https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN3lHMhgveQ&list=PLRagz8v-1fF7_AqcNeT2M9iFTWu86TL0m&t=1s
Session 5:
In this fifth lecture, we looked to the commentary of the Surah Al- Fil (The Elephant) the 105th surah of Quran.
The naming of this surah was after the Elephant, which was in front of the army of Abraha (اصحاب الفیل), the Ethiopian ruler of Yemen who intended to destroy the Ka'ba in Mecca, which according to this surah was miraculously protected by God by sending flocks of birds (*tayran ababil*) carrying stones of baked clay. These birds pelted Abraha's army, causing their destruction.
Abraha's story, richly documented through epigraphic evidence, provides crucial insights into the complex religious and political dynamics of the Arabian Peninsula during the pivotal period of the 6th century. Originally from the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum, Abraha emerged from obscurity to command one of the armies sent by the Ethiopian Emperor Kaleb to Yemen around 523-525 CE to avenge the persecution of Christians by Dhu Nuwas, the Jewish ruler of Himyar.
According to Procopius, the Byzantine historian, Abraha later seized control of Yemen from Esimiphaeus, the Christian Himyarite viceroy appointed by Kaleb, with the support of dissident elements in the Ethiopian occupation force eager to settle in the Yemen, then a rich and fertile land. This coup, occurring around 530 CE, marked the beginning of his independent rule that would last for approximately three to four decades.
One of Abraha's most ambitious projects was the construction of a magnificent cathedral in Sana'a, known as al-Qullays or al-Qalis. This massive church was intended to serve as a center of Christian worship in Arabia and demonstrating the power and wealth of his kingdom. The cathedral was reportedly built with incredible opulence, featuring
elaborate decorations with gold and precious stones and magnificent architecture rivaling the great churches of Constantinople.
Around 570CE, Abraha decided to march against Mecca probably for eliminating this rival religious center and consolidating his rule and control on the inner parts of Arabia. But, according to both Islamic and pre-Islamic Arabian sources, Abraha's expedition met with disaster just as it approached Mecca. The failed expedition against Mecca marked the beginning of Abraha's decline. Abraha died around 570 CE, possibly from injuries or illness related to the failed Mecca campaign. His death precipitated a succession crisis. His sons Yaksum and Masruq fought for control.
These internal divisions weakened Ethiopian hold on Yemen and created an opportunity for Persian Sassanid intervention, which, under Khosrow I, supported local rebellions against Ethiopian rule. Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan, a Yemeni noble, sought Persian support to expel the Ethiopians. Persian forces, combined with local allies, gradually expelled Ethiopian garrisons and started to rule Yemen directly till the muslim conquest of Yemen around 630AD.
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
Session 5:
In this fifth lecture, we looked to the commentary of the Surah Al- Fil (The Elephant) the 105th surah of Quran.
The naming of this surah was after the Elephant, which was in front of the army of Abraha (اصحاب الفیل), the Ethiopian ruler of Yemen who intended to destroy the Ka'ba in Mecca, which according to this surah was miraculously protected by God by sending flocks of birds (*tayran ababil*) carrying stones of baked clay. These birds pelted Abraha's army, causing their destruction.
Abraha's story, richly documented through epigraphic evidence, provides crucial insights into the complex religious and political dynamics of the Arabian Peninsula during the pivotal period of the 6th century. Originally from the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum, Abraha emerged from obscurity to command one of the armies sent by the Ethiopian Emperor Kaleb to Yemen around 523-525 CE to avenge the persecution of Christians by Dhu Nuwas, the Jewish ruler of Himyar.
According to Procopius, the Byzantine historian, Abraha later seized control of Yemen from Esimiphaeus, the Christian Himyarite viceroy appointed by Kaleb, with the support of dissident elements in the Ethiopian occupation force eager to settle in the Yemen, then a rich and fertile land. This coup, occurring around 530 CE, marked the beginning of his independent rule that would last for approximately three to four decades.
One of Abraha's most ambitious projects was the construction of a magnificent cathedral in Sana'a, known as al-Qullays or al-Qalis. This massive church was intended to serve as a center of Christian worship in Arabia and demonstrating the power and wealth of his kingdom. The cathedral was reportedly built with incredible opulence, featuring
elaborate decorations with gold and precious stones and magnificent architecture rivaling the great churches of Constantinople.
Around 570CE, Abraha decided to march against Mecca probably for eliminating this rival religious center and consolidating his rule and control on the inner parts of Arabia. But, according to both Islamic and pre-Islamic Arabian sources, Abraha's expedition met with disaster just as it approached Mecca. The failed expedition against Mecca marked the beginning of Abraha's decline. Abraha died around 570 CE, possibly from injuries or illness related to the failed Mecca campaign. His death precipitated a succession crisis. His sons Yaksum and Masruq fought for control.
These internal divisions weakened Ethiopian hold on Yemen and created an opportunity for Persian Sassanid intervention, which, under Khosrow I, supported local rebellions against Ethiopian rule. Sayf ibn Dhi Yazan, a Yemeni noble, sought Persian support to expel the Ethiopians. Persian forces, combined with local allies, gradually expelled Ethiopian garrisons and started to rule Yemen directly till the muslim conquest of Yemen around 630AD.
#Quran_Pre_Islamic_South_Arabia
YouTube
[5] Qur'an and Yemen, Dr. Farhad Ghoddoussi
"Qur'an and Yemen: Looking at the Quranic Verses related to Pre-Islamic South Arabia"
Session 5:
In this fifth lecture, we looked to the commentary of the Surah Al- Fil (The Elephant) the 105th surah of Quran.
The naming of this surah was after the Elephant…
Session 5:
In this fifth lecture, we looked to the commentary of the Surah Al- Fil (The Elephant) the 105th surah of Quran.
The naming of this surah was after the Elephant…
25 Muharram (July 21) commemorating martyrdom of Imam Ali ibn Hussain (al-Sajjad) (p) (95 A.H.)
السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا زَیْنَ الْعابِدِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا زَیْنَ الْمُتَهَجّـِدِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا اِمامَ الْمُتَّقِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا وَلِیَّ الْمُسْلِمِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا قُرَّهَ عَیْنِ النّاظِرِینَ الْعارِفِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا وَصِیَّ الْوَصِیّـِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا خازِنَ وَصایَا الْمُرْسَلِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا ضَوْءَ الْمُسْتَوْحِشِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا نُورَ الْمُجْتَهِدِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا سِراجَ الْمُرْتاضِینَ.
السَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا زَیْنَ الْعابِدِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا زَیْنَ الْمُتَهَجّـِدِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا اِمامَ الْمُتَّقِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا وَلِیَّ الْمُسْلِمِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا قُرَّهَ عَیْنِ النّاظِرِینَ الْعارِفِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا وَصِیَّ الْوَصِیّـِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا خازِنَ وَصایَا الْمُرْسَلِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا ضَوْءَ الْمُسْتَوْحِشِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا نُورَ الْمُجْتَهِدِینَ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیْکَ یا سِراجَ الْمُرْتاضِینَ.