Firas Alkhateeb is an American researcher, writer and historian who specializes in the Islamic world. He completed his BA in history from the University of Illinois, Chicago, in 2010 and has since been teaching Islamic history at Universal School in Bridgeview, Illinois. He is currently a student of traditional Islamic sciences. His first book is "Lost Islamic History", which covers the history of Muslim societies throughout the world in a concise and approachable fashion.  He also founded and writes the website Lost Islamic History.

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most-recent Capture of Jerusalem: The Treaty of Umar Capture of Jerusalem: The Treaty of Umar https://www.islamicity.org/11511/capture-of-jerusalem-the-treaty-of-umar/ 11511 80470 0 Oct 11 2023 April 26, 2017 {wpcf-soft-date engaged} The Mosque of Omar minaret in Jerusalem opposite to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After the Siege of Jerusalem in 637 CE by the Rashidun army under the command of Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, Patriarch Sophronius refused to surrender except to the Caliph Omar (579-644 CE) himself. Omar travelled to Jerusalem and accepted the surrender. He then visited the Church of the Resurrection (today better known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre) where Sophronius invited him to pray inside the church, but Omar declined so as not to set a precedent and thereby endanger the church's status as a Christian site. Instead he prayed outside, on the steps east of the church (photo: iStock by Getty Images). http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-509871490.jpg <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-BEGIN--><a href="https://www.islamicity.org/11511/capture-of-jerusalem-the-treaty-of-umar/"><img src='https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-509871490.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100' class="thumbnailpostcontent" ></a> <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-END--> https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-509871490.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100 Firas Alkhateeb By: Firas Alkhateeb   Source: Lost Islamic History Firas Alkhateeb Lost Islamic History Featured, Life & Society, Middle East Byzantine Empire, History, Human Rights, Jerusalem, Masjid Al Aqsa, Umar Ibn Al Khattab Freedom featured life middle-east byzantine-empire history human-rights jerusalem masjid-al-aqsa umar-ibn-al-khattab freedom Jerusalem is a city holy to the three largest monotheistic faiths – Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Because of its history that spans thousands of years, it goes by many names: Jerusalem, al-Quds, Yerushaláyim, Aelia, and more, all reflecting its diverse heritage. It is a city that numerous Muslim prophets called home, from Sulayman and Dawood to Isa (Jesus),… 1 Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire 9 Warning: Array to string conversion in F:\inetpub\wwwroot\Accounts\IslamiCity.org\wp-content\themes\plain-child\blueprint\shortcode-output\query\system-parts\cell-part-1.php on line 1040 Array 1 1 1 7 1 cell-cell-owl.php filter 1 same-as-desktop 1
most-recent How Islam Spread in India How Islam Spread in India https://www.islamicity.org/11485/how-islam-spread-in-india/ 11485 74930 0 Jul 30 2023 April 24, 2017 {wpcf-soft-date engaged} During Ramadan people praying at Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, India (photo: iStock by Getty Images). http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-476586370.jpg <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-BEGIN--><a href="https://www.islamicity.org/11485/how-islam-spread-in-india/"><img src='https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-476586370.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100' class="thumbnailpostcontent" ></a> <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-END--> https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-476586370.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100 Firas Alkhateeb By: Firas Alkhateeb   Source: Lost Islamic History Firas Alkhateeb Lost Islamic History Asia, Featured, Highlights, Life & Society History, India, Islam, Muhammad Bin Qasim asia featured highlights life history india islam muhammad-bin-qasim Today, there are over 500 million Muslims throughout the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh), making it one of the largest population centers of Muslims in the world. Since Islam first entered India, it has contributed greatly to the area and its people. Today, numerous theories about how India came to be such a largely… 1 History History 8 Warning: Array to string conversion in F:\inetpub\wwwroot\Accounts\IslamiCity.org\wp-content\themes\plain-child\blueprint\shortcode-output\query\system-parts\cell-part-1.php on line 1040 Array 2 1 7 1 cell-cell-owl.php filter 1 same-as-desktop 1
most-recent The Birth of the Ottoman Empire The Birth of the Ottoman Empire https://www.islamicity.org/11484/the-birth-of-the-ottoman-empire/ 11484 14044 0 May 15 2023 April 23, 2017 {wpcf-soft-date engaged} Silhouette of the Blue Mosque of İstanbul (photo: iStock by Getty Images/raufmiski). http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-539453474.jpg <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-BEGIN--><a href="https://www.islamicity.org/11484/the-birth-of-the-ottoman-empire/"><img src='https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-539453474.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100' class="thumbnailpostcontent" ></a> <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-END--> https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-539453474.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100 Firas Alkhateeb By: Firas Alkhateeb   Source: Lost Islamic History Firas Alkhateeb Lost Islamic History Africa, Asia, Europe, Featured, Highlights, Life & Society Anatolia, Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, History, Mongols, Osman Ghazi, Ottoman Empire Equality, Justice africa asia europe featured highlights life anatolia byzantine-empire constantinople history mongols osman-ghazi ottoman-empire equality justice According to the political philosophy of Ibn Khaldun, empires have lifespans like humans. They are born, grow, reach maturity, and then decline and die. Understanding the infancy of empires is crucial to understanding why an empire became powerful, and where it derives its strength from. This article will look at the infancy of the Ottoman… 1 Anatolia Anatolia 9 Warning: Array to string conversion in F:\inetpub\wwwroot\Accounts\IslamiCity.org\wp-content\themes\plain-child\blueprint\shortcode-output\query\system-parts\cell-part-1.php on line 1040 Array 3 1 7 cell-cell-owl.php filter 1 same-as-desktop 1
most-recent Muslim Conquest of Spain Muslim Conquest of Spain https://www.islamicity.org/11535/muslim-conquest-of-spain/ 11535 33054 0 May 13 2023 May 1, 2017 {wpcf-soft-date engaged} Gibraltar became part of the Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania following the collapse of the Roman Empire and came under Muslim Moorish rule in 711 AD. It was permanently settled for the first time by the Moors and was renamed Jebel Tariq – the Mount of Tariq, later corrupted into Gibraltar. The mosque at Europa Point is in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, a peninsula connected to southern Spain (photo: iStock by Getty Images). http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/iStock-491727887.jpg <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-BEGIN--><a href="https://www.islamicity.org/11535/muslim-conquest-of-spain/"><img src='https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/iStock-491727887.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100' class="thumbnailpostcontent" ></a> <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-END--> https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/iStock-491727887.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100 Firas Alkhateeb By: Firas Alkhateeb   Source: Lost Islamic History Firas Alkhateeb Lost Islamic History Europe, Featured, Highlights, Life & Society Al-Andalus, History, Muslim Spain europe featured highlights life al-andalus history muslim-spain Few wars in Islamic history have been as decisive or as influential as the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the 710s. A small Muslim army arrived on the southern shores of Iberia in the year 711 and by 720, almost the entire peninsula was under Muslim control. Some people like to frame this… 1 Al-Andalus Al-Andalus 9 Warning: Array to string conversion in F:\inetpub\wwwroot\Accounts\IslamiCity.org\wp-content\themes\plain-child\blueprint\shortcode-output\query\system-parts\cell-part-1.php on line 1040 Array 4 1 7 1 cell-cell-owl.php filter 1 same-as-desktop 1
most-recent Did Islam Spread by the Sword? Did Islam Spread by the Sword? https://www.islamicity.org/11479/did-islam-spread-by-the-sword/ 11479 20088 0 Jan 31 2022 April 20, 2017 {wpcf-soft-date engaged} The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem which Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab promised to protect when the city came under Muslim control in 637 CE. Church of the Holy Sepulchre was erected in 325 CE, it stands on the holiest site of Christianity that is believed to encompass both Calvary (crucifixion site) and the tomb (sepulchre). Photo: iStock by Getty Images/rglinsky. http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-512700348.jpg <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-BEGIN--><a href="https://www.islamicity.org/11479/did-islam-spread-by-the-sword/"><img src='https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-512700348.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100' class="thumbnailpostcontent" ></a> <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-END--> https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-512700348.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100 Firas Alkhateeb By: Firas Alkhateeb   Source: Lost Islamic History Firas Alkhateeb Lost Islamic History Featured, Highlights, Life & Society, Middle East Al-Andalus, Conflicts And War, Egypt, History, India, Iran, Iraq, Islam, Islamophobia, Spain, Syria featured highlights life middle-east al-andalus conflicts-and-war egypt history india iran iraq islam islamophobia spain syria It’s a common accusation made against Muslims and Islam in general: “The only reason Islam is a world religion is because it spread by the sword.” It’s a favorite remark of Islamophobes who parade as analysts and historians fear-mongering about the threat Islam supposedly poses to the Western World. With it being such a hot topic that… 1 Al-Andalus Al-Andalus 14 Warning: Array to string conversion in F:\inetpub\wwwroot\Accounts\IslamiCity.org\wp-content\themes\plain-child\blueprint\shortcode-output\query\system-parts\cell-part-1.php on line 1040 Array 5 1 7 cell-cell-owl.php filter 1 same-as-desktop 1
most-recent How Do We Know the Quran is Unchanged? How Do We Know the Quran is Unchanged? https://www.islamicity.org/6465/how-do-we-know-the-quran-is-unchanged/ 6465 100766 2 Sep 27 2018 April 25, 2014 {wpcf-soft-date engaged} /global/images/photo/IC-Articles/Uthman-Quran__554x800.PNG <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-BEGIN--><a href="https://www.islamicity.org/6465/how-do-we-know-the-quran-is-unchanged/"><img src='https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=/global/images/photo/IC-Articles/Uthman-Quran__554x800.PNG&w=500&h=281&q=100' class="thumbnailpostcontent" ></a> <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-END--> https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=/global/images/photo/IC-Articles/Uthman-Quran__554x800.PNG&w=500&h=281&q=100 Firas Alkhateeb By: Firas Alkhateeb   Source: Lost Islamic History Firas Alkhateeb Lost Islamic History Faith & Spirituality, Featured, Highlights History, Preservation Of The Quran, Quran faith featured highlights history preservation-of-the-quran quran Since it is well accepted in academic circles that both the Torah of the Jews and the New Testament of the Christians have changed over the centuries, European academics erroneously believed the same must be true about the Quran. 1 History History 21 Warning: Array to string conversion in F:\inetpub\wwwroot\Accounts\IslamiCity.org\wp-content\themes\plain-child\blueprint\shortcode-output\query\system-parts\cell-part-1.php on line 1040 Array 6 1 7 cell-cell-owl.php filter 1 same-as-desktop 1
most-recent Who Were the Kharijis? Who Were the Kharijis? https://www.islamicity.org/11471/who-were-the-kharijis/ 11471 4224 0 Apr 20 2017 April 19, 2017 {wpcf-soft-date engaged} http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-499621543.jpg <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-BEGIN--><a href="https://www.islamicity.org/11471/who-were-the-kharijis/"><img src='https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-499621543.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100' class="thumbnailpostcontent" ></a> <!--BLP-SHORTCODE-END--> https://www.islamicity.org/wp-content/plugins/blueprint-timthumb/timthumb.php?src=http://media.islamicity.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/iStock-499621543.jpg&w=500&h=281&q=100 Firas Alkhateeb By: Firas Alkhateeb   Source: Lost Islamic History Firas Alkhateeb Lost Islamic History Featured, Life & Society History, Khawarij featured life history khawarij Throughout Islamic history, groups have arisen from time to time advocating radically new and divergent ways of thinking about the religion. One of the most radical and violent of these groups emerged during the political mayhem of ‘Ali’s caliphate, which lasted from 656 to 661. Known as the Kharijis, they emerged from a radical political… 1 History History 9 Warning: Array to string conversion in F:\inetpub\wwwroot\Accounts\IslamiCity.org\wp-content\themes\plain-child\blueprint\shortcode-output\query\system-parts\cell-part-1.php on line 1040 Array 7 1 1 7 cell-cell-owl.php filter 1 same-as-desktop 1