Historical Events that Took Place in the Holy Month of Ramadan
Jamil Ahmed Qasmi
By Jamil Ahmed Qasmi, Markazul Ma’arif Education and Research Centre, Mumbai.
The most important event of the holy month of Ramadan is one of its nights – Shaba Qadar, the night on which the Holy Qur’an was revealed. It is mentioned in several places in the holy Qur’an. According to some sources the historical Meraj of the Prophet (peace be upon him) also took place in this month. Apart from this, the month of Ramadan contains many important and significant events in the history of Islam and Muslims. These are especially in exchange for the sacrifices of the Muslims.
Every day and every month is important to Muslims, but Holy Ramadan is more important to Muslims than any other month. This is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar that has witnessed many signs of Islam and even in the pre-Islamic era multiple divine events related to this month
The historic Badr War
The first battle between Iman and Kufr (believers and disbelievers) took place in a place called Badr near Makka in 624 A.D the 17th of Ramadan of the second Hijri. In this battle thousands of armed soldiers of the Kuffar of Makkah had been miserably defeated by only 313 unarmed Muslims. Muslims were helped by Allah(swt) directly with three to five thousand angels. Through this war a great revolution has been achieved in the history of the world. That’s why in the Holy Qur’an this war has been termed as ‘Yaomul Forkan’ (decisive day). A total number of 60 infidels including Abu Jahl, Utbah and Shaybah were killed in the battle of Badr. Another 70 were captured by the Muslims. On the other hand, 14 Muslim Mujahideen fought valiantly and achieved the glory of martyrdom.
Conquest of Mecca
On the 20th or 21st of Ramadan in the eighth Hijri, the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions conquered Makka. The Kaaba was once the center of pure monotheism. It was rebuilt by Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) for the sole purpose of worshiping Allah. It became the center of shirk as it was occupied by the Mushriks. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) freed this holy place of Tauhid from the impurity of shirk. The Prophet (peace be upon him) entered the Makkah and he did not ask to take any revenge. He announced to forgive his opponents in general saying
1.Those who have locked their doors are safe.
2.Those who stay in Abu Sufyan’s house are also safe.
- Those who take refuge in the Kaaba are also safe.
Removal of the idol at a place called Nakhla
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent a group of army under the leadership of Hazrat Khalid ibn Walid (RA) on the 25th of Ramadan in the 8th Hijri to remove a large idol from a place called Nakhla, which was worshiped by the disbelievers. The name of the idol was Uzza. Hazrat Khalid Ibn Walid (RA) removed the idol with his own hands. Then he said, “Uzza will never be worshiped here again”. (Albidayah wan nihayah: 4/316)
Removal of the idol called Lat in Taif
In the month of Ramadan of 9th Hijri, the Sakif tribe of Taif voluntarily converted to Islam and spontaneously removed the idol of their god, Lat. (Albidayah wan Nihayah: 5/317)
The historic Tabuk War
The Battle of Tabuk took place in the month of Rajab of the 9th Hijri. But some of the events of the Battle of Tabuk took place in the month of Ramadan of the same year. This war was the last attempt of the disbelievers and hypocrites of Arabia against Islam. The main reason for this war of Tabuk was the preparation of a joint force of the unbelievers of Rome and Arabia, one of the imperialist powers of the world at that time against Muslims. When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) returned from Madina after the conquest of Makka and the battle of Hunayeen he received a news from some merchants who had returned from Syria a few days later that, the Roman emperor Heraclius was preparing to invade Madina.
For this purpose they are deploying a large force on the Syrian and Arab borders. Rome was the greatest power in the world at that time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) decided that the Muslims themselves would attack Heraclius without waiting from them to do so. He ordered all the Muslims of Madina to take part in this war. Later the Romans forces run away without fighting from the fear of Muslims.
Battle of al-qudasiyyah
According to source, the battle of al-qudasiyyah took place in the month of Ramadan, 15 A.H. The battle took place between the Muslims under the leadership of Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas (RA) and the Persians under the leadership of Rastum Farrakhzad. However without mentioning the date Ibn Katheer said that, the total number of Muslim soldiers in this battle was 36,000 or some more.
And the army of the disbelievers was 200,000 in numbers. After four days and three nights of fierce fighting the Battle of al-qudasiyyah came to end. Only 36,000 Muslim soldiers defeated 200,000 well-equipped Persian forces. As a result of this war this region became a part of Iraq and all obstacles to the spread of Islam there were removed. After the war, four thousand Persian soldiers converted to Islam. In addition various tribes and groups of priests living in Iraq came to Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) and announced their conversion to Islam.
Conquest of Spain
Muslim forces led by Tariq bin Ziad (Sipahsalar) were the first to defeat Roderick’s army in 27th Ramadan 92 A.H, and conquer the Spain.
War against the Crusaders
Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi (Rah) started his last war against the Crusaders on 10th Ramadan 1393.
Victory in the battle of Goliath (jalut)
Under the law of 15th Ramadan Friday of 658 A.H. the Muslim forces defeated the Tatarees forces and liberated the Muslim countries from their clutches.
The war to defend Palestine against the Jews
The last battle to cleanse Palestine from the trap of the Jews was hold on 10th of Ramadan 1393 A.H. Besides this many other important events have taken place in this month of Ramadan.
The eminent historian Allama Ibn Kathir (1301-1373) wrote in his immortal book Al Bidaya wan Nihayat that, the famous four heavenly books were revealed during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Holy Torah (Taurat) had been revealed to Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) in the month of Ramadan. Four hundred and eighty two years later, the Holy Book of Psalms (zabur) was revealed to Hazrat Daud (peace be upon him) In the month of Ramadan. Allah Almighty had revealed the Holy Bible (Injil) to His beloved servant and Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) also In the month of Ramadan. And the last divine book the holy Qur’an has also begun to be revealed to the last Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) in this month of Ramadan.