Explore Islamic History
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Prophetic Era
Life of Prophet Muhammad and early Islamic community
Rashidun Caliphate
The four rightly-guided Caliphs
Umayyad Caliphate
First hereditary Islamic dynasty
Abbasid Caliphate
Islamic Golden Age and cultural flowering
Al-Andalus
Islamic civilization in Iberian Peninsula
Ottoman Empire
Last great Islamic empire
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Islamic rule in Indian subcontinent
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Contemporary Islamic history and developments
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Collection Overview
Prophetic Era Spotlight
Explore key articles from this historical period
Aisha bint Abu Bakr: The Scholar and Mother of the Believers
personAisha bint Abu Bakr (614-678 CE) was the beloved wife of Prophet Muhammad, one of Islam's greatest scholars, and a Mother of the Believers. Known for her exceptional intelligence and memory, she transmitted 2,210 hadiths and became one of the most influential teachers in early Islamic history, shaping Islamic jurisprudence and education for generations.
Asma bint Abu Bakr: The Woman of Two Belts
personAsma bint Abu Bakr (595-692 CE) was the daughter of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and the elder sister of Aisha. Known as 'Dhat al-Nitaqayn' (The Woman of Two Belts) for her crucial role in the Prophet's migration to Medina, she lived to the remarkable age of 100 years, demonstrating extraordinary courage, faith, and strength throughout her life.
Battle of Badr - The First Great Victory
eventThe first major military victory of the Muslim community under Prophet Muhammad on March 13, 624 CE, where 313 Muslims defeated a much larger Meccan army of nearly 1,000 warriors. This decisive battle established the military credibility of the Islamic state, demonstrated divine support for the Muslim cause, and marked the beginning of Islamic expansion beyond Medina.
Battle of Khandaq: The Siege of Medina and Divine Intervention
eventThe Battle of Khandaq (627 CE), also known as the Battle of the Trench, was a decisive siege of Medina by a coalition of Meccan and allied tribes, where the innovative defensive strategy of digging a trench and divine intervention saved the Muslim community.
Battle of Uhud: The Test of Faith and Resilience
eventThe Battle of Uhud (625 CE) was the second major military engagement between the Muslim community of Medina and the Meccan Quraysh tribe, serving as a crucial test of faith, discipline, and resilience for the early Muslim community.
Bilal ibn Rabah
personBilal ibn Rabah (580-640 CE), the first muezzin of Islam and one of the most beloved companions of Prophet Muhammad, known for his beautiful voice, unwavering faith under torture, and his role in breaking racial barriers in early Islamic society.
Featured Discoveries
Randomly selected articles from across Islamic history
Prophet Jesus (Isa ibn Maryam)
personKnown as Isa ibn Maryam in Arabic, Jesus is one of the most revered prophets in Islam. Born miraculously to the Virgin Mary, he performed numerous miracles and preached the message of monotheism to the Children of Israel. Muslims believe he was not crucified but was raised alive to heaven and will return before the Day of Judgment.
Conquest of Jerusalem: The Peaceful Liberation of the Holy City
eventThe conquest of Jerusalem in 638 CE by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab marked the peaceful Islamic liberation of the holy city, establishing principles of religious tolerance and protection that would characterize Islamic rule in Jerusalem for centuries.
Mecca (Makkah)
placeThe holiest city in Islam, birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, and site of the Kaaba. Located in Saudi Arabia's Hejaz region, it is the destination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage and the direction of prayer for Muslims worldwide.
Topkapi Palace - Heart of the Ottoman Empire
buildingTopkapi Palace, constructed beginning in 1459 CE by Sultan Mehmed II following the conquest of Constantinople, served as the primary residence and administrative headquarters of Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries. Located on Seraglio Point overlooking the Bosphorus, Golden Horn, and Sea of Marmara, this vast complex of courtyards, pavilions, and gardens represents the pinnacle of Ottoman palace architecture and imperial power. Home to successive sultans, their families, the famous Imperial Harem, and thousands of courtiers and servants, Topkapi was not merely a residence but the nerve center of an empire that spanned three continents. Today, as a museum since 1924 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, Topkapi Palace offers an unparalleled window into Ottoman imperial life, Islamic art and architecture, and the sophisticated administrative systems that governed one of history's most powerful empires.
The Safavid Dynasty: Architects of Persian Shi'a Identity and Cultural Renaissance
dynastyThe Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736 CE) transformed Persia into a Shi'a empire, establishing Twelver Shi'ism as the state religion and presiding over a remarkable cultural, artistic, and architectural renaissance that shaped Iranian identity for centuries to come.
Islamic Trade Routes: Commercial Networks of the Medieval World
conceptIslamic trade routes formed the backbone of medieval global commerce, connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa through sophisticated networks that facilitated not only the exchange of goods but also the transmission of knowledge, technology, and cultural practices. From the Silk Road to the Indian Ocean maritime routes, these commercial pathways shaped the economic development of the Islamic world and influenced global trade patterns for over a millennium.