Introduction
Rasulullah [PBUH] has said,
"Hold onto my Sunnah and the Sunnah of my Righteous Khulafaa after me." The Sahaabah-e-Kiraam (radhiyallahu anhum) were beacons of guidance for the Ummah. Studying their lives, learning about them and following in their footsteps are indeed the recipe for the success of mankind.
Study of the different periods of Islamic history serves as lessons to us and warns us to steer away from the downfalls of nations of the past and to wholeheartedly accept the rich legacy of the Ambiyaa (alayhimus salaam), the Khulafaa-e-Raashideen and all our pious predecessors who had followed them.
We see that when nations moved away from their true object (i.e. to establish the Deen of Allah Ta'ala) and engrossed themselves totally in worldly pursuits and advancements, then this became a cause of their downfall and paved the way for other nations to rule over them and subject them to tyranny and persecution.
In this book we will touch on the era which is after the Khulafaa-e-Raashideen period up to contemporary times. This is not a detail account of this period, but rather a skeletal outline giving the highlights so that we can get a broad perspective and understanding of our history after the Khulafaa-e-Raashideen period. History has always been one of the key tools for any nation reaching the peaks of success.
This subject, if taught correctly, can become the most enjoyable subject for any child. On the contrary, if it is just read out without properly explaining the events and the lessons behind each event, then it can also become the most boring and difficult subject for a learner. Teachers should try their best to be real, alive, and vivid when teaching this subject.
In the compilation of this book, reference was also made to the Tasheelut Taa-reekh of the Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal.
Ta'limi Board (KZN)
