Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 39293 — Reports on Abu Yaksum and the affair

Sa'id bin Jubayr said: Abu Yaksum, the ruler of Abyssinia, came, and with him were elephants (as well). When he reached the Haram, (his) elephant knelt down and refused to enter the Haram. The narrator said: Whenever Abu Yaksum turned the elephant to go back, the elephant went back at great speed, and whenever it was directed toward the Haram, the elephant refused. Then small white birds were sent against them, carrying in their mouths stones the size of chickpeas; those stones destroyed anyone they fell upon.