Tafseer: Surah Al Feel
Sheikh Azhari and his children explore Surah Al-Fil: the army with the elephant that marched on the Kaaba, and the birds Allah sent. For ages 4 to 12.
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What is Tafseer: Surah Al Feel about?
Tafseer: Surah Al Feel is an Islamic video for children aged 4 to 12 in which Sheikh Azhari and his children explore Surah Al-Fil, the surah of the elephant, and the events of what is called the Year of the Elephant.
It begins with the youngest child's favourite animal: an elephant. Who knows an elephant story in the Qur'an? With a little help, the family tells it. A king wanted to destroy the Kaaba. He came with a huge elephant, as big as a tank, stomping all the way towards it, and the children show how an elephant stomps. In the well-known account, when the elephant came near, it stopped and would not go on.
Then Allah sent birds in flocks, "ababil". The Sheikh explains the word with something every child knows: children in the school playground, lined up in their groups in the morning. Instead of rain, stones came down from the birds, and the army was beaten. Allah made them, the surah says, like eaten-up straw. The Sheikh reminds the children of the seeds they used to feed their budgie, to show how weak and small the mighty army became.
Allah knew all about the plot against the Kaaba, the Sheikh says, because He knows everything. So when Shaytan tells us to take sweets from the cupboard without asking, to skip a prayer, to tell a lie, or not to listen to Mummy and Daddy, we do not do it. And when we need help, we ask Allah: at the start of anything we do, we say Bismillah.
The episode ends with the family reciting the surah together. It lasts about 6 minutes and is music-free.
What your child will learn
- Allah protected the Kaaba from the army of the elephant.
- Allah knows every plan; nothing is hidden from Him.
- No army, however strong, can stand against Allah.
- We do not follow Shaytan when he tells us to do wrong.
- We say Bismillah at the start of what we do and ask Allah for help.
Where this video comes from
- Surah Al-Fil 105:1-5: Allah dealt with the people of the elephant, sent against them birds in flocks, striking them with stones of baked clay, and made them like eaten straw.
Talk about it afterwards
- What did the king want to do to the Kaaba?
- What did Allah send to stop the army?
- What does "ababil" mean?
- What can you say when Shaytan tells you to do something wrong?
Words to know
- Al-Fil
- The elephant.
- Ababil
- Flocks; birds coming in groups.
- Kaaba
- The House of Allah in Makkah, which Muslims face when they pray.
- Shaytan
- Satan, who tries to make people do wrong.
- Bismillah
- In the name of Allah.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Tafseer: Surah Al Feel suitable for?
Children aged 4 to 12. It is a relaxed family conversation; the army is beaten, but nothing is shown that would frighten young children.
Is Tafseer: Surah Al Feel based on the Qur'an?
Yes. It explains Surah Al-Fil, the 105th surah of the Qur'an. Some details, like the elephant stopping, come from the well-known account of the Year of the Elephant in the sira and in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Does Tafseer: Surah Al Feel have music?
No. It is music-free.
How long is Tafseer: Surah Al Feel?
About 6 minutes.
