What does « Elephant » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Elephant (فيل) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

فيل

Elephant

Root: ف - ل

Quranic language 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Elephant

Al-Fīl is the known animal.

The Almighty says: 'Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant' (Al-Fil 1).

This refers to the army of Abraha that wanted to destroy the Ka'ba.

Fayyal ar-ra'y means to be weak in opinion.

Elephant in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0

Surah Al-Fil : 1 Meccan

﴿أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْفِيلِ﴾

Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?

Words from the same root as Elephant

أفل

To set (celestial body)

ألف

Thousand / Familiarity

Ancestors / Predecessors

طفل

Child / Young

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم