We went out and Ghalib bin Abjar (R.A) was accompanying us. He fell ill on the way and when we arrived at Medina he was still sick....
BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Narrated by Khalid bin Sa’d (R.A)
We went out and Ghalib bin Abjar (R.A) was accompanying us. He fell ill on the way and when we arrived at Medina he was still sick. Ibn Abi ‘Atiq (R.A) came to visit him and said to us, “Treat him with black cumin. Take five or seven seeds and crush them (mix the powder with oil) and drop the resulting mixture into both nostrils, for Aisha (R.A) has narrated to me that she heard the Prophet (S.A.W) saying, ‘This black cumin is healing for all diseases except As-Sam.’ Aisha said, ‘What is As-Sam?” He said, ‘Death.”
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71, Number 591
The Eclipse of Thales ended the Battle of Halys in 585 BCE., between the Lydians and the Medes.
A solar eclipse is believed to have ended a six-year war between the Lydians and the Medes in 585 BCE. This extraordinary event, known as the Eclipse of Thales, is one of history's most remarkable examples of a celestial phenomenon influencing human events.
According to ancient records, the conflict between the Lydians and the Medes had been ongoing for years, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. The two kingdoms, located in modern-day Turkey and parts of Iran, were locked in a bitter struggle for power. The turning point came during a fierce battle near the Halys River (now the K z l rmak River). As the fighting raged on, the sky unexpectedly darkened, plunging the battlefield into eerie twilight. The soldiers on both sides, unfamiliar with the scientific explanation for such an event, interpreted the sudden darkness as a divine sign.
The eclipse reportedly filled the warring armies with fear and awe, prompting an immediate cessation of hostilities. Both the Lydians and the Medes took the event as a message from the gods to end their conflict. With the intervention of mediators, including the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II and Syennesis of Cilicia, the two sides negotiated a truce. The Halys River was established as the boundary between their territories, and the peace agreement was sealed through a royal marriage, strengthening ties between the kingdoms.
The Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus is credited with predicting the eclipse, though it is unclear how precise his forecast was. Regardless, the timing of the eclipse during such a critical moment in history has cemented its place in legend. Modern astronomers have confirmed that a total solar eclipse occurred on May 28, 585 BCE, lending credence to these ancient accounts.
This remarkable episode highlights the profound impact of natural phenomena on human history. To ancient civilizations, celestial events like eclipses were deeply intertwined with divine will, influencing decisions and shaping outcomes. The Eclipse of Thales serves as a reminder of how humanity’s interpretation of the natural world has evolved over millennia, transitioning from superstition to scientific understanding.
