What does Quran 105:3 mean?

Quran 105:3 (Surah Al-Fil, Ayah 3) translates to: "And He sent against them birds in flocks,"

Which Surah and Juz is Quran 105:3 from?

This ayah is from Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant), the 105th surah of the Quran. It appears in Juz 30.

Are there hadiths related to Quran 105:3?

Yes — there are 4 hadiths related to this ayah from Sunan an-Nasa'i, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Ibn Majah.

What tafsir is available for Quran 105:3?

Commentary on this ayah is available from Ibn Kathir, Al-Jalalayn, Ibn Abbas — classical scholars of Quranic exegesis.

What topics does Quran 105:3 relate to?

This ayah connects to these Quranic topics: Divine Punishment, Divine Power, Divine Intervention, Arrogance, Miracles.

Ayah 2

أَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ كَيْدَهُمْ فِى تَضْلِيلٍۢ...

105:3Al-Fil

Ayah 4

تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍۢ مِّن سِجِّيلٍۢ...

وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ

Wa arsala 'alaihim tairan abaabeel

And He sent against them birds in flocks,

Themes in this ayah

Explore in Habl →

Lessons from past peoples82

Scores run 0–100: how strongly this ayah speaks to a theme. 70+ is central, 50+ is clear, under 50 is weak.

1 other theme with a weak connection

Labeled by AI and people · How this works

Follow this theme through Al-FilFollow this theme

Lessons from past peoples

105:3Ayah 15

3 ayahs in Al-Fil are strongly about lessons from past peoples. This is one of them.

← Previous on Lessons from past peoples105:2Did He not make their plan into misguidance?

Tafsir

Scholars offer complementary perspectives

View Full Tafsir: Al-Jalalayn on 105:3→

and unleashed upon them swarms of birds birds in droves one following the next it is said there is no singular form for it abābīl like asātīr; but some say that the singular is abūl or ibāl or ibbīl similar in constructed pattern to ‘ajūl miftāh and sikkīn

crows, kites, mice and vicious dogs."

Sahih Muslim #6870Ibn Umar reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) saying like this but with this change of words:Sahih

" She sometimes finds a way in one flock and then in another flock."

Sunan Ibn Majah #2985It was narrated from ‘Aishah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:Hasan

“Snakes are vermin, scorpions are vermin, mice are vermin and crows are vermin.”

Sunan Abu Dawud #3909Narrated Muhammed b. Ja'far:Sahih

On the authority of 'Awf: 'Iyafah means to makes the birds fly by threatening them. Tarq means lines drawn on the earth.