| c570 |
Birth of Muhammad to the tribe of Qureish. His father is Abdullah
who died before he was born. Mother died 6 years later. Raised by
grandfather and uncle, Abu Talib, who at one stage of Muhammand's life,
protected him.
|
| c592 |
According to traditions, he began travelling to Syria with trading
caravans, and on one of these journeys met Bahira, a Syrian Christian monk.
|
| 595 |
Married Khadijah, a wealthy widow, who was Muhammad's employer.
|
| 610 |
While meditating in a cave on Mt Hira near Mecca, Muhammad claimed
that the angel Gabriel appeared to him to recite (Qur'an).
|
| 615/6 |
Persecution from his own tribe of Qureish forced some of his followers
to emigrate to the Christian kingdom of Abyssinia. Muhammad and his
"Companions" stayed in Meeca.
|
| 619 |
Death of Khadija, and of Abu Talib, Muhammad's uncle and protector.
Muhammad's position now less secure in the tribe.
|
| 622 |
Escape to Medina from the hostile Meccans in response to an invitation
from a group of Muslim converts ("Helpers") for him to come to resolve
the conflicts between the different communities in Medina. This flight
is known as the Hijra, and marks the beginning of Muslim calendar.
Muslim dates are marked with A.H.
|
| 624 |
Muslims began raiding caravans from Mecca. During Battle of Badr
Muslims (324 men) defeated Meccans (950 men)
|
| 624 |
Battle of Uhud - Muslims defeated by Meccans. Some Muslims dismayed
with Muhammad.
|
| 627 |
Battle of Ahjab - Muslims repelled the Mecan attack on Medina
|
| 628 |
Treaty of Hudaibiyah between Muhammad and Meccans, enabling him to
return for pilgrimage the following year.
|
| 629 |
Muhammad and the Muslims returned to Mecca on 11 January with
10,000 men. Meccans submitted without fighting. Muhammad declared a
general amnesty. All idols in the Ka'aba destroyed. Some traditions
say that Muhammad did not destroy the images of Jesus and Mary in
the Ka'aba. Muhammad returned to Medina. Beginning of mass movement
of tribes embracing Islam
|
| 631 |
Muhammad's last pilgrimage to Mecca
|
| 632 |
Muhammad died in Medina
|
| 632-634 |
1st Caliph, Abu Bakr: prevented many tribes from breaking away.
Defeated Byzantine army in 634.
|
| 633 |
Battle of Yamana against Musailamah Al-Kazzab who claimed to be a
prophet. Several Companions who knew the Qur'an by heart were
killed. Abu Bakr was said to have instructed Zaid b. Thabit to
prepare a single copy of the complete Qur'an, who did so and
demanded that there are two witnesses for each piece.
|
| 634-644 |
2nd Caliph, 'Umar: supposedly carried the collections of the surah
of the Quran. Defeated Byzantine army at Battle of Yarmuk (636);
captured Jerusalem, and gained control of Syria, Egypt and Persia.
Expelled all Jews and Chrisitians from Arabia.
|
| 644-656 |
3rd Caliph, 'Uthman: appointed Zaid to collect the fragments of the
written Qur'an and established the official text of the Qur'an. All
other texts were ordered destroyed.
|
| 653 |
Campain against Armenia and Azerbaidjan, and serious differences arose
among the Muslims regarding the Qur'an. It was said that Uthman
instructed Zaid b. Thabit and three others to prepare a fresh copy.
After this, several copies were sent throughout Muslim lands, and
Uthman ordered all other copies destroyed.
|
| 656-661 |
4th Caliph, 'Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law.
At the death of Muhammad, a small party (shi`ah) sympathetic to
`Ali wanted him to be the caliph, whom the Shi`ites claimed was given
this authority by Muhammad. The majority voted instead for Abu Bakr.
|
| 660-750 |
Umayyad Dynasty ruled in Damascus. Golden Age of Islam. by 732.
Islamic Empire stretched from Spain to Persia.
|
| 750-2258 |
Abassid Dynasty ruled in Baghdad.
|