Fulfilled Prophecies in the Quran

The victory of the Romans (30:2–5)

The historical setting

1. 602 CEWar breaks out between the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire and Sasanian Persia.
2. 613–614 CEPersian armies take Damascus, then Jerusalem, and carry off the relic of the True Cross.
3. c. 614–619 CESurah ar-Rum is revealed in Makkah. The Muslims, who sympathised with the Christian Romans as fellow People of the Book, are a persecuted minority. Persia goes on to take Egypt (c. 619).
4. 622 CEEmperor Heraclius begins his counter-offensive.
5. Dec 627 CEHeraclius defeats the Persians decisively at the Battle of Nineveh.
6. 628–630 CEPeace is made. The True Cross is restored to Jerusalem (c. 630).

The words of the prophecy

بِضْعِ سِنِينَ bid'i sinin

“a few years”. The Arabic bid' is used for a number from three to nine. Pickthall renders it “within ten years”.

أَدْنَى ٱلْأَرْضِ adna al-ard

Classically “the nearest land”, meaning the lands nearest to Arabia (Syria and Palestine). Because adna can also mean “lowest”, some modern writers note that the Dead Sea basin, where the land lies more than 400 metres below sea level and lower than anywhere else on Earth's land surface, is in this region. This is a modern observation, not the classical reading.

When the surah was revealed, a Roman recovery seemed unlikely. The verse made a specific, checkable claim with a time limit, and Heraclius' victory fell within that limit. The verse goes on to say that on that day the believers would also rejoice. Many classical commentators connect this with the Muslims' own victory at Badr (624 CE), or with the events of Hudaybiyyah (628 CE).

The fate of Abu Lahab (Surah 111)

Abu Lahab was the Prophet's ﷺ own uncle and one of his fiercest opponents. This early Makkan surah declared that he and his wife would end in the Fire, which implies that they would die rejecting Islam.

Abu Lahab lived for about ten more years and died shortly after the Battle of Badr (624 CE). During that time many others who had opposed the Prophet ﷺ accepted Islam. Abu Lahab could have disproved the surah simply by declaring faith, even falsely, but he never did.

The rout of the hosts (54:45)

Surah al-Qamar was revealed in Makkah, when the Muslims were few, weak and persecuted, and fighting was not yet permitted. Years later, at Badr in 2 AH (624 CE), a Muslim force of about 313 met a much larger Quraysh army and defeated it. As he went out to the battle, the Prophet ﷺ recited this very verse:

The vision of entering the Sacred Mosque (48:27)

In 6 AH (628 CE), the Prophet ﷺ set out with his Companions to perform 'umrah but was stopped at al-Hudaybiyyah, where a treaty was signed. Many Companions were disappointed. This verse, revealed on the way back, said the vision would come true: they would enter in safety, with heads shaved or hair cut. In 7 AH (629 CE) they performed the “Fulfilled 'Umrah” ('Umrat al-Qada') exactly as described. Commentators understand the “near victory beforehand” as the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah itself or the conquest of Khaybar that followed it.

The Prophet's protection (5:67)

Whatever the strength of that particular report, the historical record is clear. The Prophet ﷺ survived assassination plots, battles and a poisoning attempt, and he passed away in Madinah in 11 AH (632 CE) after an illness, having conveyed the message in full.

The promise of succession (24:55)

This promise was given in Madinah, when the Muslims still lived in fear of attack. Within a few decades, the faith was established across Arabia and far beyond it.

How to judge a prophecy