THE EXPANSION OF ISLAM

Damascus was conquered during the Khilaafat of Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu). In 14 A.H. Hims was taken. In 15 A.H. was the famous Battle of Yarmuk. Jerusalem was conquered in 16 A.H. In 20 A.H. Egypt was annexed to the Islamic Empire. In 22 A.H. there were a string of victories. Hamdaan, Rai, Azerbaijaan, Juijaan, Baab and other territories fell to Islam — all in line with the Qur'aanic command to expand Islam.

UTHMAAN

In 20 A.H. Ameerul Mu'mineen Hadhrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu), The Third Khalifah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) ordered the attack on territories in Africa. By 40 A.H. Islam had reached the Atlantic shores in the west.

After the African victories, Hadhrat Uthmaan (radhiyallahu anhu) turned his attention to Spain which was subjugated in 27 A.H. In 28 A.H. Qabras, an island off the coast of Syria was taken. In 29 A.H. Persia was conquered. In 30 A.H. Tabrastan fell to Islam.

In 23 A.H. Kinan and Sistan Provinces were conquered. In 17 A.H. Khozistan between Iraq and Persia was annexed.

MUAAWIYYAH

In 32 A.H. Hadhrat Muaawiyyah's (radhiyallahu anhu) army reached Constantinople. By 31 A.H. Tripoli (Libya), Barca and Cyprus were conquered. By 40 A.H. Balkh, Herat, Kabul and Ghazni (all in Afghanistan) were conquered. By 60 A.H. Sind and other parts of India were conquered. By 95 A.H. the whole of Central Asia and Asia Minor were under Islamic domination. The conquest of Spain was completed in 92 A.H.

About two years later, Portugal was conquered. In 116 A.H. Sardinia fell and in 122 A.H. Syracuse was conquered.

By 125 A.H. the Islamic Empire had reached its limits. In Europe, France and the whole Iberian Peninsula were under Islamic domination. A dozen islands in the Mediterranean were part of the Islamic Empire. In Africa the Empire stretched from Gibraltar to Suez, and in Asia to Mongolia.