“Abu \u2018Abdallah -asws has said...

“Abu \u2018Abdallah -asws has said, \u2018When the fellow from Ethiopia marched with horse and elephants to destroy the Ka\u2018ba.\u00a0 They passed by the camels of \u2018Abd al-Muttalib -asws and herded them together.\u00a0 When \u2018Abd al-Muttalib learned about this he went to the man from Ethiopia and asked permission for a meeting. His man told him that \u2018Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim asks permission for a meeting.

He said, “What does he want?” The translator said, “He has come asking that his camels be released.” The king of Ethiopia said to his people, “This is the leader and the chief of the people here. I have come to destroy his house of worship but he asks me to order the release of his camels. Had he asked me not to destroy the house I would have done so. Release his cameels.” \u2018Abd al-Muttalib asked the translator.

“What did the king say?” When the words of the king were explained to him he -asws said, “ I am the \u2018Rab\u2019 owner of the camels. The house has the Owner Who is to protect it. His -asws camels were release and \u2018Abd al-Muttalib returned home. He -asws passed by the elephant on his way home. He said to the elephant, “O Muhmud. The elephant shook his head.

Then he said, “Do you know why they have brought you here?” The elephant said by shaking his head, “No, I do not know.” \u2018Abd al-Muttalib -asws said, “They have brought you to destroy the house of your Lord -azwj . Will you do so?” The elephant replied by shaking his head said, “I will not do so.” \u2018Abd al-Muttalib -asws returned home. Next morning they tried to force the elephant to enter the Holy precinct to destroy it but the elephant refused.

\u2018Abd al-Muttalib at that time said to some of his servants, “Climb up the hill and see if you observe anything.” He said, “I can see black spots in the direction of the sea. He -asws asked, “Do you see all of it” He said, “Not all of it but almost. When the black spots came closer he said, “They are great many birds.

I can see that every bird has a pebble in his beak of the size thrown with a finger.” \u2018Abd al-Muttalib said, “By Allah, the Lord of \u2018Abd al-Muttalib that the birds aim only those people.” When the birds arrived over their heads they threw the pebble on their heads and every pebble fell on top of their scales and pierced its way down to their bottom end and left them dead. Only one man was left alive who went with the news to the others.