Timeline of Islam

  • 570

    Mecca

    Birth of Muhammad
  • 575

    Mecca

    Muhammad is orphaned
  • 605

    Kaaba

    Muhammad is entrusted to place the black stone of Kaaba back into the Kaaba
  • 610

    Hira Cave

    Muhammad goes to meditate at Mount Hira, near Mecca and is visited by the Archangel Gabriel
  • 613

    Mecca

    Muhammad spreads the teachings of Islam
  • 620

    Dome of the Rock

    Muhammad has another revelation in which he was taken to a great mosque. He ascends to heaven where he meets all the great prophets learning all the rules, etc and comes back on Earth
  • 622

    Constitution of Medina

    Muhammad and his followers leave Mecca and emigrate to Medina, building the first Muslim community and gradually evolving from there. This event is known as Hijra or migration
  • 630

    Pilgrimage back to Mecca

    Muhammad and his followers pilgrimage back to Mecca.
  • 632

    June 8

    Muhammad passes after a brief illness.
  • 661

    Military Conquest 632

    Muhammad was succeeded by four caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. The final caliph, Ali, was married to Muhammad’s daughter, Fatima and was murdered in 661. His death instigated a divide within the Muslim community as followers of Ali believed he should have been a successor of Muhammad. This group of people came to be known as Shia’s. The Sunni’s, the ones who do not believe Ali should have succeeded Muhammad, make up a majority of the Muslim community.