2 Ramadhan: When the Mongols Were Humiliated by Islamic Forces and Ibn Taymiyyah's Stirring Words
From the conquest of Andalusia at the beginning of Ramadhan in the year 91 H/710 CE to Syria on 2 Ramadhan six centuries later, the Muslim community achieved a great victory over Mongol forces, making this holy month truly deserving of the title “The Month of Great Conquests.”
In Syria, during Ramadhan 702 H/1303 CE, the Mamluks succeeded in ending Mongol ambitions to conquer Syria and Egypt forever in the Battle of Shaqhab — an epic confrontation that combined the clash of swords with the pens of Islamic scholars.
Under the rule of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad ibn Qalawun, the crisis reached its peak when the Mongol Khan Ghazan dispatched a massive force of more than 100,000 troops under the command of Qutlusyah. Exploiting the chaotic situation, they crossed the Euphrates River and stormed Hama before advancing to the outskirts of Damascus.
The Battle of Shaqhab was not merely a military confrontation but also a war of ideology and extraordinary mobilisation, in which the historical role of the scholar Taqiuddin Ibn Taymiyyah was especially prominent.
Ibn Taymiyyah issued a fatwa declaring it a religious obligation for Muslims to fight the Mongol forces to the death. He called upon the Muslim community for jihad and personally participated in the Battle of Marj al-Suffar against the Ilkhanid forces, leading his students onto the battlefield with sword in hand.
On that same day, Ibn Taymiyyah issued another fatwa exempting the Mamluk soldiers from fasting during Ramadhan so that they could maintain their strength for battle. This ruling demonstrated both scholarly pragmatism and deep understanding of Islamic jurisprudence in times of necessity.
Muslim forces advanced towards the village of Shaqhab, south of Damascus, with Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah present among the troops. The battle lasted four days, and on the afternoon of the fourth day, victory was granted to the Syrian and Egyptian forces whilst the Mongol army was driven back into the mountains.
Within two days, the Mongols suffered a devastating defeat and the battle was decisively won, thereby ending Mongol control over Syria once and for all. This victory marked the permanent conclusion of Mongol attempts to subjugate the Levant and Egypt, securing the region under Mamluk rule.
The Battle of Shaqhab stands as one of the most significant moments in Islamic military history, demonstrating the steadfastness of the Muslim community in the face of the Mongol threat, as well as the crucial importance of scholarly leadership and spiritual resolve in times of great trial.