The fifth day of Ramadan has witnessed significant historical moments that shaped the Islamic world, including the conquest of Andalusia, the birth of Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil (known as the “Falcon of Quraysh”), and the entry of the Ottoman army into Tabriz during World War I. Below is an overview of these key events:
The Conquest of Andalusia – 711 CE
On the fifth day of Ramadan in 92 AH, Musa ibn Nusayr, the Muslim commander in North Africa, led a force of 18,000 men across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain, advancing the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
Taking a different route than his lieutenant, Tariq ibn Ziyad, Musa captured several cities that had not yet fallen, including Carmona, Seville, and Mérida. He later met with Tariq and his army near the Tagus River, close to the Spanish capital of Toledo.
Together, the two commanders pushed further north, capturing additional cities until they reached the southern borders of France. However, orders from the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik instructed them to return to Damascus. Musa left his son, Abd al-Aziz, in charge of Andalusia, who continued the efforts to secure and expand the Islamic presence in the region.
The Birth of Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil – 732 CE
On the fifth day of Ramadan in 113 AH, Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil, known as the “Falcon of Quraysh,” was born.
Following the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate in Damascus in 132 AH and the Abbasid persecution of the Umayyads, Abd al-Rahman fled the Levant. After a perilous journey, he reached Andalusia, which was rife with tribal conflicts and rebellions.
Through his exceptional leadership, Abd al-Rahman restored stability, quelled internal disputes, and repelled Frankish attempts to invade Andalusian cities. He established an Umayyad emirate in Andalusia, modeled on the governance of his ancestors in Damascus. Abd al-Rahman maintained a disciplined and well-equipped military, amassing an army of 100,000 soldiers and 40,000 personal guards composed of Berbers, Mawali, and freed slaves.
Notable achievements during his reign include:
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- Building the Great Mosque of Cordoba.
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- Constructing the Al-Rusafa Palace, named after the palace of his grandfather, Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, in Damascus.
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- Erecting the Great Wall of Cordoba to protect the city.
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- Establishing mints to produce coins that mirrored the weight and design of those minted in Damascus during the Umayyad era.
Abd al-Rahman’s legacy is marked by his consolidation of Islamic rule in Andalusia and the transformation of the region into a center of culture, science, and prosperity.
The Entry of the Ottoman Army into Tabriz – 1918 CE
Tabriz, a city in northwestern Iran, fell into Russian hands in 1826 during a period of heightened tensions with Persia. Although Russia withdrew under the Treaty of Turkmenchay, the city became a point of contention during subsequent conflicts.
In World War I, Tabriz was once again occupied by Russian forces. However, on the fifth day of Ramadan in 1336 AH, the Ottoman army recaptured the city, asserting control over the region. This marked a significant moment in the Ottoman-Iranian conflict during the global war.
