Islam is a religion which started off with unparalleled sacrifice and determination of our Holy Prophet (S.A.W). There were countless hurdles in his way as He set about spreading the word of Allah across Arab.
Islam teaches us peace and history teaches us that no matter how up against it we are, we should never be underestimated. From the times of the Muhammad (SAW) to the Caliphs that followed him up till now, here are a few instances when Muslims faced insurmountable odds and came out on top.
1. Ghazwah-e-Badr
In 17th Ramadan, 2 A.H, the Quraish from Makkah marched towards Madina with the stated intention of protecting a caravan from Muslim raiders. While the caravan came home, that did not stop the Quraish from marching on perhaps to crush the Muslim population once and for all. The Muslim army comprised of 313 men, 72 camels and 2 horses, while the Quraish numbered in the thousands. The Muslims won that battle, killing great Quraish leaders like Abu Jah’l and Umayah Ibn Khalaf in the process.
The miracle – Allah sent down, in support of the Prophet and the Muslims, 1,000 angels! On one side, 500 angels were under the command of Jibreel, and on the other, 500 angels were under the command of Meekaa’eel.
2. Ghazwah-al-Khandaq
The Ghazwah was a 27 days siege of Yathrib by a confederation of Jews and Arabs in 627 AD. The confederate tribes numbered over 10,000 while the Muslim defenders were just 3,000. The Muslims dug a trench around Yathrib that made invasion almost impossible. Allah sent down the harshest of weathers as the army of the enemies was broken, battered and demoralized into submission. The win earmarked the demise of the Meccans and rise of the Muslims as a power.
3. Battle of Mutah
The great Battle of Mutah took place in 8 AH and was the first between Christians and Muslims. The Ghassanids had killed Hazrat Muhammad’s (PBUH) messenger to Hercules. 30,000 Muslims gathered under our Prophet (PBUH) as they set out to exact revenge. Roman Byzantines and Al-Ghassanids numbered 200,000. Muslims lost three generals that day but still came out victorious.
4. Battle of Yarmouk
The Battle of Yarmouk lasted for a total of 6 days during August 636. The battle was fought between the numerically superior invading Byzantine forces of Emperor Heraclius and Hazrat Umar’s (RA) army led by Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed (RA). The Byzantine forces invaded Syria and forced the Muslims to retreat from their stronghold. This was nothing but strategy on Khalid Bin Waleed’s (RA) part though, as he regrouped and defeated the Byzantine army and pushed back their conquest. Khalid Bin Waleed (R.A) has gone down as one of the finest strategists and commanders ever in Islamic History.
5. The 1965 Indo-Pak War
It is arguable if the 1965 war merits inclusion in this list for the reason that it was Pakistan who started it by moving into Kashmir and never actually achieved their target.
But on 6th September, India moved its army to the border looking to invade Lahore. India which had a distinct numerical, economical and technological advantage, though were thwarted by a courageous Pakistani Army that was not willing to lose an inch. 6th September is celebrated by Pakistan as Defense Day.
6. Battle of Ain Jalut
Mongols were the fiercest warriors in all of land, extraordinary in hand-to-hand combat and had never lost on a battlefield. This was the first time in recorded history that the Mongols were defeated. The story goes that after Genghis Khan’s death his grandson Hulagu Khan immediately set out to complete his quest of total world domination. They wanted to invade Syria and then Egypt but in their path lay the Turkic Egyptian Mamluks.
The two armies numbering over 20,000 each met at Ain Jalut in 1260. The Muslims defeated the Mongols in hand-to-hand combat and signaled an end to the Khan’s kingdom. By 1265, the Mongol succession was complete.
7. Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah
Fought in 636, the battle of Al-Qadisiyyah is regarded as the decisive moment that Arab Muslims made inroads into Persia. It is estimated that the Sassanid Persian army was around 80,000-100,000 strong which included elephants from India while the Muslim army numbered a mere 30,000. Hazrat Umar (RA) the then Caliph had raised the army by calling in reinforcements from all across Arab.
The two armies met in a small town called Qadisiyyah and the Muslims prevailed. The battle was a huge embarrassment for the arrogant Persians as they subsequently lost Iraq. The Persians because of their hurt pride kept on trying to invade Muslim land only to be foiled time and time again. The Sassanid Empire came to an end in 653 during Hazart Usman (RA)’s Caliphate.
8. Conquest of Sindh
Raja Dahir ruled Sindh and had pirates patrolling the Arabian Sea. They had abducted and enslaved trade ships leading to the Umayyad Caliphate to launch an attack. Walid Bin Abdul Malik sent Muhmmad Bin Qasim then just 17 into Sindh. Qasim entered through Debal and met Dahir’s forces in Rohri. Young Qasim defeated the much stronger forces of Raja Dahir as the Raja was killed in combat. By 712, Qasim entered Daibul and the conquest of Sindh and entry of Islam into the Indian sub-continent was very much on its way.
9. Battle of Tours
The Battle, fought in Ramadan of 732, was between the army of the Umayyad Kingdom numbering around 60,000 led by Abdul-Rahman Al-Ghafiqi and an army assembled from across Europe numbering over 300,000 led by Austrasian Mayor of the Palace, Charles Martel. The battle lasted for 8 days, and by day 2 the Muslims even though numerically mismatched were on the verge of victory.
On day 8, Ghafiqi was killed, the Muslims withdrew as disorder prevailed. It is clear enough that Muslims didn’t lose that battle, but actually withdrew after the death of their leader. History remembers the valor with which Muslims fought that day.
10. Independence of Pakistan
The Independence of Pakistan was a truly remarkable achievement to say the least. In a land where Muslims had once been the ruling class, but a clear minority to Hindus in terms of numbers and on the verge of desertion by the British, Muslims of the subcontinent rose and battled insurmountable odds to claim Pakistan for themselves. History teaches us that there are very few instances like this where a Country was born out of the sheer power of will. Our national heroes led by Quaid-e-Azam did what the world thought was impossible.
These instances from history are just a few among thousands when Muslims, Allah permitting, turned insurmountable odds in their favor. Long may it continue.
