Islamic world

Table of Contents

Introduction
Prehistory (c. 3000 bce–500 ce)
- The rise of agrarian-based citied societies
- Cultural core areas of the settled world
  - The Nile-to-Oxus region
  - The Arabian Peninsula
Formation and orientation (c. 500–634)
- The city of Mecca: centre of trade and religion
  - Mecca under the Quraysh clans
  - New social patterns among the Meccans and their neighbours
- The Prophet Muhammad
  - Muhammad’s years in Mecca
    - Spiritual awakening
    - Public recitations
    - Efforts to reform Meccan society
  - Muhammad’s emigration to Yathrib (Medina)
    - The forging of Muhammad’s community
    - The ummah’s allies and enemies
    - Muhammad’s later recitations
- Islam at Muhammad’s death
- Abū Bakr’s succession
Conversion and crystallization (634–870)
- Social and cultural transformations
- ʿUmar I’s succession
  - The spirit of conquest under ʿUmar I
  - Forging the link of activism with faithfulness
- ʿUthmān’s succession and policies
  - Discontent in ʿUthmān’s reign
  - Intra-Muslim conflicts
- The four fitnahs
  - The first fitnah
  - The second fitnah
  - The emergent Islamic civilization
  - The third fitnah
  - Sunnis and Shīʿites
  - The ʿAbbāsids
  - Sharīʿah
  - The fourth fitnah
Fragmentation and florescence (870–1041)
- The rise of competitive regions
- Andalusia, the Maghrib, and sub-Saharan Africa
- Egypt, Syria, and the holy cities
- Iraq
  - Cultural flowering in Iraq
  - The Būyid dynasty
- Iran, Afghanistan, and India
  - The Sāmānids
  - The Ghaznavids
- The decline of the caliphate and rise of emirates
Migration and renewal (1041–1405)
- Turks
  - Seljuq Turks
  - Policies of Niẓām al-Mulk
  - Ṭarīqah fellowships
- Franks
  - The call for the Crusades
  - Effect of the Crusades in Syria
- Mongols
  - First Mongol incursions
  - Conversion of Mongols to Islam
  - Ascent of the Ottoman Turks
  - Timur’s efforts to restore Mongol power
- Arabs
- Imazighen
  - The Ṣanhājah confederation
  - The Almoravid dynasty
  - The Almohad dynasty
  - Continued spread of Islamic influence
Consolidation and expansion (1405–1683)
- Ottomans
  - Continuation of Ottoman rule
  - Reign of Süleyman I
  - The extent of Ottoman administration
- Ṣafavids
  - Expansion in Iran and beyond
  - Shah ʿAbbās I
  - Decline of central authority
- Indo-Timurids (Mughals)
  - Foundation by Bābur
  - Reign of Akbar
  - Continuation of the empire
- Trans-Saharan Islam
- Indian Ocean Islam
Islamic history from 1683 to the present: reform, dependency, and recovery
- Precolonial reform and experimentation from 1683 to 1818
- The rise of British colonialism to the end of the Ottoman Empire
- The early 20th century to the present
  - Reform and revival in the colonial period
  - Postcolonial states and Islam
  - Islamist movements from the 1960s
  - The mainstreaming of Islamist movements
  - Dimensions of the Islamic revival
  - Islam and globalization: the age of mobility

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images & Videos

world distribution of Islam

Prophet's Mosque (al-Masjid al-Nabawī)

Pilgrims on the way to Mecca

Córdoba, Spain: ivory casket made for al-Mughīrah

Delhi: Alaʾi Gate and Qutb Minar

Muslim prayer rug

Palembang, Indonesia: Great Mosque

Learn about the public debate on banning the burka in Australia in 2014 and peoples perception on religious headgears that Islamic women wear

Berber dynasties

early Muslim India

Read Next

Candles Burning On Table In Church

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?

Lead image for "A Timeline of the World in 8 Maps"

A Timeline of the World in 8 Maps

African American man praying in church with stained glass in background

Why Do People Say “Amen” at the End of a Prayer?

Ahura Mazda - relief of the Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda at the ancient ruins of Persepolis in Iran. Also known as Ormazd Zoroastrianism,

Which Religion Is the Oldest?

Discover

Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.

7 Deadliest Weapons in History

Amendments 1-10 to the Constitution of the United States constitute what is known as the Bill of Rights on an American flag.

What Is the Emoluments Clause?

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Aspirin pills.

7 Drugs that Changed the World

US Marines firing at Fallujah, Iraq, during the Second Battle of Fallujah in November 2004. Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War.

Timeline of the 2000s

Internet http://www blue screen. Hompepage blog 2009, history and society, media news television, crowd opinion protest, In the News 2009, breaking news

Who Invented the Internet?

Portrait of a mountain gorilla at a short distance. gorilla close up portrait.The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

Falling Stars: 10 of the Most Famous Endangered Species

Islamic world: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Kazan Forum 2025: Russia courts Islamic world as Taliban sends its first delegation • May 20, 2025, 4:46 PM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Facts

Also Known As	Islamdom • Muslim world

Photos and Videos

world distribution of Islam

Prophet's Mosque (al-Masjid al-Nabawī)

Pilgrims on the way to Mecca

Córdoba, Spain: ivory casket made for al-Mughīrah

Delhi: Alaʾi Gate and Qutb Minar

Muslim prayer rug

Palembang, Indonesia: Great Mosque

Berber dynasties

early Muslim India

mathematicians of the Islamic world

Learn about the public debate on banning the burka in Australia in 2014 and peoples perception on religious headgears that Islamic women wear

The rich history of Arabic calligraphy

Learn how Muslim women have gained entry to the workforce as factory workers, teachers, and doctors

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

wufūd waqf divan shūrā history pre-Columbian civilizations ancient Rome history of Europe ancient Greek civilization Czechoslovak history Native American Aegean civilizations Stone Age history of Mesopotamia history of Palestine

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Quiz

indonesia bee country map

Islam

Omar Ali Saifuddin mosque, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

World Religions & Traditions