The Romans (Rum)
Nation of the Quran
The Romans (Rum)الروم
Constantinople
Around 614 the Persians crushed the Byzantine Romans and took Jerusalem. The pagans of Makkah rejoiced, since the Romans were People of the Book. The Quran then foretold that the Romans would win within a few years, and that the believers would rejoice on that day (30:2-5).
What does the Quran say?
In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome.
Quran 30:3
How did they end?
The emperor Heraclius defeated Persia in 627-628, as foretold. The Byzantine Empire lasted until the Ottomans took Constantinople in 1453.
What do historians say?
The Persian capture of Jerusalem (614) and Heraclius's victory near Nineveh (627) are well recorded by Byzantine, Syriac and Armenian chroniclers. 'The nearest land' (30:3) is usually read as Syria and Palestine; some modern writers read it as 'the lowest land', the Dead Sea basin.
The lesson
Allah's promise comes true even when the odds look impossible.
Who else is linked?
Muhammad ﷺByzantine EmpireSasanian PersiaRomeIstanbul (Constantinople)
Everyone and everything in the timeline
People named in the Quran and the hadith, the Prophet's ﷺ family and Companions, scholars, rulers, the nations of the Quran, the world's empires and the places where it all happened. Where scholars differ, each entry says so.
Nations of the Quran
- People of Nuh
- Ad
- Thamud
- People of Lut
- Madyan
- Companions of the Thicket
- Companions of the Rass
- People of Tubba
- Saba (Sheba)
- Bani Israil
- People of Firaun
- People of Yunus
- The city of the Sleepers
- Companions of the Ditch
- Companions of the Elephant
- People of the Sabbath
- Yajuj and Majuj
- Quraysh
- Thaqif
- Hawazin
- Aws and Khazraj (the Ansar)
- The Romans (Rum)
- The Persians
- People of Ibrahim
- Jurhum
- People of Ilyas
- People of the Town (Ya-Sin)
- The Sabians
- The Magians (Majus)