The Spirit of Islam
Resources
Glossary
Acknowledgements
Unity Diversity Knowledge Historical Summary
Historical Summary Introduction Notable Muslims in History Contemporary Muslims in History Women and Islam
Historical Summary
The Life of the Prophet Muhammad [s] (Peace be upon Him)
  • 570 - Birth of Prophet Muhammad (s) (Peace be upon Him) in Mecca.

  • 610 - Prophet Muhammad (s) (Peace be upon Him) receives the first revelation from Allah through the angel Gabriel, and begins to share the message, first with those close to Him and then publicly with eveyone.

  • 622 - The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) and the small community of Muslims migrates to Medina to flee the persecution of Mecca and establishes a community. This marks the beginning of the Islamic Calendar.

  • 624 - The direction for prayers (Qiblah) changes from Jerusalem to the Ka`bah in Mecca.

  • 630 - Muslims return to Mecca and reclaim the Ka`bah as a monotheistic place of worship.

  • 632 - The "Farewell Pilgrimage" to Mecca, wherin Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) delivers the "Farewell Sermon". Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) dies in June of that year.

The Rightly-Guided Caliphs and Early Expansion
  • 632 - After differrences over the question of leadership, a majority accept Abu Bakr as Caliph [d. 634]. He was the first of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs from 632-634.

  • Umar ibn Al-Khattab [d. 644], Caliph from 634-644.

  • Uthman ibn Affan [d. 656], Caliph from 644-656.

  • Ali ibn Abu Talib [d. 661], son-in -law and cousin of the Prophet (Peace be upon Him), Caliph from 656-661. Shia Muslims recognize Ali ibn Abu Talib, as their first Imam.

  • 638 - Muslims enter Palestine.

  • 687-692 - Construction of Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

  • During the 7th and the 8th centuries, Islam spreads in all directions to include much of the Byzantine and Persian empires, the Indian sub-continent, China, Central Asia, north and west Africa, and crosses from Africa to Spain.

  • 670 - Advance in North Africa. And in Kabul.

  • 691 - Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is built.

  • 711 - Conquest of Spain, and of Sind in the Indian Subcontinent.

  • 706-715 - Construction of the mosque of Damascus.

  • 716 - Invasion of Constantinople

  • 725 - The Muslims occupy Nimes in France.

  • 762 - Baghdad founded by Abbasids, becomes centre of learning.

  • 785 - Great Mosque of Cordoba begins construction.

  • 972 - Al-Azhar University founded in Cairo.

  • 1000 - The city of Timbuktu is founded and becomes a centre of learning.
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