The “you” addressed every individual of the Makkan audience and invited him or her to reflect on the incident. At that crucial time they prayed only to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala because they knew that no one else could be of any avail. They also knew that it was only Allaah who destroyed the invaders. When that is the reality then why not believe in and worship only Him, as the Prophet Ŝall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was inviting them to do?

The plan was treacherous or deceitful because its pretext was invalid and misleading. Even if Abrahah’s claim is accepted to be valid that an Arab had desecrated his church, it did not in any way justify an attack on Makkah or the demolition of the Holy Ka‘bah. Abrahah was using a false pretext to attain his economic and religious goals. His real aim was to subdue Arabs and coerce them to accept Christianity and to take control of the profitable international trade that Arabs were doing.

It is amazing to see parallels of Abrahah’s invasion with what is happening in today’s world. False pretexts have been used to wrongfully and illegally attack and destroy Muslim countries in order to subdue Muslims with a Crusader’s zeal and to take control of oil reserves and oil trade. It shows how wars are usually started and it demonstrates that human psychology and tactics remain always the same. The only change that takes place over time through the advancement of knowledge is in the physical tools and technology.

Those who reflect on it carefully will be able to see all the roles played by different people at the time of this incident and the current so-called war on terror. The only variation is in terms of the results. Had Muslims repented and turned sincerely to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala, as ‘Abdul Muŧŧalib and his fellow chiefs did, the results could also have been similar. Allaah’s Sunnah – His way of dealing with people – never changes. He is always consistent.