The 23rd of Ramadan marks several pivotal events in Islamic and world history. On this day in 9 AH, the idol of al-Lat was destroyed, putting an end to its worship among many Arabs. In 31 AH, Yazdegerd III, the last emperor of the Sassanian Empire, was killed, signifying the final collapse of the Persian dynasty. Additionally, on this day, the renowned Muslim poet, historian, and warrior Usama ibn Munqidh passed away, and in 1280 AH, the Ottoman Empire relinquished plans to build fortresses in Montenegro.
Destruction of the Idol al-Lat (9 AH)
On the 23rd of Ramadan in 9 AH, the Muslims—under the leadership of Abu Sufyan and al-Mughira ibn Shu’bah—destroyed the idol of al-Lat, ending one of the most prominent pre-Islamic forms of idol worship.
Al-Lat was one of the three major female deities worshipped by the Arabs before Islam, forming a trinity with al-Uzza and Manat. Her cult was especially strong in Mecca, the Hijaz, and among the Nabateans.
Originally revered in Nabatean regions, present-day Jordan and Syria, the worship of al-Lat eventually spread to Mecca and Ta’if through trade routes. The people of Ta’if constructed a temple known as the “House of the Goddess”, overseen by the Thaqif tribe, where pilgrims would offer gold, jewelry, and other precious items.
After the conquest of Mecca, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent al-Mughira ibn Shu’bah and Abu Sufyan, both newly converted to Islam, to demolish the idol’s temple in Ta’if, officially ending al-Lat’s worship—except for a few isolated communities.
The Death of Yazdegerd III and the Fall of the Sassanian Empire (31 AH / 651 CE)
In 31 AH, during the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan, the Sassanian Empire collapsed with the assassination of its final emperor, Yazdegerd III, son of Shahryar and grandson of Khosrow II, the dynasty’s founder.
Yazdegerd escaped a family massacre as a child and was placed on the throne at a young age, heavily influenced by palace regents. His reign lasted nearly 20 years, marked by continuous defeats and retreat from the capital Ctesiphon (al-Mada’in) to eastern Persian regions.
Though Yazdegerd’s forces initially defeated Muslims at the Battle of the Bridge (634 CE), Muslim general Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas later routed the Sassanids at Qadisiyyah (637 CE). The Muslims then captured al-Mada’in, forcing Yazdegerd to flee.
He relocated eastward, setting up a new capital in Nihawand, where the Muslims claimed another major victory in 21 AH (642 CE). Yazdegerd continued fleeing—from Khuzestan to Merv (Marw)—where he was eventually killed by a miller in 651 CE, ending over 400 years of Sassanian rule.
Final Days of Yazdegerd: As Narrated by Historians
Ibn Kathir recounts that Yazdegerd fled from Kerman with only a few companions. He begged for help in Merv, but the people feared repercussions and refused aid, alerting the Turks to his presence. The Turks killed his guards, forcing Yazdegerd to flee again.
According to historian al-Mada’ini, Yazdegerd—still wearing his crown, belt, and sword—sought refuge in a poor man’s house by the river. The man killed him while he slept and stole his belongings. Later, Turkish troops arrived, found Yazdegerd dead, and in retaliation, killed the man and his family, seizing the emperor’s possessions. They placed Yazdegerd’s body in a coffin and transported it to Istakhr.
The 23rd of Ramadan thus remains a day etched in the memory of Islamic history for its symbolic victory over paganism, the collapse of one of the greatest empires of antiquity, and the passing of key historical figures who shaped the Islamic world.
