Lets understand the second part of history – Spiritual History
Seamless link between Surah Fil and Surah Quraysh through the eyes of Sahaba:
Ibn Masud (radi allahu anhu) and Ubay Ibn Kaab (radi allahu anhu) when they recited this Surah they combined it with the next Surah (Surah Quraysh) without reciting Basmala in between. Because of this, some Sahaba thought this is all one surah. It is not to say that they are not separate surahs but it can actually be thought of as a teaching tool to look at both these surahs together to understand. If they are looked at separately then we’ll miss the point.
Dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam) when building the Ka’bah
Thousands of years before this was happening, Makkah was not a place to stay – it had no markets, no water, and it was a valley that had no cultivation. There was only death all around. One man, Ibrahim (alaihissalam), who was alone there, made a dua while he was building the house of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) with his son Ismail (alaihissalam). His dua was to make that place a peaceful land and provide its citizens all kinds of fruits. It seemed like an impossible dua.
Dua answered after a thousand years!
After thousands of years, when Makkah became the economic capital (as mentioned in the Geopolitical and economic history), it was the only safe place on earth. Also, with all the caravans that were going through this economic route, all kinds of fruits (from India and China as well as Europe and Africa), were coming into Makkah. That dua, from thousands of years ago, that nobody heard except Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) was now answered.
Also, in the same sequence of dua, Ibrahim (alaihissalam) asked Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) to send a messenger among them.
Safety and Prosperity in Makkah continued after Abrahah
The way Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) destroyed the army of the elephant created a ripple effect. Not only did it affect Abrahah, but it also affected the larger Abyssinian empire. After Abrahah died and his army failed in 570 AD, according to some non-Muslim sources, the Abyssinians and the Roman extension got weakened and were taken over by Persians who were the major clashing power with the Romans. This was around 572 AD. The Persians had nothing to avenge against the Arabs. So the Arabs were not only safe but also the expansion of the Persian empire inturn affected how the trade was going to work.
Thus Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) answered the dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam) in sequence. First peace and prosperity were restored and then the second part of his dua was answered. Some scholars argue that it was the same year (popularly known as the year of the elephant) in which Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was born. 40 years later Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was going to be the Messenger of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), fulfilling the dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam).
Tracing dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam) through the sequence of Surahs
Surah Al-Fil and Surah Quraysh
This surah was about how Ka’bah was protected from the elephant army – meaning Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) made the city safe. The next surah is about how they get to travel during winter and summer and take their trade caravans. When they travel with their trade caravans they acquire fruits i.e. prosperity. Hence, this surah is about safety and the next surah is about prosperity and together they become the answer to the first part of the dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam).
The next part of the dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam) was about sending a messenger. Ibrahim (alaihissalam) made this dua, while he was building the foundations of the Ka’bah. He wanted safety and prosperity for the people because they would take care of Ka’bah and that should be the reason for them to have peace. He didn’t want these people to worry about money or other worldly things. He only wanted their concern to be Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and the house of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).
This dua is a genius one. Every human being in any part of the world is always worried about safety and prosperity – his future, where he is going to live, his job etc.. Even at the society level, if there’s prosperity (great economy, lots of jobs) but no safety, this would cause crime and corruption in the society. On the other hand if there’s only safety but no prosperity (no jobs, no economy) this will lead to crime too eventually.
Surah Ma’un
The next surah, surah Ma’un is about criticizing the Quraysh. The Quraysh considered the religion a lie, pushed the orphan around, didn’t encourage the people to feed the poor and their prayers were only to show off. Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) gave them peace and prosperity but they were not worthy of it.
Surah Al-Kawthar
In surah Fil, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) promised them safety, In surah Quraysh, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) granted them prosperity, but they were not worthy of it as proven in surah Ma’un. So, now the second part of dua of Ibrahim (alaihissalam), to send a messenger is answered in surah Al-Kawthar. In this surah, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) tells Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that he has given him Al-Kawthar. In this surah, Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) asks Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) to pray to his master and sacrifice which corresponds with the entire legacy of Ibrahim (alaihissalam). The entire legacy of Ibrahim (alaihissalam) revolves around 2 things – prayer and sacrifice. Also, the son building the house of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) with Ibrahim (alaihissalam) is Ismail (alaihissalam), the son that was asked to be sacrificed.
This is the spiritual history of these surahs (Al-Fil, Quraysh, Ma’un, Al-Kawthar).