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Muhammad was born around the year 570, in the trading, pilgrimage city of Mecca. His father died around the time he was born and his mother died when he was six. He was orphaned and raised by his grandfather, and two years later, by his uncle who was the head of the Hashin clan.
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When Muhammed was about 40 the Angel Gabriel came down and told Muhammed that he is the messanger for his God.
"Proclaim--- in th ename of your God,
the creator,
Who created man from a clot of congealed blood.
Proclaim! Your God is most generous.
He who ha taught man by the pen
things they knew not" the Muslim's believe that is what Gabrel said to Muhammed. -
After enduring persecution in Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrate to the nearby town of Yathrib (later to be known as Medina), where the people there accepted Islam. This marks the "hijrah" or "emigration," and the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad establishes an Islamic state based on the laws revealed in the Quran and the inspired guidance coming to him from God. Eventually he begins to invite other tribes and nations to Islam.
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Muhammad broke with his Jewish supporters because they refused to recognize him as a prophet and adopt Isalm. He chose now to emphasize the Arabness of the new religion and has his followers face Mecca when praying instead of Jerusalem. In the end, all the Jews were either banished or executed.
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At the Battle of Abdr, Muhammad and his followers defeated an army from Mecca. Muhammad's chief rival in Mecca, Abu Jahl, was executed. Meccan leader Abu Sufyan (c. 567 - c. 655) laid siege to Muhammad's forces in Medina during the battle of the Trench. Even with 10,000 men he was unsuccessful for the 15 days he was there. Muhammad suspected the Banu Quraiza Jews of helping the Meccans and had all the men killed.
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Muhammad returns to Mecca with a large number of his followers. He enters the city peacefully, and eventually all its citizens accept Islam. The prophet clears the idols and images out of the Kaaba and rededicates it to the worship of God alone.
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Muhammad dies after a prolonged illness. The Muslim community elects his father-in-law and close associate, Abu Bakr, as caliph, or successor.
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Muslims enter Egypt and rout the Byzantine army. Muslims consider their conquest as the liberation of subjugated people, since in most instances they were under oppressive rule.
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Islam begins to spread throughout North Africa.
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Imam Ali is killed, bringing to an end the rule of the four "righteous caliphs": Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali. This also marks the beginning of the Umayyad rule.
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Muslims enter Spain in the west and India in the east. Eventually almost the entire Iberian Peninsula is under Islamic control.
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Islam continues to spread through the continent of Africa, including Nigeria, which served as a trading liaison between the northern and central regions of Africa.
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European Crusaders take Jerusalem from the Muslims. Eventually Muslims defeat the Crusaders and regain control of the holy land.
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Islam continues to spread throughout Asia. Malaysian traders interact with Muslims who teach them about Islam.
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Reign of Uthman (Osman), who founds the Ottoman Empire. Muslim merchants and missionary Sufis settle in SE Asia.
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Ottomans capture Bursa and Iznik and move into Europe. Capital of Ottoman Empire moved from Bursa to Adrianople.
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Ottomans conquer the Byzantine seat of Constantinople and change its name to Istanbul.
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Castile and Aragon capture Granada. All Muslims (and Jews) expelled from Spain.
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Reign of Suleyman the Magnificent; Ottoman Empire reaches its zenith. Hungary and coastlands of Algeria and Tunisia come under Ottoman rule.
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Akbar founds the Mughal dynasty in northern India.
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Non-Muslim Ottoman citizens granted equality with Muslims.
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The Qu'ran is finished after being perfected over 23 years.
