Fatwa ID: 05397
Answered by: Mufti Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia
Question
My question is regarding the prophecy within Surah Rum (30:2-4). Allah tells us that the Romans have been defeated and that they will become victorious again within a few years.
According to the Yusuf Ali translation, the word for “few years” within the verse is an approximation of up to three to nine years. However, according to historic siting, the Romans were defeated at around 614 or 615 A.D., and that the Romans started their counter-offensive towards the Persians in 622 A.D. and only won in 628 A.D. Therefore, according to an anti-muslim website, known as Answering Islam, the prophecy is false because the victory didn’t come within the 3 to 9 year period (like the Quran said it would).
In the name of Allah the most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Answer
One of the essential aspects of Imaan is that we believed in the Quran and the Ahadith of The Prophet (Peace be upon Him). Indeed those who don’t appreciate our religion and who don’t have the full understanding of the Quran and Ahadith will always point fingers and will come up with objections.
We as Muslims who believe in The Quran and follow the Sunnah of The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) should have full conviction of the Truth and not engage in topics that are not relevant. Allah SWT will not be asking us about those questions, but rather He will be asking us about how much did we followed and obeyed his commands and how much Sunnah or love we had for His Beloved Prophet (Peace be upon Him).
Yes, one of the things that we need to do is to clarify any misconception and misunderstanding that another person could have in regards to our religion. But, this is not essential. What is essential is to follow Islam completely.
Now, let’s look at your query and explain this from the perspective of the Quranic exegesis and commentary.
- The word ‘Bida’a’: means years between 3-9.
- The full explanation:
- The Romans gained victory the day when the Battle of Badr (2nd year of Hijrah) took place or when Sulah (Treaty of) Hudaybiyah (6th year of Hijrah) took place
- The first incident (the Persian defeating the Romans) took place 5 years before Hijrah and the second incident (The Romans defeating the Persian) took place 2 years after Hijrah (during the Battle of Badr)
- The first incident was 2 years before Hijrah and the second incident was 6 years after Hijrah (Sulah Hudaybiyah)
The above commentary and explanation can be found in ‘Tafseer Jalalayn’.
Mufti Mohammed Shafie has written in ‘Ma’ariful Qura’an Vol 6, Pg 720’:
“The Persian defeating the Romans took place five years before Hijrah and the completion of the counter-attack by the Romans and victory concluded at the time of Battle of Badr, which will be complete 7 years”
Now, from the above we come to know few things:
- If The Persians initially defeated the Romans 5 years before Hijrah which will be 617 AD, and Hijrah took place in 622 AD, thereafter, the Romans completed their victory during the Battle of Badr which took place two years after Hijrah in 624AD, the complete process was seven (7) years.
- If The Persians initially defeated the Romans 2 years before Hijrah, which will be 620 AD, Hijrah took place in 622AD, thereafter, The Romans completed victory during Sulah Hudaybiyah which took place 6 years after Hijrah, which will be 628AD, the complete process in this scenario was eight (8) years.
From the above two conclusions and looking at the commentaries of the Quran and Islamic History in terms of the Hijrah Calendar in both of the above scenarios we will say that The Prophet Mohammed’s (Peace be upon Him) prophecy was true and not false. Moreover, The Quran is Allah’s book so how can Allah bring false statements?
May Allah give us the correct understanding and may He protect us. Ameen
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Mufti Javed ibn Nazir Kachhalia
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
