Important Events in Ramadan: Islamic History Date by Date
Ramadan is the month of fasting and of the Quran, but it is also the month in which some of the most important events in Islamic history took place. From the first revelation in the Cave of Hira to the Battle of Badr and the peaceful Conquest of Makkah, here are the key events of Ramadan, date by date, with the Hijri (AH) and Gregorian (CE) years.
Note: early Islamic dates come from the classical biographies (Sirah) and histories. Where historians give different dates, we show the one most commonly accepted and say so. Gregorian years are approximate conversions.
Ramadan events at a glance
| Date | Event | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ramadan (last ten nights) | First revelation of the Quran to the Prophet ﷺ in the Cave of Hira (Laylatul Qadr) | 13 years before Hijrah (c. 610 CE) |
| 10 Ramadan | Death of Sayyidah Khadijah (RA), the Prophet’s first wife (commonly dated) | 3 years before Hijrah (c. 619 CE) |
| 15 Ramadan | Birth of Imam Hasan ibn Ali (RA), the Prophet’s grandson (commonly dated) | 3 AH (625 CE) |
| 17 Ramadan | Battle of Badr, the first great battle of Islam | 2 AH (624 CE) |
| 17 Ramadan | Death of Sayyidah Aisha (RA) in Madinah (commonly dated) | 58 AH (678 CE) |
| 20 Ramadan | Conquest of Makkah (Fath Makkah) (commonly dated) | 8 AH (630 CE) |
| 21 Ramadan | Martyrdom of Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) in Kufa, after he was attacked on 19 Ramadan | 40 AH (661 CE) |
| Ramadan | Tariq ibn Ziyad’s victory at the Battle of Guadalete, opening al-Andalus (Spain) | 92 AH (711 CE) |
| 25 Ramadan | Battle of Ain Jalut: the Mamluks defeat the Mongols | 658 AH (1260 CE) |
| 1 Shawwal | Eid al-Fitr, the day after Ramadan ends | Every year |
The first revelation of the Quran
Allah says: “The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Quran was sent down, as guidance for mankind” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:185), and “Indeed, We sent it down on the Night of Power” (Surah al-Qadr 97:1). The first verses revealed were the opening of Surah al-Alaq, beginning with Iqra, “Read”, when the angel Jibreel (AS) came to the Prophet ﷺ in the Cave of Hira near Makkah, around 610 CE. The exact night is not known; it is sought in the odd nights of the last ten days. See our Laylatul Qadr 2027 guide.
17 Ramadan 2 AH: the Battle of Badr
Less than two years after the Hijrah, about 313 Muslims faced an army of around 1,000 from the Quraysh at the wells of Badr, south-west of Madinah. Despite being outnumbered roughly three to one, the Muslims won a decisive victory. The Quran calls it Yawm al-Furqan, “the Day of Criterion” (Surah al-Anfal 8:41), and describes how Allah supported the believers with angels (8:9). The companions who fought at Badr, the Ahl al-Badr, hold a special place of honour in Islam.
20 Ramadan 8 AH: the Conquest of Makkah
After the Quraysh broke the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Prophet ﷺ marched on Makkah with about 10,000 companions. The city was entered almost without fighting. The Prophet ﷺ cleared the Kaaba of idols, reciting “Truth has come and falsehood has vanished” (Surah al-Isra 17:81), and he forgave the people who had persecuted him for years, declaring a general amnesty. The Conquest of Makkah is remembered as one of history’s great examples of mercy in victory.
The family of the Prophet ﷺ in Ramadan
- Sayyidah Khadijah (RA), the first person to accept Islam and the Prophet’s beloved wife and supporter, passed away in the 10th year of prophethood, a year so painful that it is called the “Year of Sorrow” (Aam al-Huzn). Many historians date her death to 10 Ramadan.
- Imam Hasan ibn Ali (RA), the elder grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, is commonly said to have been born on 15 Ramadan 3 AH in Madinah.
- Sayyidah Aisha (RA), Mother of the Believers and one of the greatest scholars of Hadith, passed away in Madinah in Ramadan 58 AH, commonly dated to 17 Ramadan.
- Sayyiduna Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), the fourth Caliph, was struck while leading the Fajr prayer in the Masjid of Kufa on 19 Ramadan 40 AH and died two days later, on 21 Ramadan.
Later turning points in Ramadan
- Ramadan 92 AH (July 711 CE) – al-Andalus: the commander Tariq ibn Ziyad defeated the Visigothic king Roderic at the Battle of Guadalete, beginning nearly eight centuries of Muslim rule in Spain and Portugal, the age of Cordoba and Granada.
- 25 Ramadan 658 AH (3 September 1260 CE) – Ain Jalut: in Palestine, the Mamluk army under Sultan Qutuz and Baybars defeated the Mongols, who had destroyed Baghdad two years earlier. It was the first major defeat of the Mongol advance and saved Egypt and the Holy Places.
Frequently asked questions
Which battle took place in Ramadan?
The Battle of Badr took place on 17 Ramadan 2 AH (624 CE). The Conquest of Makkah (20 Ramadan 8 AH), the Battle of Guadalete (Ramadan 92 AH) and the Battle of Ain Jalut (25 Ramadan 658 AH) also took place in Ramadan.
When was Makkah conquered?
Makkah was conquered in Ramadan 8 AH (January 630 CE), most commonly dated to 20 Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ entered the city with about 10,000 companions and granted a general amnesty.
When was the Quran first revealed?
The Quran was first revealed in Ramadan, on Laylatul Qadr, in about 610 CE, when the first verses of Surah al-Alaq came to the Prophet ﷺ in the Cave of Hira.
Related
- Ramadan 2027 Sehri and Iftar timetable – world cities
- Laylatul Qadr 2027
- Islamic Calendar 2027
- Hadith of the Day
Sources: The Quran (2:185, 8:9, 8:41, 17:81, 97:1); Ibn Hisham, Sirat Rasul Allah; Britannica – Battle of Badr; Britannica – Battle of Ayn Jalut. Some dates follow the most commonly accepted opinion among historians.