Birth of Islam: the historic battle of Al Qadisiyyah (637 AD) located thanks to spy satellites

A team of archaeologists recently identified the exact location of the Battle of Al Qadisiyyah, a major event in Islamic history that took place in 637 AD. This discovery, the result of a collaboration between the University of Durham and the University of Al Qadisiyyah, was made possible thanks to the analysis of satellite images from the 1970s.

This historic confrontation, which lasted four days, pitted the Muslim forces of the caliphate of Omar ibn al-Khattab against the powerful Sassanid armies of King Yazdgard III. Despite their numerical inferiority and facing the formidable Persian war elephants, the Arab forces, led by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, won a decisive victory, particularly after the death of the Persian general Rostam Farrokhzad.

The site, located about 30 kilometers south of Kufa in Najaf province, has features consistent with historical descriptions: a deep trench, two fortresses and the remains of an ancient river. Fragments of pottery dating from the period were also found there.

This battle, which marks the victory of Muslim forces over the Sasanian Empire and the expansion of Islam towards ancient Persia, remains a central element in the teaching of Arab history today. Researchers plan to begin archaeological excavations on site in the coming year.

This discovery is part of a broader project to preserve archaeological heritage in the Middle East and North Africa, and coincides with a revival of archeology in Iraq, a country often described as the “cradle of civilization”.

This major advance demonstrates the importance of new technologies in modern historical research. By combining satellite archives and traditional methods, researchers are opening new perspectives for understanding the events that shaped the medieval world. This innovative methodology could now serve as a model for locating other major historical sites as yet undiscovered.