Ramadan and Victory: Examining the Connection
The aim of the article is to correct the religious awareness regarding the relationship between the month of Ramadan and victories. Many preachers and religious speakers have filled people's ears with the idea that there is an intrinsic relationship between this holy month and the achievement of victory, often citing numerous major victories that Muslims have accomplished during this month, most notably the great Battle of Badr.
Is There a True Correlation?
But the question is: Is there a correlation between Ramadan and victory? Or did Muslims benefit from the spiritual and faith-driven energy that arises in the souls of Muslims during Ramadan, while also preparing their numbers and means, and following the traditions of victory? By combining spiritual and moral strength with material power, did they weave those victories?
Ramadan: A Month of Victories & Setbacks
Ramadan was a month of great victories, but on the other hand, it was also a month of setbacks and significant defeats for Muslims that changed the course of history. It witnessed the defeat of Muslims in the Battle of "Tours," which closed the door for Muslims to open Western Europe. It also saw the defeat of the Ottomans at the gates of Vienna, a defeat that altered the course of Ottoman and European history. Additionally, it witnessed the fall of major Muslim cities in Andalusia, such as Zaragoza and Seville, as well as the entry of the Christians into the last stronghold of Muslims in Andalusia, which was Granada. All of these were heavy defeats.
Historical Anecdotes & the Question of Victory
From Yourselves The connection between Ramadan and victory reminds me of an incident that occurred at Al-Azhar Mosque during the era of Khedive Ismail. When the Egyptian troops faced defeats and setbacks during their wars in Abyssinia, the Khedive called for the scholars of Al-Azhar to gather and recite Sahih al-Bukhari, then plead to God for victory. They did so, but the defeats continued to pile up.
The Khedive exclaimed angrily to them: Either this is not Sahih al-Bukhari, or you are not the scholars! One of the scholars exclaimed: "You are the reason for the defeats, O Ismail! For we have narrated from our Prophet, peace be upon him, that he said: 'You must enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, or else Allah will appoint the worst among you over you, and then your best will call upon Him, but they will not be answered.' So what is the fault of the scholars then?!
Quranic Reflection on Defeat
This situation reminds us of what the Holy Quran narrated to us about the astonishment of the believers at their defeat in the Battle of Uhud, as Allah Almighty said: (Why is it when you suffered casualties ˹at Uḥud˺—although you had made your enemy suffer twice as much ˹at Badr˺—you protested, “How could this be?”? Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “It is because of your disobedience.” Surely Allah is Most Capable of everything.) (Ali 'Imran:165)
Sheikh Muhammad Abduh says in the interpretation of that verse: "And whatever has befallen you, O believers, on the day you encountered the gathering of the polytheists at 'Uhud,' is by God's permission; that is, His eternal will and previous decree that general laws regarding causes and effects are consistent. So, any army that errs in judgment, disobeys its leader, and leaves the enemy at its rear will suffer similar to what you have suffered or even worse."
As for the interpretation of "Al-Zhilal," it describes the naivety of perceptions in dealing with the laws of victory and defeat before the Muslims were crushed by the experience at the Battle of Uhud: "Allah has decreed victory for His supporters, the bearers of His banner, and the followers of His faith. However, He has conditioned this victory on the completeness of the reality of faith in their hearts; on fulfilling the requirements of faith in their organization and behavior; on completing the preparations within their capability, and on exerting the effort that is within their means... This is the law of Allah, and the law of Allah does not favor anyone... For being Muslim does not necessitate the violation of the laws for them or the nullification of the divine order."
Battle Conditions: Examining Victory & Defeat
The truth is that the battles in which Muslims won or lost were not fought in the month of Ramadan intentionally or deliberately; rather, the circumstances of the battle and the necessity of fighting compelled them to engage in it.
Furthermore, some of the battles in which Muslims emerged victorious saw them breaking their fast as a means of demonstrating strength in combat. Additionally, in the battles they won, Muslims adhered to the principles of victory by simultaneously seeking help from the heavens and pursuing material means of strength through better preparation, according to their capabilities, adopting the most effective strategies in combat, and leveraging their strengths to strike at the enemy's weaknesses. Thus, victory was their ally.
As for the battles in which the Muslims were defeated, they were not the most pious, nor the best prepared, nor the most strategic, nor the most ready for combat. However, there was division among the souls of both the leaders and the troops, and at times, sins were deeply rooted within the ranks. From a military perspective, there was a presence of randomness, weak intelligence, and a state of relaxation during the battle; thus, they were deprived of victory and did not benefit from the spiritual strength of Ramadan.
Key Battles in Ramadan
? Battle of the Highway of the Martyrs (Ramadan 114 AH / November 732 AD): This battle began at the end of Sha'ban 114 AH and lasted for about 8 days, concluding in Ramadan, after the defeat of the Muslim army led by Abd al-Rahman al-Ghafiqi, who withdrew from the battle. According to historians' opinions on the reasons for that defeat, the Muslim army was suffering from deep divisions due to the turmoil that had taken place in Al-Andalus, which divided the Muslim ranks between Arabs and Berbers, and further split the Arabs into Qaysi and Yamani factions. In the lead-up to the battle, there was heavy bloodshed in Al-Andalus, which left a mark on the soldiers’ spirits, preventing them from acting as a united front.
? Failure at the Gates of Vienna (20 Ramadan 1094 AH / September 12, 1683): The defeat of the Ottomans at the gates of Vienna is considered one of the defeats that impacted the course of history, and it was not a fleeting defeat.
The Ottoman Empire aimed to capture Vienna, the capital of the Austrian Empire, and the Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha prepared a massive army. He set out from Hungary with a strong force of more than 160,000 soldiers, without consulting the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV.
This battle was marked by leadership conflicts, a lack of coordinated strategy, and internal betrayals, leading to one of the most pivotal defeats in history.
Final Thoughts: Victory Beyond Ramadan
Ultimately, victory in war is not dictated by Ramadan itself. It depends on preparation, unity, strategic planning, and moral integrity. Ramadan may provide spiritual motivation, but true success comes from wisdom, discipline, and material readiness.
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