Abraha's Elephants

Abraha's Elephants

S. Qasim Hasany

 

Five hundred and seventy one years later,

After the events that made his death a doubtful matter,

When God had lifted Jesus alive on high skies

And one like him was crucified.

 

About ten miles away from Meccan valley

Near the plains of Arafat, in a tent of army,

A tall and taut Arab faced Abraha, the African,

The commander of invading army from Yemen.

 

The Arab was the chief of Quraish, the proficient,

The trustee tribe of Kaaba, the shrine ancient.

Built by Prophet Abraham and Ishmael his son,

And was dedicated to the Almighty God, the one.

 

Abraha with his soldiers fifty thousand or more,

With thirteen fighter elephants, black and hoar,

Had intention, the House of God to demolish,

But there was none to check him and admonish.

 

So the Arab met the head of invading army,

And asked for the release of his camels, qouth he,

"Please order to release my camels

Which your men have herded with other cattles!"

 

"O Meccan chief! thou merely asketh for thy property,

Forgetting the Kaaba, of which thou art the trustee.

I have invaded your land to demolish the same,

And by doing so I will earn name and fame."

 

"Well! Thy camels are released, but mind this,

Within a day or two thy trust will be razed to ground."

"Thanks commander! But you also mind, whose Kaaba is,

Knows well what to save and what to raze to ground!"

 

With camels the chief returned to the ancient city,

And asked the Meccans to vacate the city.

That was the last day of Feb. or first of March

When the invading army started to march.

The fugitive Meccans saw from the surrounding hill,

A swarm of birds pelted invaders, poisonous pebbles to kill,

Within hours the entire army turned into chewen chaff

And thus the Meccans and the House of God was safe.

 

Fifty days later, a great event occurred in early morn,

That was April twenty, and a pleasant Monday morn.

Abdul Muttalib, the Arab chief, beaming with joy and bold,

Circling the House of God with a new born in his hold.

 

That was the heaviest trust God ever handed to human hands,

As that infant had to be the blessing for all and all the lands.

That was the chief's bright eyed and smiling grandson

Who had to be the last Prophet of God, the One.