Timeline of Islamic History
(Common Era and Hijri Dates)
Islamic history spans over fourteen centuries, starting with the Prophet Muhammad’s revelations in the 7th century.
570 CE / 52 BH (Before Hijrah)
- Birth of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)in Mecca.
610 CE / 13 BH (Before Hijrah)
- The first revelationwas received by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in the Cave of Hira.
622 CE / 1 AH (After Hijrah)
- Hijrah (Migration): Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina. This marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
632 CE / 11 AH
- Death of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
- Beginning of the Rashidun Caliphate(الخلفاء الراشدون).
- Key Figures:
- Abu Bakr as-Siddiq(رضي الله عنه) – First caliph.
- Umar ibn al-Khattab(رضي الله عنه) – Second caliph, expanded the Islamic empire.
- Uthman ibn Affan(رضي الله عنه) – Third caliph, compiled the Qur’an.
- Ali ibn Abi Talib(رضي الله عنه) – Fourth caliph, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
632-661 CE / 11-41 AH
- Rashidun Caliphate: The Rightly Guided Caliphs expand the Islamic empire.
- Key Figures:
- Khalid ibn al-Walid(رضي الله عنه) – Renowned military commander.
- Abdullah ibn Mas’ud(رضي الله عنه) – Companion of the Prophet and scholar.
661-750 CE / 41-132 AH
- Umayyad Caliphate(الخلافة الأموية): Capital established in Damascus.
- Key Figures:
- Muawiyah I(رضي الله عنه) – Founder of the Umayyad dynasty.
- Abdul Malik ibn Marwan– Reformed administration and coinage.
- Al-Walid I– Expanded the empire and commissioned the building of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
750-1258 CE / 132-656 AH
- Abbasid Caliphate(الخلافة العباسية): Golden Age of Islam.
- Key Figures:
- Harun al-Rashid– Abbasid caliph, patron of the arts and sciences.
- Al-Ma’mun– Founded the House of Wisdom.
- Al-Khwarizmi– Father of algebra.
- Ibn Sina (Avicenna)– Philosopher and physician.
- Al-Razi (Rhazes)– Pioneer in medicine.
1258 CE / 656 AH
- Fall of Baghdad: The Mongols sack Baghdad.
- Key Figures:
- Al-Musta’sim– The last Abbasid caliph in Baghdad.
- Hulagu Khan– Mongol leader who led the sack of Baghdad.
1258 CE / 656 AH
- Ottoman Empire(الخلافة العثمانية): Founded by Osman I.
- Key Figures:
- Osman I– Founder of the Ottoman dynasty.
- Suleiman the Magnificent– Expanded the empire and reformed laws.
- Mehmed II– conquered Constantinople.
- Safiye Sultan– Influential in the Ottoman court during Suleiman’s reign.
1922 CE / 1340 AH
- End of the Ottoman Empire: The empire is dissolved after World War I.
- Key Figures:
- Mustafa Kemal Atatürk– Founder of modern Turkey.
20th Century / 14th Century AH (1900s CE / 1300s AH)
- Formation of modern Islamic states.
- Key Figures:
- King Abdulaziz Al Saud– Founder of Saudi Arabia.
- Muhammad Ali Jinnah– Founder of Pakistan.
- Hassan al-Banna– Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood.
21st Century / 15th Century AH (2000s CE / 1400s AH)
- Ongoing development of Islam across the world.