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Some Important Islamic History Dates
Below are some key dates for context when considering Islamic history:
The Prophet, Peace be upon Him (PBUH; Muslims out of respect for the Prophet often add this when they refer to Him. Note that it is sacrilegious to depict the Prophet’s facial image).
| His birth in Mecca | 20 August 570 CE |
| Declaration of His Mission in Mecca | 613 – 614 CE |
| His flight to Medína (Hijrat – start of Islamic calendar) | 622 CE (start of 1 AH*) |
| His passing and burial in Medína | 8 June 632 CE |
* After Hijrat (Islamic calendar described in next section)
The first Five Caliphs reign
| 1 | Abú-Bakr (as-Siddíq-ibn-i-Abí-Quháfih) | 632 – 634 CE |
| 2 | Umar (ibn-i’l-Khattáb) | 634 – 644 CE |
| 3 | ‘Uthmán (ibn-i-‘Affán) | 644 – 656 CE |
| 4 | ‘Alí (ibn-i-Abí-Tálib) | 656 – 661 CE |
| 5 | Mu’áwiyah (ibn-i-Abí-Sufyán; start of Ummayad Caliphate) | 661 – 680 CE |
The Caliphates
| Ummayad Caliphs | 661 – 750 CE |
| ‘Abbásíd Caliphs | 750 – 1258 CE |
| Fátimite Caliphs | 909 – 1171 CE |
| Ottoman Caliphs | 1299 – 1908 CE |
The Imáms (Shí’a historians say that all the Imáms, except for the 12th, were martyred)
| 1st | ‘Alí | Killed in Kúfa 661 CE; buried Najaf |
| 2nd | Hasan | Died in 670 CE; buried al-Baqi cemetery Medína |
| 3rd | Husayn | Killed at Karbalā’ 680 CE; buried Karbalā’ |
| 4th | ‘Alí Zaynu’l-‘Abidín | Died in 714 CE; buried al-Baqi cemetery Medína |
| 5th | Muhammad al-Báqir | Died in 732 CE; buried al-Baqi cemetery Medína |
| 6th | Ja’far-as-Sádiq | Died in 765 CE; buried al-Baqi cemetery Medína |
| 7th | Músa al-Kázim | Died 799 CE; buried Kázimayn |
| 8th | ‘Alí ar-Ridá | Died 818 CE; buried Mashhad (Iran) |
| 9th | Muhammad al-Jawád | Died 835 CE; buried Kázimayn |
| 10th | ‘Alí al-Hádí | Died 868 CE; buried Sámarrá |
| 11th | Hasan al-‘Askarí | Died 874 CE; buried Sámarrá |
| 12th | Muhammad al-Mahdí | Born 868 CE; Minor Occultation 874 – 941 CE (period of the four Gates); Major occultation started 941 CE. Location Sámarrá. |
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