The 17th of Ramadan marks significant historical milestones in Islamic history. On this day, the Battle of Badr took place in the second year of Hijrah. Additionally, Muslims entered the Byzantine city of Amorium after an 11-day siege in 223 AH, and Ruqayyah, the daughter of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, passed away on the same day as the Battle of Badr.
The Great Battle of Badr
On 17th Ramadan in the 2nd year of Hijrah (corresponding to March 13, 624 CE), the decisive Battle of Badr occurred. This battle was fought near the wells of Badr, located between Makkah and Madinah, where the Muslims from Madinah clashed with the Quraysh tribe and their allies from Makkah.
The Muslims, who had been forcibly exiled from Makkah, initially sought to intercept a Quraysh trade caravan traveling from Syria to Makkah under the leadership of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. However, Abu Sufyan managed to escape with the caravan and sent an urgent message to Quraysh, urging them to engage in battle against the Muslims.
On 17th Ramadan, the two armies met in battle:
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- The Muslim army consisted of around 313 fighters, equipped with two horses and seventy camels.
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- The Quraysh army was 1,000 strong, with 200 cavalry.
Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Muslims achieved a resounding victory. The Quraysh suffered heavy losses, including the death of their leader Amr ibn Hisham (Abu Jahl). In total, 70 Quraysh warriors were killed, and another 70 were captured.
On the other hand, the Muslims lost only 14 warriors, and they gained significant spoils of war. This victory elevated the status of Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula, demonstrating their newfound strength and divine support.
The Muslim Conquest of Amorium
On 17th Ramadan 223 AH (August 12, 838 CE), the Muslim army entered Amorium, a key Byzantine city, after a decisive victory led by Caliph Al-Mu’tasim of the Abbasid Caliphate.
The Battle of Amorium
This battle took place in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) between the Abbasid Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire. The siege began on the 6th of Ramadan 223 AH (August 838 CE).
Amorium was one of the most important Byzantine cities in western Anatolia, known for its strong fortifications. The Byzantine Emperor Theophilos, who ascended to power in 214 AH (829 CE), had earlier violated a 20-year peace treaty between the Abbasids and Byzantines. He supported a rebellion against the Abbasids and led a military campaign that resulted in the massacre and enslavement of many Muslims in regions such as Malatya (modern-day central Turkey).
The Abbasid Response
In retaliation, Caliph Al-Mu’tasim launched a major military campaign and besieged Amorium for 11 days.
A captured Muslim prisoner revealed a weak point in the fortress wall to the Abbasid forces. Meanwhile, the Byzantine commander failed to secure reinforcements after two of his messengers were captured, exposing their secret plans.
Using siege engines and catapults, Al-Mu’tasim’s forces breached the walls and entered the city on 17th Ramadan 223 AH. The Muslim victory at Amorium was a major military and strategic success for the Abbasid Caliphate.
The Ottoman Withdrawal from Qassim
The Ottoman presence in the Arabian Peninsula lasted from 1517 to 1918 CE, with fluctuating levels of control over the region.
In 1902 CE, Ibn Saud led a successful campaign to recapture Riyadh and Najd, re-establishing the rule of the House of Saud in central Arabia. He gained support from tribal forces known as “Ikhwan” (Ikhwan min Ta’a Allah), a militant religious movement inspired by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab’s ideology.
With the help of the Ikhwan army, Ibn Saud, backed by Britain and the Wahhabi movement, defeated the Ottomans and expelled them from Al-Ahsa in 1913 CE. This marked a significant turning point in the Arabian Peninsula’s history, leading to the eventual establishment of the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Passing of Ruqayyah, Daughter of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Ruqayyah bint Muhammad ﷺ was the daughter of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, and the second eldest among the Prophet’s daughters, following Zainab. She was honored with the title “Dhul-Hijratayn” (The One Who Migrated Twice).
Early Life & Marriage
Ruqayyah was born seven years before the Prophethood and lived to witness the emergence of Islam. She was initially married to Utbah ibn Abi Lahab, a son of Abu Lahab, but he was forced to divorce her by his father after the revelation of Surah Al-Masad, which condemned Abu Lahab and his wife.
Later, she married Uthman ibn Affan, one of the Ten Promised Paradise (Al-Asharah Al-Mubashsharun). Together, they migrated to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to escape persecution. While in Abyssinia, Ruqayyah gave birth to a son, Abdullah, who tragically passed away at the age of six.
Her Final Days
Ruqayyah fell gravely ill with smallpox while in Madinah. Her husband Uthman stayed behind to care for her, missing the Battle of Badr upon the Prophet’s orders. She passed away on the same day as the Muslim victory at Badr, in 2 AH, at the young age of 21 years.
Her loss was deeply mourned by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, her family, and the Muslim community.
