ISLAMIC HISTORY IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

 

The history of the youngest religion in the world is replete with a large number of events that are of interest to modern Muslims. They shed light on the processes that have determined the current state of the Ummah. Our kind of "cheat sheet" briefly highlights the key dates in the development of Islam. 

AS YOU KNOW, THE MUSLIM CALENDAR DIFFERS FROM THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR, WHICH IS NOW USED EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING ISLAMIC COUNTRIES. THE FOLLOWERS OF ISLAM BEGIN THE CHRONOLOGY FROM THE MOMENT OF THE MIGRATION OF THE FINAL MESSENGER OF THE ALMIGHTY, THE PROPHET MOHAMMAD (S.G.V.) AND HIS COMPANIONS FROM MECCA TO YASRIB (LATER MEDINA). THEREFORE, IN THIS MATERIAL WE USE BOTH CALENDARS, BUT IN THE DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS BEFORE THE HIJRA, THE DATE IS GIVEN ONLY ACCORDING TO MILADI, I.E. GREGORIAN CHRONOLOGY.

 570 Miladi or 571 (April 20 or 22) – the birth of the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.). A key event in the development of the Islamic religion. It took place in Mecca, located on the territory of modern Saudi Arabia. The final Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.) was born in the family of Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Mutallib and Amina bint Wahb, who belonged to the Hashim clan, which, in turn, adjoined the Quraysh tribe. 

595 – the marriage of Mohammad (S.G.V.) to Khadija (R.A.). The final Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.) was married for the first time at the age of 25, while his wife was 40 years old at that time. She was the only spouse of Mohammad (S.G.V.) until her death, which occurred in 619. During this time, the couple had two sons who died in infancy, as well as four daughters: Zainab, Ruqaya, Fatma, Umm-Kulsum (R.A.). Fatma (R.A.) subsequently She became the wife of Ali (R.A.), the fourth righteous Caliph. Their offspring, continued by their sons Hassan and Hussein, are revered in the Muslim Ummah most of all. Umm-Kulthum and Ruqaya married the third righteous Caliph Uthman (R.A.). 

610 – the beginning of the prophetic mission of Mohammad (S.G.V.). The Mercy of the Worlds (S.G.V.) liked to spend time thinking about life and the meaning of being in this world in the cave of Hira on Mount An-Nur, located near Mecca. During one of these visits to this place, the angel Jabrayil (A.S.) appeared to Mohammad (S.G.V.), who explained to him the importance of the mission entrusted to him by the Almighty Creator. The first people who accepted the sermon of the Final Messenger of God (S.G.V.) and converted to Islam were his wife Khadija (R.A.), close friend Abu Bakr (R.A.), 10-year-old cousin Ali (R.A.) and adopted son, whom Mohammad (S.G.V.) freed from slavery, Zayd ibn Haris (R.A.). 

615 – the first Muslims go to Ethiopia. The mission of the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.), which began, was met with bitterness on the part of the Meccans. But this did not prevent the formation of a group of companions (Sahabs in Arabic) around the Final Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.), which was slowly but surely replenished. Nevertheless, this fact did not save the first Muslims from the cruel persecution by the Meccan pagans. As a result, it was decided that part of the Muslim community would relocate to Ethiopia, since the local ruler Negus was in conflict with the Meccans. About 80 believers, among whom were Uthman ibn ‘Affan (r.a.), the daughter of the Prophet Ruqaya (r.a.), arrived on African soil, where they were welcomed hospitably. The Final Envoy himself (S.G.V.) remained in Mecca in order to continue to convey his mission to the residents of the city. 

616 – the adoption of Islam by Umar (R.A.). In the early years of the prophetic mission, he, being one of the most respected Meccans, was a fierce opponent of Muslims. His harsh temper was the cause of sudden outbursts of anger, from which even his relatives were not immune. For example, it happened when he found out about the adoption of Islam by his sister and her husband, after which he beat both of them. Dislike of the followers of Islam was due to the fact that Umar (R.A.) did not like that the Mercy of the Worlds Muhammad (S.G.V.) calls on his fellow tribesmen to abandon the religious beliefs of their ancestors. At some point, Umar (R.A.) even thought about killing the Messenger (S.G.V.). But, fortunately, the scenario went down a completely different path. The Prophet himself (S.G.V.) often appealed to Allah with a request to grant the Muslim community as a faithful follower and an integral part of Umar (R.A.). As a result, the plea was accepted. After the adoption of Islam by Umar (S.G.V.), Muslims began to talk more actively and more openly about their religion. 

619 – the death of the Prophet's wife (S.G.V.) Khadija (R.A.), Abu Talib, the failure in Taif and the night ascension. This year turned out to be extremely eventful, not so much for the Mercy of the Worlds of Mohammad (S.G.V.), but for the entire history of Islam. Initially, the Prophet (S.G.V.) had to face the death of his beloved wife. The nature of personal relations with Khadija (R.A.) shows one remarkable fact – all the children of the Final Messenger (S.G.V.), with the exception of Ibrahim, were born only by her. Ibrahim's mother was another wife, Maria al-Kibtiya. The death of the Prophet's uncle (S.G.V.) Abu Talib was a great political loss, because despite his refusal to accept Islam, he always took the side of Mohammad (S.G.V.) and protected him from aggression emanating from particularly violent Meccans. Abu Lyakhab, who took the place of the head of the Hashim clan after the death of Abu Talib, treated the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.) badly. The trip of the Grace of the Worlds (S.G.V.) together with his adopted son Zayd ibn Haris (R.A.) to Taif was associated with the expectation of finding new followers who would heed his call. However, everything turned out in a diametrically opposite way – the crowd drove them away. Only one person believed Muhammad (S.G.V.) – it was a Christian from the Syrian Nineveh. In the same year, an epoch-making event took place: the night journey to Jerusalem and the ascension of the Prophet (S.G.V.) to heaven. At the al-Aqsa Mosque, he read a collective prayer, which took place under his leadership. At the same time, the Jamaat was composed by the prophets and messengers of previous eras. Then Mohammad (S.G.V.) ascended to Heaven, where the Almighty instructed him and his followers to recite prayer five times a day. 

620 – marriage to Aisha (R.A.). The daughter of Abu Bakr (R.A.) played an important role in passing on to new generations of Muslims the Most Pure Sunnah of the Final Messenger (S.G.V.). 

622 by Miladi (1st year of Hijri) – the migration of Muslims from Mecca to Medina. The call of Mohammad (S.G.V.) began to find supporters outside of Mecca. Thus, a group of residents of the city of Yasrib, located 400 km from the homeland of the Messenger (S.G.V.), converted to Islam and, seeing what obstacles the Mercy of the Worlds (S.G.V.) was facing, invited him and the Muslim Meccans to move to their city. The Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.) made the move (Hijrah) together with his faithful friend Abu Bakr (R.A.). Their trip was full of dangers, but Allah Almighty made sure that the Prophet (S.G.V.) and his faithful companion remained safe. After the Muslim community settled in Yasrib, it began to be called Madinatun-Nabi (the city of the Prophet) or simply Madina (Medina – in the Russian-speaking tradition). 

624 (2nd year of Hijri) – the Battle of Badr and the change of direction for prayers. The move of Muslims to Medina was a forced step. The followers of Islam left their property in Mecca, which was taken over by their opponents from among the Quraysh polytheists. There was a need to answer for this significant blow. As a result, the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.) and his companions decided to organize a raid on a trading caravan of Quraish traveling from Syria to Mecca. The clash between the troops of Muslims and pagans took place near the town of Badr. The victory was won by the followers of Islam, despite the three-fold numerical superiority of the Meccans. This battle instantly became a landmark in the history of the Muslim Ummah, because Muslims realized that they were becoming an important force. The importance of the event is evidenced at least by the fact that there is a mention of the battle even in the Holy Quran: 

"THE ALMIGHTY HELPED YOU DURING THE BATTLE OF BADR. BE GOD-FEARING TOWARDS ALLAH..." (3:123) 

In the same year, Muhammad (S.G.V.) changed the direction of prayer from Jerusalem (al-Aqsa Mosque) to Mecca (Kaaba). 

625 (3rd year of Hijri) – the battle of Mount Uhud. The polytheists humiliated near Badra set a goal to take revenge from the Muslims. During the year they gathered their strength to begin a military campaign to Medina. During this period, it was possible to prepare an army, the number of which amounted to 3 thousand people. Muslims, in turn, could not even dream of such a number of fighters in their ranks. Mohammad (S.G.V.) managed to gather only 700 soldiers. However, even despite such a numerical imbalance, initially the advantage was on the side of the Muslims. The battle would probably have ended in their victory, but the archers, who were supposed to be responsible for the rear of the Medina army, left their positions, fearing that they would not get any of the spoils of war. Khalid ibn Walid, who would later become an outstanding Muslim commander, saw this fatal mistake and ordered the polytheists to strike at the rear of the Muslims. The defeat of the Medinites was also facilitated by the fact that the Final Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.) was wounded in this battle. This brought confusion to the organization of the Muslim army.

627 (Year 5 of the Hijra) – the battle of the Moat. The Meccans decided to finish off their opponent by assembling an army that the Arabian Peninsula had not seen before – 10 thousand people. It was based on polytheists from Mecca and Bedouin tribes. In addition, the opponents of the Muslims managed to conclude a secret agreement with the Qurayza tribe of Medina, which was supposed to strike at the rear of the army of Mohammad (S.G.V.). The followers of Islam understood that the battle could not be avoided, and therefore, on the advice of an associate of Salman al-Farisi, they began to dig a moat around the city. This made it much more difficult for the Meccans to make a successful assault on the city. Coupled with bad weather, lack of food resources and confidence in the strength of the alliance with the Banu Qurayza, the faith in the final success of the polytheists was rapidly falling. As a result, the battle did not take place in the literal sense of the word, but the Meccans received a very serious blow to the moral and psychological mood. The positions of the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.), on the contrary, have become stronger. He actually turned into the most influential political leader. 

628 (Year 6 of the Hijra) – the Hudaybiyah pact. Muslims, feeling the growing opportunities that began to open up to them, decided to move to Mecca to make a pilgrimage. The group of believers under the leadership of the Final Messenger of God (S.G.V.) was about 1600 people. But the followers of Islam failed to perform the Hajj. They signed a pact with the Quraish that the pilgrimage would be allowed next year. Despite the fact that the original intention to worship Allah through Hajj was not realized, Muslims have won a moral victory here. It was not for nothing that the first verse of the Surah "Al-Fatah / Victory" was revealed to the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.) after the signing of the pact under Hudaybiyah: 

"TRULY, WE HAVE GIVEN YOU AN OBVIOUS VICTORY" (48:1) 

After that, Islam was adopted by prominent Meccan military leaders, who later became famous Muslim commanders – Khalid ibn Walid and Amr ibn Al-As (R.A.). Seeing that the number of Muslims is increasing, the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.) decides to send his ambassadors to the rulers of Byzantium, Persia, Ethiopia, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Yemen, Syria with an offer to convert to Islam. Someone heeded this call (for example, the rulers of Oman), someone respectfully refused (the Byzantine autocrat Heraclius, the ruler of the Egyptian Copts), but there were also those who treacherously killed the Muslim ambassador (the Persian king). 

629 (Year 7 of the Hijra) – the Umrah of the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.). This year, the implementation of the clause from the Hudaybiyah treaty took place. The final Messenger (S.G.V.) and his companions committed umrah. At the same time, the Prophet's uncle (S.G.V.) Abbas converted to Islam. His descendants later formed the Abbasid dynasty. 

630 (the 8th year of the Hijra) – the capture of Mecca by Muslims. The Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.), having gathered 10 thousand troops, took his hometown almost without a fight, as Mecca fell into decline. He did not punish his opponents, who had previously mocked him and his associates. The Prophet (S.G.V.) forgave everyone and thereby demonstrated the moral superiority of Islam over the polytheists. At the same time, many Meccans adopted the Islamic faith. 

632 (the 10th year of the Hijra) – the death of the Final Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.). By this time he had successfully overcome the worship of meaningless idols by the Arabs. The apotheosis of the victorious procession of the prophetic call was the Hajj of Mohammad (S.G.V.), at which he was accompanied by 90 thousand people. The Mercy of the Worlds (S.G.V.) read his famous sermon, during which Allah Almighty sent down the third verse of the Surah "Al-Maida": 

"ON THIS DAY THE REVELATION OF THE RELIGION OF ISLAM IS COMPLETED FOR YOU..." (5:3) 

In the same year, Abu Bakr (R.A.) becomes the first righteous caliph. The closest associate of the Prophet had to face a difficult situation when the Bedouin tribes ceased to recognize the authority of the caliph and began to nominate false prophets from their ranks. Abu Bakr (R.A.) successfully suppressed this rebellion. 

634 (12 AH) – Umar (R.A.) becomes Caliph, who took this post according to the order left before his death by Abu Bakr (R.A.). The period of 10-year rule of Umar (R.A.) is considered the "golden age" of the Islamic caliphate. This applies not only to the territorial conquests that took place at that time, but also to the style of rule of the caliph. He led a very ascetic lifestyle, prioritizing the principle of justice in resolving interpersonal and social conflict situations. Geographically, the Islamic state during the reign of the second Caliph was enriched by Syria, Iraq, the Course (Jerusalem), Palestine, Egypt. 

639-640 (17-18 Hijri years) – Umar (R.A.) decided to introduce a Muslim calendar consisting of 12 months. The date of the first day of the relocation of the Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.) to Medina is set as the initial date of the chronology. 

644 (23 Hijri) – the murder of Umar (R.A.). The attempted murder occurred during his circumambulation of the Medina Mosque to perform morning prayers. He was attacked by Abu Lulu, a native of Persia. Historians believe that the reason for the attack on the second righteous caliph was his policy towards Persia, namely, the conquest of this territory. It is noteworthy in this regard how he reacted on his deathbed to the message about the nationality of the murderer. Umar ibn Khattab (R.A.) said something like this: "How good it is that the Almighty has destined me to die not at the hands of a Muslim." Before his death, he also managed to appoint six people who had to decide who would become the next ruler of Muslims. The elected council consisted of Ali ibn Abu Talib, Zubayr ibn al-‘Auwam, Talha ibn ‘Ubaydullah, Uthman ibn ‘Affan, Sa'd ibn Abu Waqqas and Abdur-Rahman ibn Auf (may Allah be pleased with all of them). They voted Uthman ibn Affan (R.A.) as the next caliph. He was one of the first Meccans who responded to the call of the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.) to adopt a new religion. He is also known for being married to two daughters of the Final Messenger (S.G.V.) – Ruqaye and Umm Kulthum (R.A.), as a result of which he received the nickname "Zin-Nurayni" (the owner of two rays). The first years of the reign of Usman (R.A.) were characterized as extremely successful, as Muslim troops continued their offensives and conquered new lands – advancing further to the north of Africa, victory on the Byzantine troops, the conquest of Derbent (modern Russian Dagestan), the appearance of the Muslims own fleet, the capture of Cyprus. However, this process soon stopped, and problems began. The fact is that the period of rapid growth of the caliphate became a time when property inequality began to grow rapidly in Muslim society. Some received a lot from conquering campaigns, while others were forced to settle for a small income, believing that Islam condemns the desire for profit. Naturally, these two trends collided, causing social ferment. In addition, many criticized Usman (R.A.) for the fact that he began to promote his relatives and members of the Umaya clan, from which he came, to key positions in the state. Even in pre-Islamic times, this clan competed with the Hashemites, whose representative was Mohammad (S.G.V.). 

650-652 (29-31 AH) – compilation of the written code of the Holy Quran. Perhaps the main and best outcome of the reign of Uthman (R.A.) is the collection and compilation of the Quranic text, which Muslims use to this day and will, with the permission of the Almighty, do it until the Day of Judgment. It should be noted that in the time of the Prophet (S.G.V.), the text of the Book of Allah was passed from mouth to mouth. The work of bringing it into one collection, in fact, began during the reign of Abu Bakr (R.A.), but was brought to its logical conclusion only after almost 20 years. 

656 (34 AH) – the murder of Usman (R.A.). During the 12 years that the third righteous Caliph (R.A.) ruled, socio-political tension in different parts of the state has steadily increased. As a result, this resulted in the murder of the ruler, which was committed by the rebels who came from Egypt and Iraq. 

656 (36 AH) – Ali ibn Abu Talib (R.A.) becomes Caliph. The murder of Uthman (R.A.) shocked everyone. The growing crisis in the Islamic State had to be resolved somehow. Under these conditions, Ali (R.A.) accepted the offer of the Medinites, Egyptians and Iraqis to lead the caliphate. But this did not solve the political problems. Against Ali (R.A.) were Zubayr ibn al-‘Auwam, Talha ibn ‘Ubaydullah (R.A.), to whom the Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.) promised during his lifetime to enter the Heavenly abode, and Aisha (R.A.) – the wife of the Prophet Mohammad (S.G.V.). The quintessence of the confrontation was the so-called "Camel Battle", in which the best Sahabas clashed on different sides. As a result, the victory was won by Ali's supporters, and Zubair and Talha (may the Almighty be pleased with them) died. During the reign of Ali (R.A.), the Islamic state found itself in a severe crisis due to the peculiarities of the political and managerial process in the previous stages of the development of the caliphate. There was no question of conquering new territories. 

661 (41 AH) – the murder of Ali (R.A.). Tension in the country was growing, new groups of rebels appeared. Some of them decided to kill Ali (R.A.), Muawiya and Amr ibn al-Asa, considering that all the problems in the state arise because of their dispute. As a result, the idea was realized only in relation to the fourth righteous caliph, who was deprived of his life in the mosque of the city of Kufa. 

In the same year, the Umayyad Caliphate was founded. A relative of Usman (R.A.) Muawiya has long shown imperious ambitions. The death of Ali (R.A.) opened up new opportunities for him. Hassan, the son of the fourth righteous caliph, renounced his rights to the throne, not wanting to aggravate the strife in the Muslim Ummah and thinking that he could become caliph after Muawiyah. As a result, the capital of the state was moved to Damascus. But Hassan did not become ruler after Muawiya's death. Instead, a protracted conflict between Sunnis and Shiites began, which makes itself felt to this day. 

678 (58 AH) – the death of Aisha (R.A.). After the "Camel Battle", the Prophet's wife (S.G.V.) ceased to engage in political affairs, settling in Medina and passing on to new generations of Muslims the Most Pure Sunnah of the Messenger of the Almighty (S.G.V.). 

699 (80 AH) – the birth of Abu Hanifa, an outstanding Islamic theologian, the founder of the Hanafi Madhhab, which spread actively in the post–Soviet space. Fakih died in 767 by Miladi (150 by Khjra). 

711 (92 AH) – Muslims continue territorial expansion. The troops of the followers of Islam reached Spain in the west and India in the east. If the Iberian Peninsula was almost completely at the mercy of Muslims, then everything was not so simple with India, and therefore the campaigns to the east continued in the following centuries. 

717 (99 AH) – birth of Malik ibn Anas. The founder of the Malikite Madhhab lived almost all his life in Medina, which did not prevent his interpretation of Sharia from spreading far beyond the Arabian Peninsula. He died in 803 according to Miladi (some sources report 795), which according to the Muslim calendar falls on the year 179. 

718 (100 AH) – Cordoba is the new center of Muslim Spain instead of Seville. The European campaigns of Muslims are becoming more and more large-scale, they are reaching France. 

750 (133 AH) – the end of the reign of the Umayyad dynasty, the transfer of power into the hands of the Abbasid rulers. In less than a hundred years, the Umayyad caliphate expanded the territory of Muslim influence so much that part of the European continent, the entire north of Africa, and Central Asia came under control. The Umayyad caliphate was replaced by the Abbasid caliphate, which lasted for 5 centuries (750-1258 according to Miladi). 

767 (150 AH) – the birth of Mohammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i. The theological and legal school created by this scientist is popular in various corners of the globe, including in the North Caucasus. Imam al-Shafi'i died in 820 (205 AH). 

780 (163 AH) – the birth of Ahmad ibn Hanbal. The theologian formulated his vision of Islamic law, being in fierce opposition to the movement of mutazilism, which emphasized the rational interpretation of the sources of Islam. In this regard, Ahmad ibn Hanbal's madhhab is distinguished by frank literalism. Faqih died in 855 Miladi (241 AH). 

827 (212 AH) – Muslims conquer Sicily (modern Italy). 830-833 (215-218 AH) – the foundation of the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, whose main task was to build up the intellectual baggage of the Islamic state and spread knowledge. 

922 (310 AH) – the adoption of Islam as the state religion in Volga Bulgaria. The Muslim faith was established on the banks of the Volga River not through conquest, but through the preaching of Islamic values. 

970 (359 AH) – the foundation of the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, which would later become the main religious university in the Islamic world. 

987 (377 AH) – ambassadors from Muslim Volga Bulgaria at a reception at Prince Vladimir's. Kievan Rus was in search of a state religion that would allow it to gain allies. To this end, Prince Vladimir of Kiev organized the reception of ambassadors from different countries professing three different Abrahamic religions – Christianity (Orthodox and Catholic), Judaism and Islam. The values of Islam were introduced to the Kievan sovereign by people from Volga Bulgaria, which officially adopted this religion in 922. 

1299 (698 AH) – the foundation of the Ottoman Caliphate. The state of the Ottoman Turks for the next 6 centuries will become the main actor in the global arena, with which Islam will be associated. The Ottoman Empire will control territories not only in the Middle East and North Africa, but will also move deep into the European continent through the Balkan Peninsula. 

1922 (1341 AH) – the abolition of the Ottoman Empire. This event gave rise to the formation of many national states on the world map, in which the majority of the population were Muslims. 1932 by Miladi (1351 AH) – the formation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Before that, the Saud dynasty had twice tried to create its own state, but both attempts turned out to be a failure. By 1932, Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdur-Rahman Al-Saud had subdued almost the entire territory of the Arabian Peninsula. A few years later, huge oil deposits were discovered in the country, which became the basis of the welfare of the state. The ruler of the KSA automatically received the official status of "Keeper of two Muslim shrines".