Spread of Islam

Makkah

560

Makkah was an important trade post and center for religion in Arabia. It was located near a fresh-water well making it an ideal place to live for the diverse population consisting of Arabs, Jews, Christians etc.

Arabs

560

The Arabs were mostly nomadic at the time; Bedouins. The actual ancient origins of these people are disputed - Africa/Mesopotamia. The Arabs valued camels and swords highly, had no real central government and they had religious beliefs surrounding polytheism or many gods.

Quraysh

560

The Quraysh were a powerful tribe local to the Arabs and they highly encouraged tribes to deposit idols in the Kaaba and would keep them safe for a small fee.

Birth of Muhammad

570

Born into Hashim family of the Quraysh tribe. His mother was told by angels to name the child Muhammad, meaning highly praised.

Muhammad Growing Up

Period: 576 to 595

Muhammad lost his mother when he was just six (his father died before his birth). He was raised by his uncle, Abu Talib. As a young man, he worked for a wealthy widow and eventually got married to her, and ended up having 7 kids. He had a reputation as a seeker of being only or solitude.

First Revelations

Period: Nov 3, 610 to Nov 4, 611

Muhammad was disturbed by the problems all around him and retreated into solitude in the mountains. His time spent here would help form the basis for Islam today specifically the holiday, Ramadan. In the mountains, he saw the angel Gabriel who told him the word of Allah commanding him to recite it and share it with his people.

Becoming a Preacher

Nov 3, 612

Muhammad decided at last to share his vision based off of what Gabriel had told him. He began preaching it and seeing himself as a part of the line of great biblical prophets. Muslims came to see him as a messenger or prophet for the religion. He taught that Allah was the only God that people should worship but neither Jews or Christians should be forced to convert.

Discrimination in Mecca

Nov 3, 617

Muhammad and his followers were declared to be boycotted by the leaders of the city leaving them all without food and facing starvation. During the two-year boycott, he lost his wife and his last living relative Abu Talib. Near this time he had another powerful vision.

First Islamic Community

Nov 3, 621

A group of tribes from Yathrib came to Mecca to talk to Muhammad about how they were tired of internal fighting. He helped them convert to Islam creating the first Islamic community.

Muhammad's Exodus of Mecca

Nov 3, 622

Muhammad recognized the danger that the Muslims were in, in Mecca and left the city moving to Yathrib. Due to this, the Quraysh were angered by this but Muhammad was very successful with the Yathrib tribes and combined all of the religious groups in the community and promised to respect them all and the settlement became known as the city of Medina.

Death of Muhammad

Nov 3, 632

Muhammad at his death had already united most of the region under his leadership and the religion of Islam. Islam continued to spread after his death as there are near 1.5 billion Muslims in the world all whom are followers of Muhammad despite him living thousands of year in the past.

Riddah Wars

Nov 10, 633

Then name for Abu Bakr's military campaigns against ex-Muslims and the redirection of fighting in smaller Arab Groups.

Abu Bakar Contributions

Nov 10, 634

Abu Bakr was the caliph following Muhammad who wanted to reunite the community. Abu Bakr helped connect the community over the teaching of the Quran and did a great deal in redirecting infighting particularly among smaller Arab groups toward other empires.

Abu Bakr - Byzantine Interactions

Nov 10, 634

Abu declared jihad or holy war on the Byzantine Empire, however, he died nearly right after.

Umar and Uthman Contributions

Period: Nov 10, 634 to Nov 11, 656

The two caliphs following Muhammad and Abu Bakr - both worked vigorously towards Arab Unity. They helped administer the new lands conquered by Arab Armies and they were the ones who helped complete the finishing of the Quran. This helped ensure that all Arabs were adknowledging the same word.

Interactions with Persians

Nov 10, 640

The second empire that the Arabs attacked was the Persian Empire and they were able to conquer much land nearly all the way to the Atlantic.

Umayyad Dynasty

Nov 10, 700

The dynasty following the rules of Umar and Uthman who helped nearly double the size of the empire and expand it even larger.

Abbasid Dynasty

Nov 10, 750

The dyansty or rebels that overthrew the Umayyads and emerged remaining for the next 500 years.