๏ Have you seen how your lord dealt with the companions of the immoral judgement – al-fīl? (1) Does He not make their plan go astray – taḍlīl? (2) We sent against them swift flocks, (3) striking them with stones from clay. (4) Thus we had them violently consumed. (5) ๏

— _al-fīl_⋆105/1-5

The only other place the phrase “stones from clay” – ḥijāratin min sijjīl – is found in the story of lūṭ (_hūd_⋆11/82 and _al-ḥij’r_⋆15/74). His people were also destroyed with stones from clay.

This chapter is a reference to those people, or people who behaved like them. The theme continues where the previous chapter left off, which mentions fire enclosing the feelings of those who earned God's displeasure. The evil judgements, al-fīl, comes from corrupted hearts and a desire for wealth.

The violent imagery at the end is an indication that they can't be reasoned with; they must be overcome by force.

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