✿ Compilation: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid حفظه الله
❖ Narration Regarding the Prophet’s ﷺ Birth in the Year of the Elephant
Muṭṭalib narrates from his father, who narrated from his grandfather Qays ibn Maḥzamah:
Qays said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I were both born in the Year of the Elephant.”
Additionally, ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) asked Qiyāth ibn Ashyam, the brother of Banū Yaʿmur:
“Are you older or is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ older?”
He replied:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ is older, but I was born before him. I saw the dung of the elephants of Abraha — it had turned green in color.”
❖ Authentication of the Ḥadīth
This narration is found in:Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: Book of Virtues, Chapter on the Birth of the Prophet ﷺ, Ḥadīth 3619
Its chain of narration is weak.Imām al-Tirmidhī stated:
✦ “This ḥadīth is ḥasan gharīb. We know it only through the narration of Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq.”
Imām al-Tirmidhī has recorded only this one narration in this chapter.
❖ Conclusion
Although this narration supports the commonly accepted view that the Prophet ﷺ was born in the Year of the Elephant, its chain is weak and relies solely on Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq, whose narrations are considered weak unless corroborated. Therefore, while the event aligns with established historical understanding, this specific report cannot be relied upon as definitive evidence.
وَالله أعلم
