An Introduction to Muslim History
This is the introduction module to our hit online course “History of Islam”. Sign up for the full course here.
For many Muslims today, history is one of the most neglected areas of study. We may know the Seerah of the Prophet ﷺ and stories of the Sahaba, but beyond that our understanding often becomes vague, fragmented, or based on myths rather than facts. This lack of historical awareness has real consequences: it weakens our connection to our past, leaves doubts unanswered, and prevents us from learning the powerful lessons embedded in our legacy.
That is why I designed the History of Islam online course. Unlike short overviews that skim through centuries in a few sessions, this course devotes several months to exploring the key events, figures, and lessons of Muslim history. Our goal is not just to memorize timelines, but to approach history with honesty, context, and reflection—so that it strengthens both our knowledge and our faith.
Course Objectives
The Islamic History Deep Dive has five main goals:
- Familiarity with Key Events
- From the civil wars and Karbala, to the rise of the Umayyads and Abbasids, the Mongol invasion, the Ottoman Empire, and beyond.
- We aim to understand the major turning points that shaped the Muslim world.
- Awareness of Global Muslim Legacy
- Many Muslims know the Seerah and stories of the Sahaba, but little about Islam in India, North Africa, Andalusia, the Balkans, or Russia.
- This course will highlight these neglected chapters of our history.
- Learning from Success and Failure
- When Muslims succeeded, why did they succeed? When they failed, what caused their downfall?
- We will approach history with honesty—recognizing both the triumphs and mistakes.
- Addressing Doubts About History
- Topics like jihad, slavery, treatment of non-Muslims, and controversial incidents often cause confusion.
- We’ll examine these issues carefully, putting them in context to strengthen faith.
- Honesty in Studying History
- Islamic historians were brutally honest—documenting even sensitive events like civil wars among Sahaba or the tragedy of Karbala.
- We continue in this spirit, rejecting fairy tales and embracing truth.
Recommended Resources
For this course, we’ll rely on both modern and classical works, including:
- Lost Islamic History by Firas Al-Khatib
- Civilization of Faith by Dr. Mustafa Al-Sibai
- Al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya by Ibn Kathir
- Al-Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun
- Tarikh al-Tabari by Imam al-Tabari
- History of Islam by Prof. Masudul Hassan
- Productivity Principles of Umar ibn Abdul Aziz by Ismail Kamdar
If you can, try to read Lost Islamic History and Civilization of Faith. They are accessible, inspiring, and provide an excellent foundation.
Key Principles for Studying History
Before we dive deeper, here are some important points to keep in mind:
- History is Human
- After the death of the Prophet ﷺ, no one is infallible. Sahaba, scholars, and rulers all made mistakes.
- Studying history means studying human strengths and weaknesses.
- It’s Muslim History, Not “Islamic” History
- Islam is perfect, but Muslims are not.
- We study history to learn lessons, not to derive laws or equate actions with Islam itself.
- Avoid Presentism
- Judging the past by today’s standards leads to confusion.
- Norms like monarchy, slavery, and early marriage were realities of their time. Islam introduced checks, balances, and reforms within those contexts.
- Different Cultural Norms
- For most of human history, adulthood began at puberty.
- Political life was shaped by monarchies and constant territorial expansion.
- Slavery, though restricted and regulated by Islam, was a global institution.
- Objectivity and Honesty
- We must accept both the glory and the darkness of our history.
- Only by being truthful can we extract meaningful lessons.
The Journey Ahead
Over the next 30 modules, we’ll cover:
- The life of the Prophet ﷺ
- The Khulafa’ Rashidun
- The Umayyads and Abbasids
- Andalus and the Golden Age
- The Mongol invasions
- The Ottoman Empire
- The modern period post-World War I
Our aim is to emerge with a richer, more balanced, and spiritually uplifting understanding of our past.
Final Reflection
Islamic history is not a fairy tale—it’s a deeply human story filled with light and shadow. By studying it with honesty, humility, and faith, we can reconnect with our legacy, strengthen our identity, and gain wisdom to face today’s challenges.
May Allah bless this journey, grant us sincerity, and allow history to be a source of guidance rather than confusion.
