The twelfth day of Ramadan has witnessed several significant historical events, including the Muslim victory at the Battle of Al-Buwayb, the recapture of Antioch by Sultan Baybars, the second burning of the Prophet’s Mosque, and the Ottoman attempts to breach Vienna. Below are the key details of these events:
The Battle of Al-Buwayb – 634 CE
On the twelfth day of Ramadan in 13 AH, Muslim forces under the leadership of Al-Muthanna ibn Haritha achieved a decisive victory against the Sassanid Empire at the Battle of Al-Buwayb.
The Battle
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- The Sassanid army, numbering 100,000 men, was led by Mihran.
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- The Muslim forces, significantly outnumbered, camped strategically near the Euphrates River at Al-Buwayb.
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- Al-Muthanna divided his forces into multiple divisions, launching a surprise attack on the Sassanid commander Mihran. Mihran was killed in combat, causing disarray among the Sassanid ranks.
The Recapture of Antioch by Sultan Baybars – 1268 CE
On the twelfth day of Ramadan in 666 AH, Sultan al-Zahir Baybars, the Mamluk ruler of Egypt and Syria, successfully recaptured the city of Antioch from Crusader control.
The Campaign
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- Baybars launched his campaign with a large army, moving stealthily to maintain the element of surprise.
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- He divided his forces to isolate Antioch, cutting off reinforcements from the sea and from Armenian allies.
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- On the first day of Ramadan, Baybars laid siege to the city. After several days of intense fighting, the Muslim forces breached the walls and captured Antioch on the twelfth day of Ramadan.
The Second Burning of the Prophet’s Mosque – 1481 CE
On the twelfth day of Ramadan in 886 AH, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah was struck by lightning during heavy rains, causing a fire that destroyed much of the structure.
Details of the Incident
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- A lightning strike hit the main minaret, killing the chief muezzin, Sheikh Shams al-Din ibn al-Khatib, who was calling for prayer.
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- The fire spread rapidly, destroying the mosque’s wooden ceiling, walls, books, and Qur’ans.
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- Several people perished in the disaster.
The Ottoman Attempt to Breach Vienna – 1683 CE
On the twelfth day of Ramadan in 1094 AH, Ottoman forces, led by Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha, opened a breach in Vienna’s defenses during the Second Siege of Vienna.
The Siege
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- The siege lasted two months, with the Ottoman forces initially making significant progress.
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- Vienna was a critical target as it represented the gateway to central Europe and Habsburg dominance.
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- This defeat marked the beginning of the decline of Ottoman influence in Europe and the rise of the Habsburgs as a dominant power in Central Europe.
