History of Islam: Rise and Expansion

The origins of Islam and the spread of Islam became one of the most important turning points in world history. Prophet Muhammad and his revelations, the Hijra to Medina, the first Muslim communities, and the wars against the Quraysh laid the foundation of Muslim civilization. The Battle of Badr, the Battle of Uhud, and the Battle of the Trench became symbols of the struggle for faith. After the Prophet’s passing came the rise of the Rashidun Caliphate: the Ridda Wars, the unification of Arab tribes, and the expansion of Islam through conquest.

Muslim armies conquered Persia, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. The Battle of Yarmouk, the fall of Jerusalem, and the conquest of Egypt opened a new era in Islamic history. Jihad, Islamic conquests, and the first fitnas shaped the political and religious map of the Muslim world. The Sunni–Shia split, the rise of the Umayyads, and the expansion of Muslim power from Mecca to Damascus all became part of the great history of Islam.