THE ISLAMIC PERIOD

The Rise and Spread of Islam

What is Islam?

Islam means 'submission to the will of God' the second largest religion in the world with
over 1.2 billion followers. Prophet Muhammad Bin Abdullah (s.w.t) was born in Mecca. Prophet
Muhammad (s.w.t) the messenger of Allah. His father Abdullah Ibn Abdul Talib died when his
mother Amina Bint Wahb a was still pregnant. He was taken care by a nurse named Halimah
bint Zuib. When Muhammad (s.w.t) 6 years old his mother died. His grandfather Abdul Muttalib
take care of him and died 2 years afterwards. When he is 12 years old he accompanied his uncle
Abu Talib on a trade journey to Syria and Busra (iraq). At the age of 25 Muhammad (s.w.t)
married a noble and rich Quraishite widow named Khadija daughter of Khuwailid and years
passed they blessed a daughter Fatimah later married to the prophet's cousin Ali, 4 caliph in
Islam. When Muhammad (s.w.t) reached at 40 years old. Angel Jibreel appeared to him and
asked him to read “Iqrah“ for 3 times. The first revelation happened in 25, 27 and 29 month of
Ramadan at Cave Hira in Mecca. The first to be converted to his monotheistic religion were
from among his family members and his servant Zayd.

The prophet Muhammad (s.w.t) from the very start of his movement revolted against the very
structure of the lawless and ignorance society then at Mecca. Which was in the state of
Jahiliyyah or Daryp Harb (House at War) through instituting religious and social reforms not
without opposition from the Meccans. He direceted the Meccans to the workship of one true
God and shun away from polythesim. His final movement he established the Darul Islam (House
of Peace) in Mecca and the whole of arabia.

After 4 years the start of his movement, Muhammad (s.w.t) was gaining more adherents. The
polytheistic Meccans resented Muhammad's attact on their god and idols. They harassed and
subjected early Muslim convert to severe persecution that compelled some of them 83 man
and 18 women to migrate first to Abbysinia. Muhammad with a few followers migrated from
Mecca to Medina where they received by supportive or helpers. This migration of Holy Prophet
called Hijrah. At Medina won acceptance from the people especially Muhajireen and ansars as
their religious and military leader. And also the holy Prophet established the first known
majestic Islamic city-state in Medina
The first 4 orthodox caliphs in islam were known as "Khulafah ar-Rashidun" they governed the
accordance with the Al-Qur'an and Sunnah (tradition) of the holy prophet.

1. Abu Bakr al-siddiq

The significance of the reign of Abubakar marked the beginning of a political administrative
system in Islam known as the caliphate. It was also marred by Al-Riddah war which apostates
and unbeliever were reluctant to pay the obligatory Zakat and unwilling to cooperate with the
new Islamic governance and reverted to Jahiliyyah.

2. Umar bin al-Khattab

During the reign of Umar the Islamic Empire has expanded considerably that in the year 636.
A.D. after the Battle of Yarmuk, the muslim conquered Turkey, Western Asia, Egypt and even
the vast territory included the districts of Iraq, Syria, Jazirah, Mawsil, Yaman and Bahrain. The
people (ummah) in the Islamic realm gave Umar the title of "Amir ul-Mu'mineen" (commander
of the faithful) He was noted as a Just Ruler because of his fair treatment of the conquered
people.

3. Uthman bin 'Affan

He governed for 12 years. Nepotism was rampant in the appointment of new governors under
caliph Umar for his relatives.

4. Ali bin Abi Talib

Ali ibn Abi Talib conquered; Persia, Iraq, and Nahavand (Iran). The murder of Ali has ended the
rule of Khulafah ar-Rashidun (Four Rightly Guided Caliphs).

Expansion of Islam under Umayyad, Abbasid, and Turkish Caliphal Dynasties

Umayyad Caliphate founded by Muawiyah ibn Abu Suffian capital at Damascus (Syria)

He established a registry office, employed teachers and technocrats from conquered

The decline and fall of the Umayyad Dynasty was caused inherently by the vastness of empire,
whicj very difficult to govern, abd characterized by corruption, tyrannical rule, and the
Hashimite (Abbasid) Revolution to overthrow Umayyad power in the khilafat.

Abbasid Caliphate founded by Abu al-Abbas as-Saffa capital at Baghdad (Iraq)

Adopted the policy of exterminating the Umayyads, which led to the outbreak of Umayyad
rebellion in different provinces of the empire.

Abu al-Abbas as-Saffah was succeeded by his younger brother Abu Jaafar Abdullah as Caliph
with the title Al Mansur meaning victorious. in 144 A.H./762 A.D he established the City of
Baghdad and fortified it because Damascus was inhabited by the Umayyads and Kufah. by the
fickle-minded Shi'ites. He installed the sunni faith against Shi'a. The thought that his dynasty
must collapse prompted Al Mansur to merge the spiritual and temporal power of the Caliph. He
nominated his son Al Mahdi as his immediate successor.

The Abbasids were challenged by a numbers of ruling dynasties that included an Umayyad
dynasty in Cordova, Spain (756-1031), the Fatimids dynasty shia Islamic Caliphate who ruled
and established themselves in Tunisia and ruled Egypt (969-1171), Muslim Berber dynasties
(Almoravids and Almohads) in North Africa and Spain (11 -13 century),

Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786-809 A.D) gave the people enough opportunity for cultivating
knowledge, Music, art, architecture, philosophy, law, jurisprudence, literature, grammar,
science and medicine, athletics and other branched of knowledge were cultivated under the
best brains of the period.

The Moguls were a Muslim dynasty of Turkish -Mongol origin that conquered northern India in
1526, Under the emperors (sultan) Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb, Mogul rule was
extended over most of the Indian subcontinent and Islamic culture (with Persian overtones)
was firmly established in certain areas.