The eighth day of Ramadan has witnessed critical events that shaped the Islamic world, including the Expedition of Tabuk, the return of Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil’s army to Cordoba after defeating Charlemagne, and Sultan Baybars’ siege of Acre. Below is a detailed account of these events:
The Expedition of Tabuk – 630 CE
The Expedition of Tabuk, which took place on the eighth day of Ramadan in the ninth year of Hijrah (9 AH), was the last military expedition led by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Romans, fearing the growing influence of the Islamic state in the Arabian Peninsula, prepared an army to attack the Muslims. In response, the Prophet (peace be upon him) called upon his companions and allies, amassing an army of 30,000 men, despite the harsh summer heat and a time of scarcity.
The Muslim army marched to Tabuk (in present-day Saudi Arabia), where they camped for 20 days. However, the anticipated battle did not occur, as the Roman army dispersed, avoiding direct confrontation.
This campaign demonstrated the strength of the emerging Islamic state and led to strategic agreements with neighboring territories, such as the tribes of Najran, Dumat al-Jandal, and the port city of Aila (modern-day Aqaba in southern Jordan). This victory without combat was a turning point that increased the prestige of the Islamic state and paved the way for “The Year of Delegations,” during which numerous tribes and delegations came to Medina to pledge allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The Return of Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil’s Army to Cordoba – 778 CE
On the eighth day of Ramadan in 164 AH, the army of Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil, the founder of the Umayyad Emirate in Andalusia, returned to Cordoba victorious after defeating Charlemagne’s forces in the famous Battle of Roncevaux Pass (Battle of Bab al-Shuzri).
This battle took place in the Pyrenees Mountains between Charlemagne’s Frankish army and a coalition of Muslim Andalusians and Basques. Charlemagne had attempted to invade Andalusia after being invited by a rebellious governor, Suleiman al-Arabi, to aid him against Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil.
Although Charlemagne’s campaign failed to capture any significant cities, his retreat through the Pyrenees turned disastrous when the Basques, allied with the Muslims, ambushed his forces in a mountain pass, inflicting heavy losses. The victory solidified Abd al-Rahman’s authority in Andalusia and marked a significant setback for Charlemagne’s ambitions in the region.
Sultan Baybars Begins the Siege of Acre – 1267 CE
On the eighth day of Ramadan in 665 AH, Sultan al-Zahir Baybars, one of the greatest Mamluk rulers, began his siege of Acre, one of the last strongholds of the Crusaders in the Levant.
Acre had remained under Crusader control even after Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi’s liberation of Jerusalem. The city served as a base for Crusader raids on Muslim territories, exploiting its formidable fortifications.
Baybars launched a campaign to subdue Acre after receiving reports of Crusader forces disguising themselves as Muslims and attacking nearby villages. Despite his efforts, Baybars was unable to capture the city during this campaign, but his actions weakened Crusader defenses and paved the way for later Mamluk rulers, particularly Sultan al-Ashraf Khalil, to eventually conquer Acre in 1291, ending Crusader rule in the Levant.
Death of Al-Zahrawi – 1013 CE
On the eighth day of Ramadan in 400 AH, the Muslim physician and surgeon Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi, often called the “Father of Modern Surgery,” passed away.
Al-Zahrawi’s groundbreaking contributions to medicine, particularly in the field of surgery, were documented in his famous book Kitab al-Tasrif, a 30-volume encyclopedia that became a foundational text in both Islamic and European medical studies. His inventions and surgical techniques influenced medical practice for centuries.
