Who are the companions of the elephant mentioned in Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant), what was their treacherous plan and how did it go astray?
2 Answers
The companions of the elephant refer to the army of Abraha, so-called because it included a number of war elephants. He felt slighted by the Quraysh, and planned to exact revenge by destroying the kaaba.
He didn't succeed.
The Madain Project explains the companions or the people of the elephant in the following passage; I have added the link to the article as well.
The Companions of the Elephant (أصحاب الفيل) are a group of people whose story is recounted in the chapter of the Quran named "The Elephant
Companions of the Elephant are referred to in verse (105:1) of chapter (105) sūrat al-fīl (The Elephant): (أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ) Translation: Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?"
Source: https://madainproject.com/companions_of_the_elephant