Blog

Introduction

In May 2026, DocuTimeA, an Arabic-language documentary channel, began posting a series titled A Journey through Time and Untold Facts from Ancient History.

“Ali and the Beginning of the Great Schism”

Although the Arabic account was oral only, the following information is considered to come from trustworthy sources.

Muhammad was born in 570 in Mecca, Hejaz, Arabia. In 595, he married Khadijah. Their daughter, Fatima, married Muhammad’s cousin Ali.

Muhammad’s prophetic career began at 40. When he faced opposition, he left for Medina in 622 with a few of his followers. This journey marked the beginning of the Islamic Lunar Calendar, with 1 A.H. (Anno Hejira), i.e., the year of the Migration to Medina. The followers who moved to Medina were Al-Muhajiroun (Immigrants), and those who welcomed him in Medina were Al-Ansar (Partisans).

Muhammad died in June 632. Abu Bakr established the Caliphate and died in 634. Omar succeeded him and launched the Conquests (Futuhat) of Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt. He was assassinated in 644 by a Persian slave.

Uthman became the third Caliph in 644 and established the official version of the Qur’an. After Uthman’s assassination in 656, Ali succeeded him. Muawiya, the governor of Syria, opposed Ali’s assumption of the Caliphate, alleging that Ali was involved in Uthman’s assassination.

Ali fought Muawiya. While gaining the upper hand in battle, a disagreement in his camp led to his assassination by a disgruntled group, the Khawarejites. Ali’s death marked the beginning of the Great Schism in Islam. The main body, i.e., followers of Muawiya, were called the Sunni, and those of Ali, the Shi’ite.

Muawiya, a member of the Meccan Umayyad clan, became the Caliph. Under the Umayyads, the Caliphate became a dynasty. The capital was moved from Medina to Damascus, Syria. The Umayyad dynasty, which ruled from 661 to 750, was overthrown by the Abbasids. This marked the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate, with its seat in Baghdad, Iraq.