One night Allah’s Apostle (S.A.W) offered the prayer in the Mosque and the people followed him....
BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Narrated by Aisha (R.A):
One night Allah’s Apostle (S.A.W) offered the prayer in the Mosque and the people followed him. The next night he also offered the prayer and too many people gathered. On the third and the fourth nights more people gathered, but Allah’s Apostle did not come out to them. In the morning he said, “I saw what you were doing and nothing but the fear that it (i.e. the prayer) might be enjoined on you, stopped me from coming to you.” And that happened in the month of Ramazan.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 21, Number 229
The Roman Empire’s weapon, called Greek fire, was used in ship-mounted flamethrowers.
Greek fire was a highly effective incendiary weapon used by the Byzantine Empire, particularly in naval warfare. Developed in the late 7th century during the reign of Emperor Constantine IV (r. 668–685), it played a crucial role in the survival of Byzantium against enemy forces, especially during Arab sieges of Constantinople. While the exact composition of Greek fire remains unknown, historical accounts describe it as a flammable liquid that could ignite upon contact with water, making it especially deadly in naval battles.
The invention of Greek fire is credited to a Greek engineer named Callinicus of Heliopolis, who reportedly fled from Syria to Constantinople after the Muslim conquests in the region. Callinicus brought with him knowledge of chemical substances, which he refined into a weapon that could be launched through siphons mounted on Byzantine ships. Unlike simple incendiary arrows or flaming oil, Greek fire had the unique ability to continue burning even on water, making it nearly impossible to extinguish. The Byzantines kept the formula a closely guarded secret, ensuring that their enemies never replicated it.
One of the most significant uses of Greek fire occurred during the Arab sieges of Constantinople in 674–678 and 717–718. The Byzantines, heavily outnumbered by the Umayyad Caliphate, used Greek fire to devastating effect, burning enemy ships and repelling the invaders. This strategic advantage helped preserve the Byzantine Empire for centuries, preventing the rapid expansion of Islamic forces into Eastern Europe. The weapon continued to be used in later conflicts, proving instrumental in defending Byzantium against other naval threats.
Despite its effectiveness, Greek fire gradually faded from use as the Byzantine Empire declined. By the late Middle Ages, the formula had been lost, and new military technologies emerged. Modern scientists and historians have attempted to recreate Greek fire, but the exact combination of ingredients remains a mystery. Theories suggest it may have contained petroleum, quicklime, sulfur, or other combustible materials, but no definitive evidence has been found. Greek fire remains one of the most fascinating and legendary weapons of the ancient world. Its impact on naval warfare and its role in preserving the Byzantine Empire make it a remarkable example of medieval military innovation.
