The series of important events remarkable in the history of Islam
c. 570 CE Birth of Muhammad.c. 610 CE Muhammad receives first vision in a cave near Mecca.
c. 610-22 CE Muhammad preaches in Mecca.
622 CE Hijira - Muhammad and followers flee to Medina.
Islamic calendar (AH, Anno Hegirae) begins.
632 Death of Muhammad. Abu Bakr chosen as caliph (sub-leader of Islam).
c. 650 Caliph Uthman has the Qur'an written down
656 Uthman is murdered; Ali becomes fourth caliph
661 Ali is murdered; Mu'awiya becomes caliph. Beginning of Umayyad Caliphate (661-750).
680Death of Husayn marks beginning of the Shi'at Ali ("party of Ali") or Shi'a sect.
732 Muslim empire reaches its furthes extent. Battle of Tours prevents further advance northwards.
765 Division within Shi'ites - majority are the modern Imamiyya (Twelvers) who co-exist with Abbasid caliphs; minority are more extreme Isma'iliyaa (Seveners).
940 Muhammad al-Mahdi, the twelfth imam, disappears. Twelvers still await the future return of the "Hidden Imam."
late 900s West Africa begins to convert to Islam
1099 Christian Crusaders take Jerusalem.
1945-60s Islam spreads to the West with mass migrations from Asia, Africa, and India.
1947 Pakistan founded as an Islamic nation. Islam becomes a minority religion in India.
1957 Independent Malayan state established with Islam as the official religion but guaranteed tolerance.
1960s Familes from SE Asia and North Africa emigrate to Europe and the Americas.
late 1990s Taliban come to power in Afghanistan.
2001 Muslim extremists attack the United States.
c. 610-22 CE Muhammad preaches in Mecca.
622 CE Hijira - Muhammad and followers flee to Medina.
Islamic calendar (AH, Anno Hegirae) begins.
632 Death of Muhammad. Abu Bakr chosen as caliph (sub-leader of Islam).
c. 650 Caliph Uthman has the Qur'an written down
656 Uthman is murdered; Ali becomes fourth caliph
661 Ali is murdered; Mu'awiya becomes caliph. Beginning of Umayyad Caliphate (661-750).
680Death of Husayn marks beginning of the Shi'at Ali ("party of Ali") or Shi'a sect.
732 Muslim empire reaches its furthes extent. Battle of Tours prevents further advance northwards.
765 Division within Shi'ites - majority are the modern Imamiyya (Twelvers) who co-exist with Abbasid caliphs; minority are more extreme Isma'iliyaa (Seveners).
940 Muhammad al-Mahdi, the twelfth imam, disappears. Twelvers still await the future return of the "Hidden Imam."
late 900s West Africa begins to convert to Islam
1099 Christian Crusaders take Jerusalem.
1945-60s Islam spreads to the West with mass migrations from Asia, Africa, and India.
1947 Pakistan founded as an Islamic nation. Islam becomes a minority religion in India.
1957 Independent Malayan state established with Islam as the official religion but guaranteed tolerance.
1960s Familes from SE Asia and North Africa emigrate to Europe and the Americas.
late 1990s Taliban come to power in Afghanistan.
2001 Muslim extremists attack the United States.