From Defeat to Victory: The Sahabah and Constantinople

About this lecture

In this lecture, Shaykh Yasir Qadhi explores the little-known first Muslim attempt to conquer Constantinople during the era of the Sahabah — an episode rarely discussed in Islamic history books due to its painful outcome. Drawing on Islamic, Byzantine, Syriac, and even Chinese historical sources, he traces the Umayyad naval campaign under Muawiyah, the death of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari outside the city walls, and the devastating loss caused by the mysterious "Greek fire." The central lesson is one of long-term vision and perseverance: true victory is often built on generations of sacrifice, and what looks like defeat may simply be the foundation for future success.