Islam is an Abrahamic-monotheistic religion based upon the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (l. 570-632 CE, after whose name Muslims traditionally add “peace be upon him” or, in writing, PBUH). Alongside Christianity and Judaism, it is a continuation of the teachings of Abraham (featured in both Jewish and Christian scriptures, considered a prophet in Islam, after whose name Muslims say, “peace be upon him” as well), although it does differ in some respects from both of these. The adherents of Islam are referred to as Muslims, of which there are around two billion in the world today, second only to Christians in number.
More about: IslamDefinition
Timeline
-
570Muhammad is born in Mecca.
-
610Muhammad receives his first revelation on Mount Hira.
-
622Muhammad undertakes the Hegira (Hijra), the migration from Mecca to Medina, establishing the start of the Islamic calendar.
-
624Battle of Badr: Muhammad's forces win, resulting in a turning point for Islam against the ruling Quraysh tribe.
-
625Battle of Uhud: Quraysh tribe defeats the Muslims.
-
627Battle of the Trench: Quraysh troops attempt to siege Medina (then called Yathrib), but lose to the Muslim force.
-
627Siege of Bani Qurayzah: Muslims capture the Jewish stronghold.
-
628Treaty of Hudaybiyyah: A peace agreement is signed between Muhammad's Muslims and the people of Mecca.
-
628Conquest of Khaybar oasis: Jews barricade themselves in a fort at Khaybar oasis and are allowed to remain living there if they pay the Muslims one third of their produce.
-
629First Pilgrimage ("lesser" pilgrimage or "umrah") made by Muhammad and his Muslims to Mecca after migrating to Medina.
-
629Battle of Mu'tah: Muslims attempt to capture the village east of the Jordan River from the Byzantine Empire to show their expanding dominance, resulting in a Muslim defeat.
-
630Non-violent conquest of Mecca: The Quraysh realize that the Muslims now greatly outnumber them and allow the Muslims to capture their city, Mecca, and rule it as they please.
-
630Battle of Hunayn: Ending in a decisive victory for the Muslims over the Bedouin tribe of Hawazin.
-
630Attempted Siege of Ta'if: Muhammad's forces are initially unable to siege Ta'if and convert its people to Islam.
-
632"Farewell Hajj Pilgrimage": This is the only Hajj pilgrimage in which Muhammad participates.
-
632Muhammad dies in Medina, not clearly naming a successor to lead the Muslim people.
-
632 - 634Abu Bakr becomes the first caliph (successor to Muhammad) of the Rashidun Caliphate.
-
634 - 644Umar ibn al-Khattab succeeds Abu Bakr, becoming the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.
-
637Muslim invasion of the Levant. The Byzantines are driven out.
-
644 - 656Uthman ibn 'Affan succeeds Umar to become the third caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.
-
c. 650Uthman orders the establishment of one "true" Quran while destroying the others.
-
651Muslim Conquest of Mesopotamia.
-
656 - 661Ali ibn Abi Talib succeeds Uthman to become the fourth and final caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.
-
Mar 670Hasan ibn Ali, Shia Islam's second imam (his father, Ali ibn Abi Talib, being the first imam), is poisoned to death.
-
Oct 680Husayn ibn Ali, Shia Islam's third imam, is beheaded by Yazid I's force at the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq.
-
750Fall of the Umayyad Caliphate.
-
750Start of the Abbasid Caliphate.
-
754 - 775Reign of Al-Mansur over the Abbasid Caliphate.
-
756Abd al-Rahman I establishes the Emirate of Cordoba.
-
756 - 788Reign of Abd al-Rahman I over the Emirate of Cordoba.
-
777Zaragoza invites Charlemagne into Spain.
-
783The city of Zaragoza falls to forces from the Emirate of Cordoba.
-
784Abd al-Rahman I begins construction on the Great Mosque of Cordoba.
-
788Death of Abd al-Rahman I of the Emirate of Cordoba.
-
1031Fall of the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba.
-
1313 - 1341Uzbeg rules the Golden Horde and makes Islam the state religion.
