability to crush anything standing in my way.
Mecca was barely one-night’s journey away. There was no army to stop our march or delay our advance! The road lay ahead quite open, and Mecca stood no chance and the Ka’ba was as good as smashed to smithereens! Everybody in the army looked admiringly at me; some

For the Love of Abdel-Tawab Youssef

cried: “March on, Abraha’s elephant! There’s no elephant like you, ever!”
Intent on getting to Mecca as soon as possible, we received a report of an incident involving Abdul-Muttalib, Mecca’s potentate, whose implications made us all pause and ponder; indeed, we were quite shaken to hear it. It said that, learning of the advance by Abraha’s army on the Ka’ba, he was not in the least afraid, but simply said:
“The House has a Lord, who protects it.”
The weighty words of Abdul-Muttalib made me afraid—me, the awesome elephant who strikes fear in everybody’s heart! I could raze to the ground the houses of any city I pass through, but was now afraid. I suddenly felt weary, too weary to march on. Nor was I alone in this—all felt it, all the elephants, horses, camels and even soldiers. The march ground to a halt!
I stood stock still, inexplicably. I could not move at all, as simple as that! It was as though I had my feet glued to the ground, unable to take a single step on the road to Mecca!
Abraha was, understandably, alarmed; and so were the soldiers. Turned backward, I was able to move; to the right, to the left—all was easy! But returned to the direction of Mecca, I was yet again frozen! They hit me, pulled me, pushed me, scalded me with a firebrand—I still stood as though benumbed, feeling no pain! I won’t go to Mecca! I won’t demolish the Ka’ba, no matter what you do to me! They obviously wouldn’t allow me to turn back until I have rid them of the burden of Mecca, the Ka’ba, and, perhaps, the Meccans too!
Suddenly, a miraculous thing took place. I looked up at the sky to find birds gathering in such numbers as to occlude the light of day! It was soon quite dark, and I was left in amazement: was I asleep, having a bad dream, or fully awake, witnessing a day-time occurrence?
I heard the soldiers cry out: “look at the huge flights of birds, dropping stones of baked clay!”
The stones were mere pebbles, perhaps no larger than beans or grains of wheat or corn, but if one fell on the biggest elephant in our

Al Rowad

army, the animal simply fell senseless to the ground! If one hit the biggest camel, the animal feel too on the sand; if on the sturdiest man, his death was certain! For an eminent elephant like me, who has been through a great deal, the scene was astounding—exceedingly terrifying! I trembled in trepidation, as I have never seen anything like it before, and, almost involuntarily, fell down on my knees in awe as a strange beam of celestial light shone brilliantly, extending from the heavens to the earth, but centering around Mecca. In the distance I saw Abdul-Muttalib, chief of the Quraysh tribe, rejoicing in the joy of Meccans who flocked to congratulate him, now that Abraha’s army was decimated, and was unable to conquer Mecca or abolish the Ka’ba!
Abdul-Mutalib was at the time recounting a vision he had in his sleep the previous night. He had seen something that looked like a chain of silver come out of his loins, with one end in the earth, the other in the sky! The silver chain soon turned into a tree, with one leaf radiating a light to which all people clung!
Expert dream-interpreters said that Abdul-Muttalib’s son, Abdullah, would have a son to whom all people, east and west, would cling! The listener rejoiced, congratulated him and said: “What would you like to call him?”
“I shall call him,” he said, “Muhammad! It means ‘the praised one’, and, perhaps, he will be praised by all those on earth and in the heaven!”
With the glad tidings of Muhammad’s birth came my end; the end of the far-famed elephant, and the end of Abraha and his huge army. Mecca, of course, has survived; and so has the Ka’ba, for ever and ever. It will remain, immortal and immune. It is the direction of the Ka’ba that Muslims turn their faces five times a day in prayer. They all worship God who has sent the Prophet of Guidance, may God’s Peace and Blessings be upon him:
Seest thou not How thy Lord dealt