Growth of Islam

After Muhammad’s Death

When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) passed away in 632 CE, his followers, called Muslims, carried on his mission. They wanted to share his teachings and help others learn about Islam.

Muslims travelled to different lands and spread Islam through both peaceful means (such as trade, teaching, and diplomacy) and, at times, through conquest and defence. They worked to preserve the Qur’an and the teachings of Muhammad, making sure they were passed down correctly.

The Caliphates

After Muhammad’s death, leadership of the Muslim community passed to the caliphs, who were both political and religious leaders. This period is called the Caliphate.

• The Rashidun Caliphate (632–661 CE)
  The first four caliphs were close companions of Muhammad. They helped expand Islam beyond Arabia into parts of the Middle East and North Africa.

• The Umayyad Caliphate (661–750 CE)
  The Umayyads made Damascus (in modern Syria) their capital. They expanded the empire west into Spain and east into India. Arabic became the main language of government and culture.

• The Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258 CE)
  The Abbasids moved the capital to Baghdad, which became a great centre of learning, science, and culture. Scholars in Baghdad’s “House of Wisdom” studied mathematics, medicine, astronomy, and philosophy. The Abbasid period is often called the Golden Age of Islam.

The Ottoman Empire

Centuries later, the Ottoman Empire (1299–1922 CE) became one of the most powerful Islamic empires in history.

• Its capital was Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), and it controlled huge areas of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

• The Ottomans built beautiful mosques, schools, and hospitals, and they developed laws based on both Islamic and local traditions.

• They also protected holy sites like Mecca and Medina.

The Ottoman Empire lasted for over 600 years, showing how far Islam spread and how deeply it influenced world history.

Islam Today

Today, Islam is followed by over a billion people worldwide. Muslims live in many countries and come from many different cultures and backgrounds. They continue to follow the teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad, striving to live lives of faith, compassion, and justice.

Islam remains one of the major world religions, with a message that continues to inspire people everywhere.