Important Historic Dates of Islam

The Islamic Year is 10 days shorter than the Gregorian Year. Therefore Islamic dates differ from Gregorian dates. The Gregorian Calendar is used here for dates. Dates preceded by a c are approximate.

Convert between Gregorian Year and Islamic Year :
Gregorian Year = 32/33 * (Islamic Year) + 622
Islamic Year = 33/32 * (Gregorian Year - 622)

Dates

 Events

c2100BC

The Prophet Ibrahim  is born. By this time, the people have gone back to worshipping idols. He knows that these idols cannot be god, so he breaks them. The people try to burn him for this act but he is saved by Allah. He searches for the truth and it is revealed to him by Allah.
The Prophet Ibrahim  is ready to sacrifice his son Isma'il . Allah accepts his readiness but sends a lamb to be sacrificed instead. The Prophets Ibrahim  and Isma'il build the Ka'bah in Makkah.

c1700BC

The Prophet Ya'qub born, in Egypt.
He calls people to Allah. The believers become known as the Banu Isra'il.

c1250BC

Fir'awn, the ruler of Egypt looks upon the Banu Isra'il as foreigners and treats them harshly, fearing that one day they may be too powerful.
He hears about the coming of a prophet, from his sears, and gives order for every Banu Isra'il male child born, to be killed.
The Prophet Musa  born at this time. He is concealed by his mother for three months. When she can no longer manage she is inspired by Allah to put him into a specially made box and throw the box into the river. He is found by a member of Fir'awns family and taken to Fir'awns wife, who adopted him.
The Prophet Musa  grows up in Fir'awns house. During this time he comes across the Egyptian beating one of the Banu Isra'il. He gives the Egyptian a blow and kills him accidentally.
The Prophet Musa  leaves Fir'awns house for Midian where he stays for ten years. He then stays at Tuwwa, a valley at foot of the mountain At-Tur in Sinai. Here, he is given divine guidance by Allah, selected as a prophet, and given the Tawrat. Two signs are bestowed on him : a stick that, when thrown turns into a living serpent, and the ability to make his hand shine.
The Prophet Musa  is commanded by Allah to invite Fir'awn to the right path. He begs Allah to make his brother Harun his helper, and it is granted. They go to Fir'awn and tell him that they have been chosen to save the Banu Isra'il from Fir'awns oppression. Fir'awn makes fun of them, so the Prophet Musa  shows the signs. Fir'awn, thinking him a magician, challenges him to face his own magicians. The magicians can't match him, and profess their faith in Allah, making Fir'awn even angrier.
Allah commands the Prophet Musa to leave Egypt with his followers. They set of in the middle of the night. They are chased by Fir'awn and his soldiers. They are trapped at banks of the River Nile. Allah commands the Prophet Musa  to throw his stick into the water. As he does so, the River Nile divides into two, forming a road, allowing the Banu Isra'il to cross over. Fir'awn follows, but as soon as all the Banu Isra'il are safely across, water pours back to form the River Nile. Fir'awn and his soldiers are all drowned.

c1000BC

The Prophet Dawud is given The Zabur by Allah.

c0

The people have gone back to worshipping idols. The Prophet Isa born. His birth is a miracle, since his mother, Maryam, is still a virgin. He can talk while still a baby.

c30AD

The Prophet Isa  is commissioned as a prophet. He is bestowed with some miraculous powers : make birds out of clay, heal leprosy within minutes, restore the eyes to the blind, and give life to the dead.
He is given the Injil, and commanded by Allah to bring the people onto the right path. He asks the people to obey Allah. Some people make up things about him and say that he is part of Allah or the son of Allah. For these people there can be no forgiveness, since they have committed the biggest sin, that of Shirk 
The Prophet Isa  is taken up by Allah. He is NOT crucified, like some people think.

545AD

Khadijah, wife of the Prophet Muhammad born.

571AD

The Prophet Muhammad  born, in Makkah, Arabia. His father, Abdullah, dies before his birth.

577AD

The Prophet Muhammad's  mother, Aminah, dies. He is looked after by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib.

579AD

The Prophet Muhammad's grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, dies. He is looked after by his uncle, Abu Talib, a leader of the Quraish and a merchant.

583AD

The Prophet Muhammad accompanies his uncle, Abu Talib, on a business trip to Syria.

585AD

Local war breaks out between the tribes of Quraish and Hawazin, in the Hajj season.

595AD

The Prophet Muhammad  marries Khadijah, a 40 years old widow.

600AD

Ali, cousin of the Prophet Muhammad is born.

605AD

Rebuilding of the Kaabah is completed by the Quraish.
Fatimah, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad  is born.

610AD

The Prophet Muhammad  receives the first revelation of the Quran, during the month of Ramadan.

610AD - 612AD

First phase of the Islamic Movement. The Prophet Muhammad  preaches to friends and closest relatives. The Prophet Muhammad's (Peace Be Upon Him) wife Khadijah and cousin Ali become Muslims.

613AD

The Prophet Muhammad  receives the command, from Allah, to preach openly to the public, and does so from Mount Safa. This marks the beginning of the second phase of the Islamic Movement.
A'ishah, wife of the Prophet Muhammad  after the death of Khadijah, born.

613AD - 615AD

The Makkans who had, up to now, not taken any serious notice, become very hostile. Many Muslims are tortured. Attempts are even made on the Prophet's  life. Hamzah, a brave man, and the Prophet's uncle becomes a Muslim, adding great strength to the Islamic Movement.

616AD

Umar, a strong and tough person, in his late twenties, become a Muslim adding greater strength to the Islamic Movement.

617AD - 619AD

The Quraish are seething at the increase in the strength of the Muslims. They plot another assault and decide on a total boycott of the Muslims. The boycott is eventually lifted because of differences between the Quraish themselves.

620AD

Year Of Sorrow. Both the Prophet's  uncle, Abu Talib and wife, Khadijah, die.
The Most Difficult Day. Visit to Ta'if. Visits three important people to invite them to Islam. All three refuse, insult him and incite street urchins to drive him out of the city.
Al-Mi'raj, on the night of 27th Rajab. The Prophet  is taken to Jerusalem, and from there ascends to the heavens where he leads the other prophets  in prayer. He is then shown Paradise and hell. The five times daily prayers are ordained.

621AD

First Covenant of Al-Aqabah. 12 people from Madinah accept the Prophet's call to Islam and sign a pledge in which they agree to obey Allah, not commit murder, adultery or steal.

622AD

Second Covenant of Al-Aqabah. This time 73 people take up the pledge, including 2 women.
Hijrah.The Prophet Muhammad commands the Makkan muslims to migrate to Madinah, and after they are safely there migrates himself to establish the first Islamic state. The Islamic Calendar begins from this date.
Treaty with the jews is signed. The jews, however, did not live up to it and later betrayed it.
Masjidun Nabi (The Prophet's Mosque) is constructed.
Jihad is ordained.
Adhan and Zakah introduced.
The Qiblah is changed from Bait ul-Maqadis to Al-Kaabah.
Sawm (fasting) prescribed. Ramadan set as the month of fasting.
Battle of Badr. Muslims come out triumphant, even though the Muslims were outnumbered 3 to 1, and were not as well equipped as the Makkans.
Marriage of Ali and Fatimah.

623AD

1st restriction on drinking wine revealed.
Battle of Uhud. Makkans plan revenge on the Muslims. Muslims very nearly win. However the battle is just about a draw because of the disobedience of some archers who left their posts to collect some of the booty.
Revelations about Riba (interest) and laws concerning orphans, inheritance, marriage and rights of wives.

624AD

Revelations about Hijab (veil) for women and the prohibition of drinking wine.

625AD

Battle of Dumatul Jandal.
Battle of Banu Al-Mustaliq.
Revelations about laws of adultery and slander.
Battle of AhzabThe Prophet on hearing that the Makkans are launching an offensive against Madinah, orders trenches to be dug around the city. The enemy force, when it arrives at Madinah, cannot gain entrance and waits for 4 weeks and then drained leaves.

626AD

The Hudaibiyah Agreement is signed in which the Muslims are allowed into Makkah the folowing year and ten years of peace is agreed.
Khlaid Bin Walid and Amr Ibnul As, two great generals, become Muslims.

627AD

The Prophet Muhammmad sends emissaries to the Roman Emperor, the Persian Emperor, the Ruler of Egypt, the King of Abyssinia, the Cheifs of Syria and other leaders, initing them to Islam.
Battle of Khaibar.
The Prophet performs the postponed Umrah.
Revelation about laws concerning marriage and divorce.

628AD

Conquest of Makkah. The Hudaibiyah Agreement invalidated by the Makkans. The Quraish do not have enough power to stop the Muslims, as all the top generals are on the Muslims side. The Muslim army enters Makkah without incident.
Abu Sufian, the arch-enemy of the Prophet is granted an unconditonal pardon.
The Prophet Muhammad declares general amnesty for the entire community of Makkah.
Battle of Humain.
Siege of Ta'if.
Revelation of final order prohibiting Riba (interest).

629AD

Battle of Tabuk.
Revelation ordering Jiziah (protection tax on minorities).
Hajj prescribed.

632AD

The Prophet Muhammad delivers his farewell speech at Arafat before about 120,000 Muslims.
The Prophet Muhammad dies, in Madinah.
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq is elected to become the first Khalifah (succesor).

632AD - 634AD

Collection and collation of the Quran is achieved.
Romans cause trouble. Four seperate armies are defeated.

633AD

Fatimah dies.

634AD

Abu Bakr dies.
Umar Al-Faruq becomes the second Khalifah.

634AD - 644AD

Vast areas of the Roman Empire, the Persian Empire and the whole of Egypt are brought under Islamic rule.

644AD

Umar appoints a six-man committee to elect his succesor.
Umar is stabbed and dies 3 days later.
The committee chooses Uthman Al-Ghani, and he becomes the third Khalifah.

644AD - 656AD

Vast areas of North Africa, including Cyprus, Morocco, Tripoli and Tunisia, are brought under Islamic rule. Roman Empire, the Persian Empire and the whole of Egypt are brought under Islamic rule.
Constantine, Emperor of Rome, attacks Alexandria with a naval fleet of 6,000 men but is defeated by the Muslim naval force.
Civil war with unruly and angry mobs.

656AD

Uthman is murdered by rioters.
Ali Al-Murtada is elected the fourth Khalifah, at a difficult time.

656AD - 659AD

The once mighty Muslim army is mostly involved with solving internal clashes. The Muslim Ummah (community) is seriously divided, groupings develop and mutual trust and confidence are undermined.

659AD

Ali is fatally wounded during Salatul-Fajr and later dies.

661AD - Early 10th Century

Known as the Period Of The Imams. Spiritual and political leadership passes from Ali, after his death, to the twelve Imams, in succession.

670AD

A'ishah dies.

672AD

Egypt comes under Muslim rule.

680AD

The martyrdom of Imam Hussein at Kerbala, Iraq.

711AD

Muslims enter Spain and begin Islamic rule.
Islam is established in India.

750AD - 850AD

The Shari'ah, Islamic System Of Law, is developed.

800AD

Baghdad, Iraq is the greatest city in the expanding Islamic world.

970AD

The Islamic University Of Al-Azhar is founded in Cairo, Egypt. It is the world's oldest university.

1138AD - 1193AD

Life of Salah ud-Din, Governor of Egypt. He was the adversary of Richard the Lion Heart in the Crusades. He was eventually victorious over Richard the Lion Heart, and is still a role model of Islamic chivalry.

c1300AD

Osman, who gave his name to the Ottoman Dynasty, starts to establish his power in Turkey.

1453AD

The Ottomans conquer Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire and rename it Istanbul. The Ottoman Empire expands.

1492AD

Muslim rule in Spain ends.

1520AD

The Ottoman Empire includes South-East Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

1550AD

A Muslim kingdom is established in Sumatra. From here, Islam spreads to Java, the Moluccas and Borneo.

1560AD

The Sulmaniyyah Mosque complex is completed, in Istanbul. It includes the mosque, 7 colleges, a hospital, an asylum, a soup kitchen, a bath house, shcools, shops, a sports ground and fountains

1798AD

Egypt is occupied by France.

1809AD

Usman dan Fodio founds the Khalifate of Sokoto in Nigeria.

1827AD

Britain, France and Russia support Greece against its Ottoman rulers.

1830AD

The French invade Algeria.

1873AD

The Dutch attack the Sumtran Muslim kingdom.

1882AD

The British attack and occupy Alexandria, Egypt.

1894AD

Britain's first purpose-built mosque is completed in Woking,Surrey.

1915AD

The Constantinople Agreement between Britain, France and Russia on the divisions of Ottoman land.

1917AD

The British fight the Ottomans for control of Gaza, Palestine.

1922AD

The end of the Ottoman Empire and the Khalifate of Sokoto.

1927AD

The Persian Shah abolishes Islamic dress and rules that all men must wear European-style clothes.

1950AD - 1970AD

Muslims migrate to Europe, the USA and Australia.

1954AD

The Algerians rebel against French colonial rule.

1979AD

The Persian Shah is deposed and the Islamic Republic of Iran is established.

1980AD - Present

Genocide of Muslims in Bosnia, Burma, Chechnya and Kashmir.