Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah

The Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah was among the most consequential engagements in world history, effectively ending Sasanid Persian dominance in Mesopotamia. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas commanded a Muslim force of approximately 30,000 against the main Sasanid army of similar size, which included war elephants and was commanded by the capable general Rustam Farrukhzad. The battle lasted three days, with the Persians enjoying initial advantages due to their elephants. On the third day, Muslim cavalry neutralised the elephants by targeting their trunks, causing them to trample their own troops. Rustam was killed and the Sasanid army collapsed. The victory opened the road to the Sasanid capital Ctesiphon (Al-Mada'in) and effectively dismantled Persian imperial power in Iraq. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, a maternal uncle of the Prophet ﷺ and one of the ten promised Paradise, directed the battle from a position due to illness, praying throughout the engagement.