Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair narrates that the ruler of Abyssinia, Abu Yaksum, came and with him were elephants (as well). When he reached the Haram, his elephant sat down and refused to enter the Haram. The narrator says that when Abu Yaksum directed the elephant to return, the elephant would run back swiftly, but when he intended to go towards the Haram, the elephant refused. Then, small white birds were sent upon them, each of which had stones the size of chickpeas in their beaks. Whomever those stones fell upon, he would be destroyed.

Hazrat Ikrimah narrates that these birds cast a shadow over the people from the sky. Then, when Allah Almighty made them like eaten straw, Allah Almighty sent a flood. That flood swept them away until it carried them into the sea.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said in the explanation of { طَیْرًا أَبَابِیلَ }: Their noses were like the noses of birds and their palms were like the palms of dogs.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair that these were black-colored birds who were carrying stones in their beaks and claws.

Hazrat Abu Huraira narrates that when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, mounted his ride, he said: Indeed, Allah Almighty protected Makkah from the people of the elephants, and He granted His Messenger and the believers authority over this Makkah.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ubaid bin Umair that when Allah Almighty intended to destroy the People of the Elephant, He sent upon them those birds which were brought out from the sea and they resembled swallows. Each of those birds was carrying three stones of white and black color. Two stones were in its feet and one stone was in its beak. The narrator says: Then those birds came until they formed rows over the heads of the People of the Elephant. Then they made a sound and threw the stones which were in their claws and beaks. No stone would fall on a man's head except that it would exit from his rear. And it would not strike any part of a man's body except that it would come out from the other side. The narrator says: Then Allah Almighty sent a strong wind which (also) struck with stones, so the intensity of the stones increased. The narrator says: Thus, all those people were destroyed.