-
661
Ali martyred and Muhammad killed by Kharijites (Arab Warriors)
-
Period: 669 to 869
Spread of Shiites in Persia
Imams (religious leaders) took control
-Hussein descendants -
680
Hussein killed by Arab Muslims armies of Yazid I
Iranians (Shias) believe it was "self-sacrifice"
- Sacred month: Muharram -
869
12th Imam is born and disappears
Hujjat ibn al-Hassan al-Mahdi is hidden not dead
-They believe he will come back someday in order to bring a new era of justice -
1501
Safavid Dynasty is founded
Ismail I: lead the population into Shiism -
Persian defense walls
Against both Ottoman (Turkish empire) and Arab enemies (Sunni Muslims) ---Iranian empire contrasts in regards to other Muslim empires -
Iranian Revolution
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini challenged the whole history and beliefs of Iranian Islam -Approximately 500 Muslims converted to Christianity -
Spread of Christianity
Hundreds and thousands of Muslims converted
-90% of converted Muslims were previously Shias
-Acts 8:1-25 persecution [Stephen was killed] -
Rise of Christianity today
approx. 500,000-1 million by 2020---7 million
