The seventh day of Ramadan is historically significant, marked by transformative events in Islamic history. These include the first Friday prayer held at Al-Azhar Mosque, the establishment of Cairo as the Fatimid capital, the ascension of Alauddin Khwarazmshah to power in Iran, and the Ottoman capture of Corsica. Below is a detailed account of these events:
First Friday Prayer at Al-Azhar Mosque – 972 CE
On the seventh day of Ramadan in 361 AH, the first Friday prayer was held at the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo.
The mosque was initially built by the Fatimids for both religious and educational purposes. Soon after its establishment, the Fatimid caliph appointed scholars to teach at the mosque, granting them salaries and accommodations to ensure the continuity of its educational mission. Over time, Al-Azhar developed into a prominent center for Islamic learning.
During the Mamluk era, Sunni doctrines such as Ash’arism and Maturidism were introduced, replacing the Shiite teachings prevalent during the Fatimid period. The mosque evolved into a structured educational institution with formal curricula covering jurisprudence, theology, linguistics, hadith, and logic.
Later, during the Ottoman period, the position of Sheikh Al-Azhar was established, with Sheikh Muhammad al-Kharshi of the Maliki school becoming the first to hold this title in the late 17th century. Prior to this, administrative overseers managed the mosque without any significant scholarly or symbolic role.
Establishment of Cairo as the Fatimid Capital – 973 CE
A year after the first Friday prayer at Al-Azhar, Cairo was officially declared the Fatimid capital on the seventh day of Ramadan in 362 AH. Under Fatimid rule, Cairo flourished as a political, cultural, and intellectual hub, further cementing its importance in the Islamic world.
Alauddin Khwarazmshah Ascends to Power in Iran – 1200 CE
On the seventh day of Ramadan in 596 AH, Alauddin Muhammad, the son of Khwarazmshah Tekish, assumed control over Iran. His reign marked the peak of the Khwarazmian Empire, which extended across vast territories in Central Asia and Persia.
Alauddin Khwarazmshah is remembered for his efforts to consolidate power and expand his empire, though his later conflicts with the Mongols led to devastating consequences for the region.
Ottoman Capture of Corsica – 1553 CE
On the seventh day of Ramadan in 960 AH, the renowned Ottoman admiral Turgut Reis (Dragut) captured the island of Corsica along with the city of Catania in Sicily.
Corsica, a strategically located island near the coasts of Italy and France, had been under Genoese control since 1453. Its importance lay in its position as a key stopover point for Mediterranean voyages, particularly between Spain and Italy.
The operation was part of a broader Franco-Ottoman alliance established in 1536 between King Francis I of France and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. This naval alliance aimed to counterbalance the dominance of the Habsburg Empire in Europe.
The capture of Corsica in 1553 represented the pinnacle of this alliance. After defeating the Genoese navy in 1552, the Ottoman fleet, led by Turgut Reis, supported the French in their campaign to seize Corsica. However, in 1559, the French returned the island to Genoa as part of a peace agreement.
The Franco-Ottoman Alliance
The alliance between the French and the Ottomans was one of the most extraordinary partnerships of its time. It not only divided the Christian European world but also altered the geopolitical landscape of the Mediterranean. The partnership endured intermittently for over two centuries, until the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt (1798–1801).
The capture of Corsica in 1553 underscored the strength of this alliance and the strategic importance of naval power in the region.
