Hadith of the prediction in Sura al-Rum
Encyclopedia
The Hadith of the prediction in Sura ar-Rum is a hadith
(a recorded oral tradition) concerning the sura
called Ar-Rum
in the Qur'an which can be read as a prediction (a miraculous one ), possibly in AD 615 that the Romans would triumph over the Persians and the Muslims over the Meccans.
The early Muslim community perceived the Greeks of the Christian Byzantine Empire
(or Eastern Romans, therefore ar-Rum) as nearer to their religion, whilst the Meccan non-Muslims felt more inclined to the Persian religion. According to Muslim tradition, the Meccans taunted the Muslims by pointing to the recent military defeats of the Byzantines by the Persian Sassanid Empire, that adhered to Zoroastrianism
, and predicted that the Christian Byzantines were about to be defeated, and that the Muslims were next in line
starts with the relevant verses:
A prediction was revealed in the Quran around the year 620 AD, about 7 years after the severe defeat of the Christian Byzantine
armies (led by Heraclius
) by the idolatrous Persians
. The first verses of Surat-Ar-Rum predicted that the severely defeated Romans
would soon be victorious over the idolatrous Persians. At the Battle of Antioch
in 613–614 AD, the Persians took control over important Byzantine territories expanding into Syria
, Jerusalem, Armenia
and Egypt
. The Byzantium
was so very unlikely to get over this Persian expansion and was about to collapse totally. In 622, Heraclius
gained a number of victories over the Persians and conquered Armenia. In 627, the two empires fought a decisive battle at Nineveh
, some 50 km east of the Tigris river, near Baghdad
.
The Arabic words (bida' senin) literally mean (few years) but numerically indicate the range of numbers from three to nine, that's to say, the Romans shall get victorious over the Persians within three to nine years of their previous defeat in 613–614 AD. And it was, the First remarkable victory of Heraclius over the Persians after his defeat was in the Battle of Issus in 622 AD.
, a companion of Muhammad
and later the first Caliph
, defended the prophetic validity of this prediction and ended up making a bet with Ubay ibn Khalaf
, a Mecca
n polytheist.
Muslim scholar Al-Baizawi
writes:
"This passage refers to the defeat of the Byzantines in Syria
by the Persians under Khusran Parvis
. (C.E. 615 – 6 years before the Hegira). However, the defeat of the Persians should take place soon 'in a small number of years'. In the light of this prediction, Abu-Bakr undertook a bet with Ubai-ibn-Khalaf that this prediction would be fulfilled within three years, but he was corrected by Mohammed who stated that the word (bida') meant "between three and nine years".
Note: The Arabic language has a word for single year, two years and a third grammatic form for three to nine years. It is the third form that is used in the Qur'an
ic verse.
Al-Baidawi's commentary states that the prophecy was fulfilled exactly as the Qur’an predicted (page 534) and added "This is one of sign of prophethood because it is a prophecy"
writes:
----
Some non-Muslims argue that the hadith makes the prophesy false as it did not come to pass within 9 years.(. Actually, basing on historcal facts it did come to pass within 9 years, the Persian defeat of Byzantines was between 614 see Siege of Jerusalem (614)
and the Byzantines striking back victory over Persians in 622 see Battle of Issus (622)
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
(a recorded oral tradition) concerning the sura
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
called Ar-Rum
Ar-Rum
Surat Ar-Rum is the 30th sura of the Qur'an with 60 ayat.The surah begins by noting the recent defeat of the Romans by the Persians. It in turn calls Muslims to look forward to the victory it prophesies of the Emperor Heraclius' Christians over the Persian Zoroastrians...
in the Qur'an which can be read as a prediction (a miraculous one ), possibly in AD 615 that the Romans would triumph over the Persians and the Muslims over the Meccans.
The early Muslim community perceived the Greeks of the Christian Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
(or Eastern Romans, therefore ar-Rum) as nearer to their religion, whilst the Meccan non-Muslims felt more inclined to the Persian religion. According to Muslim tradition, the Meccans taunted the Muslims by pointing to the recent military defeats of the Byzantines by the Persian Sassanid Empire, that adhered to Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
, and predicted that the Christian Byzantines were about to be defeated, and that the Muslims were next in line
The Sura Ar-Rum
The Sura ar-RumAr-Rum
Surat Ar-Rum is the 30th sura of the Qur'an with 60 ayat.The surah begins by noting the recent defeat of the Romans by the Persians. It in turn calls Muslims to look forward to the victory it prophesies of the Emperor Heraclius' Christians over the Persian Zoroastrians...
starts with the relevant verses:
- In verse 3, the Arabic word "adna al-ard" that is translated as "a near land" can also be translated as "in the lowest land". Muslims now view this to be relevant, arguing that the Jordanian Valley, the land where the Romans were defeated, is the lowest land on earth.
- In verse 4, the Arabic word "" (Arabic بضع) that is translated as "a few" means a number between 3 to 9 .
A prediction was revealed in the Quran around the year 620 AD, about 7 years after the severe defeat of the Christian Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
armies (led by Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
) by the idolatrous Persians
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
. The first verses of Surat-Ar-Rum predicted that the severely defeated Romans
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
would soon be victorious over the idolatrous Persians. At the Battle of Antioch
Battle of Antioch (613)
The Battle of Antioch took place in 613 outside of Antioch, Syria between a Byzantine army led by Heraclius and a Persian army. The victorious Persians were able to maintain a hold on their recently taken Byzantine territory.- History :...
in 613–614 AD, the Persians took control over important Byzantine territories expanding into Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Jerusalem, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. The Byzantium
Byzantium
Byzantium was an ancient Greek city, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas . The name Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name Byzantion...
was so very unlikely to get over this Persian expansion and was about to collapse totally. In 622, Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
gained a number of victories over the Persians and conquered Armenia. In 627, the two empires fought a decisive battle at Nineveh
Nineveh
Nineveh was an ancient Assyrian city on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, and capital of the Neo Assyrian Empire. Its ruins are across the river from the modern-day major city of Mosul, in the Ninawa Governorate of Iraq....
, some 50 km east of the Tigris river, near Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
.
The Arabic words (bida' senin) literally mean (few years) but numerically indicate the range of numbers from three to nine, that's to say, the Romans shall get victorious over the Persians within three to nine years of their previous defeat in 613–614 AD. And it was, the First remarkable victory of Heraclius over the Persians after his defeat was in the Battle of Issus in 622 AD.
Hadith
Abu BakrAbu Bakr
Abu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...
, a companion of Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
and later the first Caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
, defended the prophetic validity of this prediction and ended up making a bet with Ubay ibn Khalaf
Ubay ibn Khalaf
-Biography:He paid his ransom after Badr, but was killed by Muhammad himself with a spear in the Battle of Uhud . Verse was revealed in this occasion-See also:*Non-Muslims who interacted with Muslims during Muhammad's era...
, a Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
n polytheist.
Muslim scholar Al-Baizawi
Baidawi
Baidawi , was a Muslim scholar, was born in Fars, where his father was chief judge, in the time of the Atabek ruler Abu Bakr ibn Sa'd . He himself became judge in Shiraz, and died in Tabriz about 1286. Many commentaries have been written on Baidawi's work...
writes:
"This passage refers to the defeat of the Byzantines in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
by the Persians under Khusran Parvis
Khosrau II
250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II (Khosrow II, Chosroes II, or Xosrov II in classical sources, sometimes called Parvez, "the Ever Victorious" – (in Persian: خسرو پرویز), was the twenty-second Sassanid King of Persia, reigning from 590 to 628...
. (C.E. 615 – 6 years before the Hegira). However, the defeat of the Persians should take place soon 'in a small number of years'. In the light of this prediction, Abu-Bakr undertook a bet with Ubai-ibn-Khalaf that this prediction would be fulfilled within three years, but he was corrected by Mohammed who stated that the word (bida') meant "between three and nine years".
Note: The Arabic language has a word for single year, two years and a third grammatic form for three to nine years. It is the third form that is used in the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
ic verse.
Muslim view
It is seen as a miraculous prediction by Muslims.Al-Baidawi's commentary states that the prophecy was fulfilled exactly as the Qur’an predicted (page 534) and added "This is one of sign of prophethood because it is a prophecy"
writes:
Non-Muslim criticism
Present Scholar Karl Gottlieb Pfander (19th|non-Muslim) writes:----
Some non-Muslims argue that the hadith makes the prophesy false as it did not come to pass within 9 years.(. Actually, basing on historcal facts it did come to pass within 9 years, the Persian defeat of Byzantines was between 614 see Siege of Jerusalem (614)
Siege of Jerusalem (614)
The Siege of Jerusalem in 614 was part of the final phase of the Byzantine-Sassanid Wars. The Persian Shah Khosrau II appointed his generals to conquer the Byzantine controlled areas of the Near East, establishing a strategic alliance with the Jewish population of the Sassanid Persia...
and the Byzantines striking back victory over Persians in 622 see Battle of Issus (622)
Battle of Issus (622)
The Battle of Issus, also known as the Third Battle of Issus, was the battle fought between the Eastern Roman Emperor Heraclius and the Sassanid Empire at the strategic ground near the small riverine town of Issus below the difficult inland mountains in 622, now in the Turkish Province of Hatay...
Timeline of relevant events
| Year | Roman-Persian events | Arabian events |
| AD 602 (BH 20) | Byzantine Emperor Mauricius Maurice (emperor) Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians... is murdered by Phocas Phocas Phocas was Byzantine Emperor from 602 to 610. He usurped the throne from the Emperor Maurice, and was himself overthrown by Heraclius after losing a civil war.-Origins:... . Sassanid Sassanid Empire The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651... King Khosrau II Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II (Khosrow II, Chosroes II, or Xosrov II in classical sources, sometimes called Parvez, "the Ever Victorious" – (in Persian: خسرو پرویز), was the twenty-second Sassanid King of Persia, reigning from 590 to 628... reopens war against the Roman (Byzantine) Empire. |
|
| AD 613 (BH 9) | Persian armies take Damascus. | |
| AD 614 (BH 8) | Persian armies take Jerusalem. | Migration to Abyssinia Migration to Abyssinia The migration known as the first Hijarat was made in two groups totalling more than a hundred persons. According to Islamic tradition, eleven male and five female Sahabah, the Muslims who originally converged in Mecca, sought refuge from Quraysh persecution in the Kingdom of Aksum in of in the... |
| AD 615 (BH 7) | Traditional Muslim date of the Sura ar-Rum. | |
| AD 619 (BH 4) | Persians capture Egypt Egypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... . |
Muhammad's Year of Sorrow Year of Sorrow The Year of Sorrow is an Islamic term for a Hijri year that coincided with 619 or 623 CE. It is called so since both Abu Talib and Khadijah—the Islamic prophet Muhammad's uncle and first wife, respectively—died that year.... |
| AD 622 (AH 1) | Emperor Heraclius takes the field and defeats Persians in the Battle of Issus Battle of Issus (622) The Battle of Issus, also known as the Third Battle of Issus, was the battle fought between the Eastern Roman Emperor Heraclius and the Sassanid Empire at the strategic ground near the small riverine town of Issus below the difficult inland mountains in 622, now in the Turkish Province of Hatay... . |
Muhammad Muhammad Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts... 's emigrates to Medina, beginning of Muslim calendar |
| AD 624 (AH 2) | Battle of Badr Battle of Badr The Battle of Badr , fought Saturday, March 13, 624 AD in the Hejaz region of western Arabia , was a key battle in the early days of Islam and a turning point in Muhammad's struggle with his opponents among the Quraish in Mecca... , Muslims victory over Meccan army |
|
| AD 625 (AH 3) | Battle of Uhud Battle of Uhud The Battle of Uhud was fought on March 19, 625 at the valley located in front of Mount Uhud, in what is now northwestern Arabia. It occurred between a force from the Muslim community of Medina led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and a force led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb from Mecca, the town from... , Meccan victory over Muslim army |
|
| AD 627 (AH 5) | Heraclius defeats the Persian army in the Battle of Nineveh Battle of Nineveh (627) The Battle of Nineveh was the climactic battle of the Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602–628. The Byzantine victory broke the power of the Sassanid dynasty and for a period of time restored the empire to its ancient boundaries in the Middle East... and advances towards Ctesiphon. |
Battle of the Trench Battle of the Trench The Battle of the Trench also known as Battle of Ahzab, Battle of the Confederates and Siege of Medina , was a fortnight-long siege of Yathrib by Arab and Jewish tribes. The strength of the confederate armies is estimated around 10,000 men with six hundred horses and some camels, while the... : Meccans unsuccessfully besiege Medina. |
| AD 628 (AH 6) | Khosrau II flees from internal rebellion and is murdered in February, while the Romans retake Syria Syria Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.... . Khosrau's successor Kavadh II Kavadh II Kavadh II , twenty-third Sassanid King of Persia, son of Khosrau II , was raised to the throne in opposition to his father in February 628, after the great victories of the Emperor Heraclius... proposes peace with the Romans. |
Treaty of Hudaybiyyah Treaty of Hudaybiyyah The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah is the treaty that took place between the state of Medina and the Quraishi tribe of Mecca in March 628CE .-Background:... between Muslims and Meccans. |
| AD 629 (AH 7) | Peace negotiations are concluded in June, Persians yielding Syria and Egypt. | The first pilgrimage The first pilgrimage The first pilgrimage or Umrah Dhu'l-Qada was the first pilgrimage that the Muslims made after the Migration to Medina. It happened in on the morning of the fourth day of Dhu al-Qi'dah 7 AH , after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah 6 AH... of Muslims to the Ka'ba. |
| AD 630 (AH 8) | Heraclius visits Jerusalem as a pilgrim, marking the conclusive nature of the Roman victory. Status quo ante from prior to past Sassanid invasion. | Conquest of Mecca Conquest of Mecca Mecca was conquered by the Muslims in January 630 AD .-Background:In 628 the Meccan tribe of Quraysh and the Muslim community in Medina signed a 10 year truce called the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah.... : Muslim force under Muhammad enters Mecca unopposed, decisive Muslim victory. |
| AD 636 (AH 14) | Syria (Roman province) Syria was a Roman province, annexed in 64 BC by Pompey, as a consequence of his military presence after pursuing victory in the Third Mithridatic War. It remained under Roman, and subsequently Byzantine, rule for seven centuries, until 637 when it fell to the Islamic conquests.- Principate :The... and Palaestina Prima |
|
See also
- List of hadith
- Qur'an and miraclesQur'an and miraclesMuslims consider the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, as the word of God and a miracle. The Qur'an claims that it has been created miraculously as a revelation from Allah , as a perfect copy of what was written in heaven and existed there from all eternity. Therefore the verses of the book are...