This is a timeline of the early history of Islam during the lifetime of Muhammad. The information provided in this article is based on Islamic oral tradition, not on historical or archaeological evidence.
A separate list of military expeditions and battles is at List of expeditions of Muhammad.
According to Islamic tradition, during one such occasion while he was in contemplation, the archangel Gabriel appeared before him in the year 610 CE and said, ‘Recite’, upon which he replied, ‘I am unable to recite’. Thereupon the angel caught hold of him and embraced him heavily. This happened two more time after which the angel commanded Muhammad to recite the following verses:[1][2][3]"Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- Who taught (the use of) the pen,-Taught man that which he knew not."[4]
When Muhammad reported his first revelation from the AngelGabriel (Jibril), Khadija was the first female and first person to convert to Islam. However, Shia Muslims claim Ali was the first to convert to Islam.
Ali, is said to have supported Muhammed from his childhood and in some texts, is said to have converted to Islam just after his birth. It is commonly reported that Ali was the second, after Khadija, to embrace Islam amongst the earliest Muslims.
Ali ibn Abi Talib is known among the earliest and youngest Muslim converts. The early historian Ibn Ishaq and Tabari puts Ali Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law as the first male convert; Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari presents three candidates, and does not decide between them.[6]
According to Hadith Ali was Muhammad's cousin and accepted Islam at the age of 11 making him the first male to accept Islam
One account in Tabari says that the first male convert was Zayd ibn Harithah, a freed slave who had become Muhammad's adopted son. It is known that Ali was indeed one of the first persons to convert to Islam, however some dispute this arguing he was only 12 years old at the time he embraced Islam.[7]
Later Abu Bakr followed.
Muhammad's prominent companions Hassan ibn Thabit (d. 674), Ibn Abbas (d. 687), and the Kufan scholar al-Nakhai (d. 714) claim Abu Bakr to be the first adult male convert.
Abu Bakr is also said to be one of the first male Muslim convert on accounts preserved by the historian al-Tabari.
Despite the conflicts, when talking about adult males, Abu Bakr was one of the first ones to accept Islam.
Around 613, Muhammad began to preach to the public(Quran 26:214).[8] Most Meccans ignored him and mocked him,[9] though a few became his followers. There were three main groups of early converts to Islam: younger brothers and sons of great merchants; people who had fallen out of the first rank in their tribe or failed to attain it; and the weak, mostly unprotected foreigners.[10]
Tradition records at great length the persecution and ill-treatment towards Muhammad and his followers.[11][9]Sumayyah bint Khabbab (mother of Ammar ibn Yasir), a slave of a prominent Meccan leader Abu Jahl, is famous as the first martyr of Islam; killed with a spear by her master when she refused to give up her faith.[9][12][13][14][15]
When Bilal's master, Umayyah ibn Khalaf found out he had converted to Islam, he began violently to torture Bilal.[17]
With Abu Jahl instigating, Umayyah tied Bilal up and had him dragged around Mecca as a means to break Bilal's faith.[17] Frustrated upon Bilal's refusal to denounce Islam, Umayyah became even more angry. He ordered that Bilal's limbs were to be stretched out and tied to stakes lying flat on desert sand, so that he could feel the intensity of the sun and the Arabian heat. He would be whipped and beaten while tied to the stakes. Constantly refusing to denounce Islam, Umayyah became frustrated and ordered that a large boulder/stone be placed on Bilal's chest. The boulder heated by the sun burned Bilal's body while also crushing him.[17]
After such punishments, news of this slave reached some of Muhammad's companions who told Muhammad of the slave. Muhammad then sent Abu Bakr. Eventually, Abu Bakr negotiated a deal with Umayyah to purchase Bilal and emancipate him from slavery.[17]
Musab ibn Umair al-Abdari was the first Muslim Ambassador. He was sent to Yathrib (now Medina) to teach the people the doctrines of Islam and give them guidance[22] Note: Author says it happened before the Second pledge at al-Aqabah which happened in 622. Therefore, this event happened in 621
According to Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar), a modern Islamichagiography of Muhammad written by the Indian Muslim author Safi ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri, Muhammad ordered the first caravan raid led by Hamza ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (Muhammad's uncle) seven to nine months after the Hijra. A party of thirty to forty men assembled at the seacoast near al-Is, between Mecca and Medina, where Amr ibn Hishām (Abu Jahl), the leader of the caravan was camping with three hundred Meccan riders.[33][32][34][35]
Hamza met Abu Jahl there with a view to attack the caravan, but Majdi bin Amr al-Juhani, a Quraysh who was friendly to both the parties intervened between them; so, both parties separated without fighting.[33][32][34][35][36][37]
It is mentioned in Ibn Hisham and Ibn Ishaq's biography of Muhammad (the earliest surviving biography of Muhammad from the 7th century), that for these caravan raids Muhammad gave permission to "plunder" the caravans of theirs enemies and seize their goods and property(s) and said: "Go forth against this caravan; it may be that Allah will grant you plunder"[38]
In 623 Muhammad ordered the Batn Rabigh Caravan Raid to raid Quraysh caravan to relieve themselves from poverty[36][40] Sa'd ibn Abi Waqas was the first person to fire an arrow in the name of Islam, it mentioned in the Sunni hadith collection Sahih al-Bukhari "I heard Sa'd saying, "I was the first amongst the 'Arabs who shot an arrow for Allah's Cause. We used to fight along with the Prophet""Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:57:74[36]
Muhammad ordered the Invasion of Waddan with the purpose of raiding Quraysh caravan to relieve themselves from poverty.[36][44] However, they instead raided the Caravan of Amr Bin Makhshi Al Dhamri of the Banu Damrah tribe. Negotiations began and the two leaders signed a treaty with Banu Damrah.[45] According to Muslim scholar Muhammad al-Zurqani, the provisions of the treaty were as follows: "This document is from Muhammad, the messenger of Allah, concerning the Banu Darmah, in which he establishes for them safety and security in their wealth and lives. They can expect support from the Muslims, unless they oppose the religion of Allah. They are also expected to respond positively if the prophet seeks their help."[46]
The treaty meant that both parties were forbidden from raiding each other, joining hostile concentrations against each other, and supporting each other's enemies. The historian William Montgomery Watt saw this as a deliberate attempt by Muhammad to provoke the Meccans.[47]
According to Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad ordered his followers to kill Ka'b because he "had gone to Mecca after Badr and inveighed against Muhammad. He also composed verses in which he bewailed the victims of Quraysh who had been killed at Badr. Shortly afterwards he returned to Medina and composed amatory verses of an insulting nature about the Muslim women".[55][56]
Muhammad ordered his followers to attack the Banu Qaynuqa Jews for allegedly breaking the treaty known as the Constitution of Medina[60] by pinning the clothes of a Muslim woman, which lead to her being stripped naked[61]
As a result, a Muslim killed a Jew in retaliation, and the Jews in turn killed the Muslim man. This escalated to a chain of revenge killings, and enmity grew between Muslims and the Banu Qaynuqa, leading to the siege of their fortress.[62][63][64]: 122 The tribe eventually surrendered to Muhammad, who initially wanted to kill the members of Banu Qaynuqa but ultimately yielded to Abdullah ibn Ubayy's insistence and agreed to expel the Qaynuqa.[65]
Ghwarath ibn al-Harith[74][75][76] was the first person to try and assassinate Muhammad during the Invasion of Dhi Amr. According to Muslim scholar Sami Strauch, it is reported in Sahih Bukhari that it was raining, and Muhammad took his garments off and hung it on a tree to dry, while the enemy was watching, Ghwarath ibn al-Harith went to attack Muhammad. He threatened Muhammad with his sword and said "who will protect you from me on this day". Then according to Muslim Scholars the Angel Gabriel came and thumped Ghawrath in the chest and forced him to drop his sword. Muhammad then picked up the sword and said "who will protect you from me".[74][75]
The purpose of the Battle of Uhud was to defend against a Quraysh attack.[79] According to the Muslim scholar Dr. Mosab Hawarey, this battle was the first truly defensive military campaign. All military campaigns prior to this were of an offensive nature [33]
Some men requested that Muhammad send instructors to teach them Islam,[83] but the men were bribed by the two tribes of Khuzaymah who wanted revenge for the assassination of Khalid bin Sufyan (chief of the Banu Lahyan tribe) by Muhammad's followers.[84] 8[83] or 10 Muslims were killed[33]
According to William Montgomery Watt the seven men Muhammad sent may have been spies for Muhammad and instructors for Arab tribes.[85] Watt's claim that they were spies and not missionaries is mentioned in the Sunni Hadith collection Sahih al-Bukhari, 5:59:412[86] The 7th century Muslim scholar al-Waqidi also mentioned that they were spies but a tribe did come to them requesting to teach Islam but Muhammad decided to send them for spying to inform him about the Quraysh.[87]
Muhammad sends Missionaries at request of some men from the Banu Amir tribe,[92] but the Muslims are killed as revenge for the assassination of Khalid bin Sufyan by Muhammad's followers.[84] 70 Muslims were killed[92] and 2 Non-Muslims were killed[92]
Banu Qurayza betrayed Muhammad, So he ordered his followers to attack the Banu Qurayza because according to Muslim tradition he had been ordered to do so by the angel Gabriel.[96][97][98][99][100][101]Al-Waqidi claims Muhammad had a treaty with the tribe which was torn apart. Stillman and Watt deny the authenticity of al-Waqidi.[102] Al-Waqidi has been frequently criticized by Muslim writers, who claim that he is unreliable.[103][104]
600-900 members of the Banu Qurayza were beheaded (Tabari, Ibn Hisham).[99][100][105] Another source says all Males and 1 woman beheaded (Sunni Hadith).[106][107] 2 Muslim's were killed[99]
After the Invasion of Banu Qurayza[95] as part of his share of the spoils, Muhammad selected one of the women, Rayhana, for himself and took her as part of his booty.[111] Muhammad offered to free and marry her and according to some sources she accepted his proposal.[113] She is said to have later become a Muslim.[104] Watt, "Kurayza, Banu" Encyclopaedia of Islam
^Alfred Guillaume "The Life of Muhammad: A translation of Ishaq's [sic] Sirat Rasul Allah" Oxford 1955 ISBN0-19-636033-1, 2003 reprint used - page 145
^ abcdJanneh, Sabarr. Learning from the Life of Prophet Muhammad: Peace and Blessing of God Be upon Him. Milton Keynes: AuthorHouse, 2010. Print. ISBN1467899666 Pgs. 235-238
^Muḥammad, Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Edited by P. J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W. P. Heinrichs et al. Brill Online, 2014
^ abSafi ur Rahman Al Mubarakpuri (2002). Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtūm. Darussalam, 2002. p. 187,338-. ISBN9789960899558. Retrieved 7 August 2012. Note: Author says it happened before the Second pledge at al-Aqabah which happened in 622. Therefore this event happened in 621
^Clarke, John Henrik (1993). African People in World History. Baltimore, MD: Black Classic Press. p. 30. ISBN9780933121775.
^Clarke, John Henrik (1993). African People in World History. Baltimore, MD: Black Classic Press. p. 30. ISBN9780933121775. Notes: Source says Bilal was appointed after Muhammad migrated to Medina, that is the year 622
^ abʻAbd al-Malik Ibn Hishām, The life of Muhammad, Apostle of Allah, p. 95, Folio Society, 1964. Translated by Michael Edwardes. Quote: "Go forth against this caravan; it may be that Allah will grant you plunder." (archive)
^Tabari, Al (2008), The foundation of the community, State University of New York Press, p. 12, ISBN978-0887063442, In Safar (which began August 4, 623), nearly twelve months after his arrival in Medina on the twelfth of Rabi' al- Awwal, he went out on a raid as far as Waddan
^Richard A. Gabriel, Muhammad, Islam's first great general, p. 73.
^ abSa'd, Ibn (1967). Kitab al-tabaqat al-kabir, By Ibn Sa'd, Volume 2. Pakistan Historical Society. p. 35. ASINB0007JAWMK. SARIYYAH OF `UMAYR IBN `ADI. Then (occurred) the sariyyah of `Umayr ibn `Adi Ibn Kharashah al-Khatmi against `Asma' Bint Marwan, of Banu Umayyah Ibn Zayd, when five nights had remained from the month of Ramadan, in the beginning of the nineteenth month from the hijrah of the apostle of Allah.
^Sāzmān-i Tablīghāt-i Islāmī (1987), Al-Tawḥīd, vol. 5, Tehran, Iran: Islamic Propagation Organization, International Relations Dept, p. 86
^Rodwell, JM (15 July 2003), The Koran, Phoenix, p. 342, ISBN978-1-8421-2609-7, This was the taunt of the jews of the tribe of Kainoka, when Muhammad demanded tribute of them in the name of God.
^ abcSa'd, Ibn (1967). Kitab al-tabaqat al-kabir, By Ibn Sa'd, Volume 2. Pakistan Historical Society. p. 40. ASINB0007JAWMK. So the apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, put off his two garments and spread them on a tree to be dried and lay himself down (for rest). In the meantime a man from the enemy called Du'that ibn al-Harith came with a sword"
^Tabari, Al (2008), The foundation of the community, State University of New York Press, p. 105, ISBN978-0887063442, Messenger of God to Uhud. This is said to have been on Saturday, 7 Shaw- wal, in Year Three of the Hijrah (March 23, 625).
^Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, p. 292.
^Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, pp. 299-300.
^Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, p. 296 (footnote 2).
^ abcMubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, p. 187. (online)
^ abWatt, W. Montgomery (1956). Muhammad at Medina. Oxford University Press. p. 33. ISBN978-0195773071. The common version, however, is that B. Lihyan wanted to avenge the assassination of their chief at Muhammad's instigation, and bribed two clans of the tribe of Khuzaymah to say they wanted to become Muslims and ask Muhammad to send instructors. (online)
^Watt, W. Montgomery (1956). Muhammad at Medina. Oxford University Press. p. 33. ISBN978-0-19-577307-1. The common version, however, is that B. Lihyan wanted to avenge the assassination of their chief at Muhammad's instigation, and bribed two clans of the tribe of Khuzaymah to say they wanted to become Muslims and ask Muhammad to send instructors. (online)
^Kailtyn Chick, Kailtyn Chick, p. 338, Hamlet Book Publishing, 2013
^Tabari, Al (2008), The foundation of the community, State University of New York Press, p. 151, ISBN978-0887063442, Then in Safar (which began July 13, 625), four months after Uhud, he sent out the men of Bi'r Ma'unah
^ abcMubarakpuri, The Sealed Nectar, p. 188. (online)
^Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, p. 352.
^Mubarakpuri, The sealed nectar: biography of the Noble Prophet, p. 352 (footnote 1).
^Michael G. Morony, Manufacturing and Labour, p. 178, Ashgate (2003), ISBN0860787079. Quote: "(Bilal ibn Rabah, a mawla of Abu Bakr was the Prophet's treasurer); al-Tabari, Ta'rikh, V, 560"