The Return of the Army of Hardship to Medina Victorious
On the first of Ramadan, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) returned to Medina from the Battle of Tabuk victorious without fighting the Romans. He spent fifty days, twenty of which were in Tabuk, and the rest traveling. The Romans had prepared an army of forty thousand men to eradicate Islam from its roots. The Muslim army, called the Army of Hardship due to the timing before harvest and the difficulty of the journey, was composed of thirty thousand Muslims. Abu Dhar al-Ghifari was among those who lagged behind due to his slow camel. The Prophet said, "Leave him, for if there is good in him, Allah will bring him to you, and if not, you have been relieved of him." Abu Dhar then carried his belongings on his back and followed the Prophet's trail, walking. Upon seeing him, the Prophet said, "May Allah have mercy on Abu Dhar. He walks alone, dies alone, and will be resurrected alone." The hypocrites and those whom Allah forgave, mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah, did not participate.
Siege of the Babylon Fortress and the Islamic Conquest of Egypt
On the first of Ramadan in the year 20 AH (16 August 641 CE), Amr ibn al-As marched to the Babylon Fortress and besieged it for seven months. The Romans proposed to pay a sum of money for the Muslims to return, but Amr ibn al-As refused and stated that there were only three options: Islam, the Jizya tax, or fighting. The fortress garrison and the Roman Emperor Heraclius refused to surrender. Zubair ibn al-Awwam and a group of Muslim soldiers climbed the fortress walls, leading the Romans to believe the Muslims had breached, causing them to flee. After opening the gates, the Romans surrendered and requested peace, which Amr ibn al-As granted.
The Conquest of Andalusia
On the first of Ramadan in 91 AH (6 July 710 CE), Musa ibn Nusayr, with the approval of Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, initiated the conquest of Andalusia. He appointed Tariq ibn Ziyad as governor of Tangier. The initial expedition consisted of 500 soldiers, and eventually, Islam ruled Andalusia for eight centuries until the Christian Reconquista.
The Birth of Imam Sahnoun
On the first of Ramadan in 160 AH (15 June 777 CE), Imam Sahnoun was born in Kairouan. He studied in the East and returned to propagate the Maliki school of jurisprudence in Africa and Andalusia, becoming its most prominent scholar. Among his notable works is the "Al-Mudawwana al-Kubra."
The Death of Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
On the first of Ramadan in 427 AH (3 July 1037 CE), the famous Muslim polymath Ibn Sina passed away. Known for his contributions to medicine and philosophy, his works, including "The Canon of Medicine," remained central in Europe until the 17th century.
The Burning of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
In the year 654 AH (28 September 1256 CE), the Prophet's Mosque in Medina suffered a devastating fire, destroying many historical relics. The fire, caused by a neglected flame, coincided with an earthquake and volcanic eruption in the region.
The Conquest of Egypt:
On the first of Ramadan in the year 20 AH (16 August 641 CE), Amr ibn al-As led the Muslim army to the fortress of Babylon in Egypt, where they besieged it for seven months. The Roman forces, led by the governor Al-Muqawqas, proposed a sum of money for the Muslims to retreat, but Amr ibn al-As refused, demanding either conversion to Islam, payment of the jizya (tax), or battle. The Romans eventually surrendered, and Egypt was opened to Islam.
The Conquest of Al-Andalus (Spain):
In the first of Ramadan, in the year 91 AH (6 July 710 CE), Musa ibn Nusayr, with the support of the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik, initiated the conquest of Al-Andalus. Tariq ibn Ziyad, the governor of Tangier, led the campaign, and the Muslims successfully established control over the Iberian Peninsula, which remained under Islamic rule for nearly eight centuries.
The Birth of Imam Sahnun:
On the first of Ramadan in the year 160 AH (15 June 777 CE), Imam Sahnun was born in Kairouan. He was a prominent scholar of the Maliki school of thought in North Africa and Andalusia. Imam Sahnun played a significant role in spreading Maliki jurisprudence and authored the famous "Al-Mudawwana," a compilation of Maliki legal opinions.
The Death of Ibn Sina (Avicenna):
On the first of Ramadan in the year 427 AH (3 July 1037 CE), the renowned Muslim scholar Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, passed away. He was a polymath who made significant contributions to various fields, including medicine, philosophy, and science. His most famous work, "The Canon of Medicine," remained a standard medical text in Europe for centuries.
The Burning of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (The Prophet's Mosque):
On the first of Ramadan in the year 654 AH (28 September 1256 CE), a devastating fire broke out in the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. The fire caused extensive damage to the mosque, including the destruction of historical artifacts and relics dating back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions. This event coincided with a volcanic eruption in the region.
