Summary of the Most Significant Events in the History of Islam
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Summary of the Most Significant Events in the History of Islam
In 570 AD, Prophet Mohammad was born in Mecca. Later on, in 610AD, Muhammad got the first revelation when he was meditating in Hira’s cave close to Mecca (Islam, 2019). He heard an authoritative voice talking to him, and he turns into a Messenger of God. In 622AD, after being persecuted in Mecca, Mohammad moved to Medina. The exodus- hijra- symbolizes the start of the Islamic age. Between 623 and 631, after three fights, Mohammad defeated Mecca and forgave all his foes. A written constitution was found as the foundation of governance. The basis of the Muslim civilization was rested in the Medina city-state (Islam, 2019).
Later on, in 632, Prophet Mohammad passed away after offering his “farewell teachings.” Abu Bakr, a close friend of Mohammad, was universally chosen as the first caliph of Islam. After the death of Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s friend Umar al-Khattab was chosen as the next caliph. Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, and Syria came under the Muslim tenet. Jerusalem was seized, Caliph Umar declared that Christians would be protected and honored (Islam, 2019). He introduced the Islamic calendar entailing 12 lunar months.
In 644, Caliph Umar was killed. An “Electoral Board” chose Uthman ibn Affan, the son-in-law to the Prophet and close friend, as the next caliph. Between 650 and 652, Caliph Uthman compiled the Qur’an as it is presently. Islam expanded into northwest Africa (Maghrib). Then, between 653 and 656, Islam spread to Byzantium and Persia (Zayd & Voor het Regeringsbele, 2006). Strife spread in Muslim domains. Caliph Othman passed away in a rebellion. Abi Talib, son-in-law and cousin to the Prophet was made the next caliph. However, his election was dubious. Muawiya, Syria’s governor, pronounces himself the “first Islamic king” in the insolence of Caliph Ali.
The Muslim realm started to fragment between 661 and 680. Later on, between 700 and 750, Islam extended into India. Muslims entered Spain and reached the borders of France. Between 751 and 800, a refined book trade evolved, supported by a flourishing publications business. Al-Kindi became the first Muslim theorist, Jabir ibn Hayan established chemistry as an investigational science between 800 and 850 (Islam, 2019). Between 851and 900, Muslim space scientists measured the globe’s circumference, and Iraqi expert Ibn Hawkal published the volume of the earth’s shape. Theorist and doctor al-Razi published his remarks on measles and smallpox and Al-Tabari, published his world history between 901and 950. Between 951 and 1000, physicist Al-Haytham published his colossal study of optics having the basic formulae of refraction and reflection and proclaimed that empirical investigation and experiment is the basis of all technical work (Humphreys, 1991). Later, an academic war broke out between philosophers, Muslim mystics or Sufis, and theologians between 1050 and 1100.
Between 1700 and 1800, great European powers started to take over the Muslim realm. The ‘Mutiny’ in India was crushed between 1800 and 1900. Similarly, an Indian professor, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, founded the Aligarh University to‘re-educate’ the Muslims (Islam, 2019). Later on between 1900 and 1950, an activist Jamal al-Din Al-Afghani, in cooperation with the Mufti of Egypt, Muhammad Abduh, founded the pan-Islamic drive for change ijtihad (‘rational struggle’). Lastly, between 1950 and 2000, Muslim states in Africa and Asia acquired their independence.
References
Humphreys, R. S. (1991). Islamic History: A Framework for Inquiry-Revised Edition. Princeton University Press.
Islam, M. H. (2019). Islam And Civilization (Analysis Study On The History Of Civilization In Islam). Al-Insyiroh: Jurnal Studi Keislaman, 5(1), 22-39.
Zayd, N. A., & Voor het Regeringsbele, W. R. (2006). Reformation of Islamic thought: a critical historical analysis (p. 256). Amsterdam University Press.