The 18th of Ramadan has witnessed significant historical events, including the pledge of allegiance to Al-Hasan ibn Ali as Caliph in 40 AH, the passing of Khalid ibn al-Walid in 21 AH, and the birth of the renowned scholar and Sufi Ibn Arabi in 560 AH.
The Pledge of Allegiance to Al-Hasan ibn Ali
On the 18th of Ramadan in 40 AH, Al-Hasan ibn Ali received the pledge of allegiance as Caliph following the assassination of his father, Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Ibn Kathir wrote:
“When Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was struck by Ibn Muljam, people asked him to appoint a successor. He replied, ‘No, but I leave you as the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) left you, without appointing a successor. If Allah wills good for you, He will unite you as He united you upon the best among you after the Messenger of Allah.’ When Ali passed away, his son Al-Hasan led the funeral prayer, as he was the eldest of his sons (may Allah be pleased with them). He was buried in the governor’s residence, according to the most accurate narrations. After completing his father’s burial, Qais ibn Sa’d ibn Ubadah was the first to approach Al-Hasan and said, ‘Extend your hand so I may pledge allegiance to you upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet.’ Al-Hasan remained silent, but Qais pledged allegiance to him, followed by the rest of the people.”
Despite receiving the pledge of allegiance, Al-Hasan did not wish to prolong the conflict and detested war. He sought reconciliation with Muawiyah and chose to relinquish the caliphate to him, officially abdicating in Rabi’ al-Awwal of 41 AH, a year known as “The Year of Unity” (Aam al-Jama’ah).
Ibn al-Athir mentioned in Al-Kamil fi al-Tarikh that Al-Hasan ceded power to Muawiyah after exchanging letters. When addressing the people, he said:
“By Allah, it is neither doubt nor regret that keeps us from fighting the people of Sham (Syria). We fought them with sound intentions and patience, but hostility replaced our unity, and impatience replaced our resolve. When you marched to Siffin, your religion was before your worldly matters, but today, your worldly matters come before your religion. You now stand between two slain groups: those who perished at Siffin, whom you mourn, and those slain at Nahrawan, for whom you seek vengeance. The remaining among you are either reluctant or rebellious. Muawiyah offers us a deal that lacks honor and justice. If you choose war, we shall reject his offer and take our case to Allah, fighting him with our swords. But if you choose life, we shall accept his terms and seek peace.”
The Death of Khalid ibn al-Walid
On the 18th of Ramadan in 21 AH, the great military commander and Companion of the Prophet, Khalid ibn al-Walid, known as Sayf Allah al-Maslul (the Drawn Sword of Allah), passed away.
Khalid ibn al-Walid, from the Quraysh tribe of Banu Makhzum, was renowned for his military prowess and strategic genius. He played a crucial role in the Ridda Wars and the conquests of Iraq and Sham under Caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar, particularly between 632 and 636 CE. It is said that he never lost a battle in over a hundred military engagements, including those against the Byzantine and Persian Empires. His leadership shone in battles like Yarmouk and Yamama.
Before embracing Islam, Khalid was instrumental in Quraysh’s victory over the Muslims at the Battle of Uhud. However, after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, he converted to Islam and later fought alongside the Prophet in the Battle of Mu’tah and the Conquest of Makkah.
In 638 CE, at the height of his military success, Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab relieved him of command, fearing that people might become overly attached to him. He then served under Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah before settling in Homs, where he lived for less than four years before passing away and being buried there.
The Birth of Ibn Arabi
On the 18th of Ramadan in 560 AH, the renowned scholar, philosopher, and Sufi master Muhyi al-Din Ibn Arabi was born.
Known as “The Greatest Sheikh” (al-Sheikh al-Akbar), Ibn Arabi was born in Murcia, Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain), and passed away in Damascus in 638 AH (1240 CE), where he was buried at the foot of Mount Qasioun.
His lineage traced back to prominent scholars and judges in Al-Andalus. After his family moved to Seville, he studied the Quran, Hadith, and Fiqh under leading scholars of his time.
Ibn Arabi married a Persian woman named Nizam, the daughter of his mentor Al-Isfahani. He often praised her in his works and spoke highly of her virtues.
The Unification of Muslims in Al-Andalus
On the 18th of Ramadan in 484 AH (1091 CE), the great leader Yusuf ibn Tashfin succeeded in uniting the Muslim factions in Al-Andalus, putting an end to the disunity among the Taifa kingdoms.
The Ottoman Army’s Entry into Aleppo
On this day in history, the Ottoman army entered the city of Aleppo, expelling the Egyptian forces led by Ibrahim Pasha from Bilad al-Sham. This followed the Treaty of London in July 1840, which stipulated that Muhammad Ali Pasha, the governor of Egypt, had to withdraw from Syria, restoring Ottoman control over the region.
The Introduction of Islam to Indonesia
On the 18th of Ramadan, a dark chapter in history unfolded as the Dutch massacres of the Indonesian Muslim population began.
Muslims first arrived in Indonesia in the 15th century as traders. Islam spread quickly, becoming the dominant religion by the 16th century. However, European colonial powers threatened Muslim rule, starting with the Portuguese who invaded Malacca (modern-day Malaysia). The Spanish, after conquering Portugal, lost control over their colonies, including Indonesia. Later, the Dutch defeated the Spanish and established the Dutch East India Company, beginning their colonial rule.
When Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Netherlands in 1795, the British seized the Indonesian island of Java in 1811. However, control later returned to the Dutch.
The Indonesian people resisted fiercely, leading to prolonged uprisings. During one such resistance in Ramadan, the Dutch launched mass executions of fasting Muslims, leading to a massacre that lasted for five years. By the time the Dutch consolidated control, over 200,000 Indonesian Muslims had been killed.
