Muhammad performs the Hijra (622 CE) After

enduring persecution in Mecca, Muhammad and his

followers migrate to Medina where the people there
accepted Islam. This marks the "hijra" or "emigration,"
which marks 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 BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS
Note: Practice Personal Hygiene Protocols at all times 58
coming to him from God. Eventually he begins to invite
other tribes and nations to Islam.
Muhammad returns to Mecca (630 CE)
Giblah is the direction of Mecca in which Muhammad returns
to Mecca peacefully, and eventually all its citizens accept Islam.
The prophet clears the idols and images out of the Kaaba (The
House of Allah) and rededicates it to the worship of God alone.
Inside the Kaaba is the black stone, a dark rock which was
broken into number of fragments, it is now cemented into the
corner of Kaaba. Kaaba is the seal of his ‘prophethood’. Upon
entering the Kaaba, the hajji performs the tawaf which involves
the circling of the Kaaba seven times in counterclockwise
direction. Muhammad dies and the Rashidun Caliphate begins
(632 CE) By the time of Muhammad's death, the Arabian tribes
have all converted to Islam. Control of the Muslims passes to
the Rashidun ("The Rightly Guided") Caliphate, which contains
first four leaders of Islam after Muhammad. Abu Bakr, his
father-in-law and close associate, elected as caliph, or
successor.
The First Fitna begins (656 CE)
The First Fitna, or civil war, begins in 656, and it marks the first
time Muslim forces battle other Muslim forces. Mu'awiyah,
Muslim governor of Syria, tries to claim power over the current
caliph, Ali, and goes to war against him.
The Second Fitna begins (680 CE)
After the death of Mu'awiya, strife breaks out between Muslims
over his succession. This is recognized as the first official break
between Sunni Muslims, who believe in the legitimacy of all
four Rashidun caliphs, and the Shi'a, who believe that only Ali
and his descendants have the right to rule.
The Islamic Golden Age begins (750 CE)
Due to the wealth from the expanded empire and the empire's
centrality to trade between Africa and Asia, a cultural flowering
called the Islamic Golden Age begins. Much of this is centered
in Baghdad, including the famed House of Wisdom, a grand
library of collected writings. Muslim scholars undertook a
number of great systematic collections of hadith known as the
Six Sahih. The Sahih al-Bukhari of one of the collections was
authored by Imam Bukhari.
Modern spread of Islam begins (1896)
Due to contact with industrialized nations, Muslim populations
spread due to economic migration. The population of Muslims
starts to double around 1869 into 1914, spreading into Eastern
Asia, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. Migration also
eventually spreads to countries in western Europe.
The Five Pillars of Islam
1. Shahadah – A statement of faith all Muslims recite at least
one time in their lives.
2. Salat or Salah – A daily ritual prayer of faith done five times a
day.
3. Zakat – A tax paid to benefit the poor or those in need.
4. Sawm – A fast done during the month of Ramadan.
5. Hajj – A pilgrimage every Muslim must do at least once in
his/her life, if he or she is able to. Apart from Shahada, the four
other duties that must be performed by all Muslims are
collectively called as ibadah or the state of submission. The
Ibadah aims to discipline the adherents and eliminate impostors
to Islamic faith.

Two Major Muslim Denominations

1. Sunni Muslims (The Sunnis) –The largest branch of Islam.
They are traditionalists and are considered the orthodox of
Islam as they endeavor to follow the original religion
established by Muhammad. They accept that the first four
caliphs were the true successors to Muhammad.
2. Shi'a (The Shi'ites) – The second-largest branch of Islam.
Shiite Muslims believe that only the caliph Ali and his
descendants are the real successors to Muhammad. They deny
the legitimacy of the first three caliphs.