Syria was once a Christian nation, then how did it become centre of Islam? Read the untold truth here

Islam entered Syria in 634 AD.

New Delhi: The modern-day Syria with its capital in Damascus is considered as an Arab Islamic country where the majority of population comprises Sunni Muslims, about 74 per cent followed by Shia Muslims, Christians, Druze, and other ethnic groups.

Today, Syria is considered to be the center of Islam, but do you know that Syria was once a stronghold of Christianity? Now the question is, how did such a big change happen in Syria? What’s the story behind this big demographic change?

How did Islam enter Syria?

This change began about 1400 years ago. Islam entered Syria in 634 AD. Under the leadership of Caliph Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Khalid bin Walid, Arab Muslims conquered Syria. After the advent of Islam, Syria emerged as a major center of Islam. At the same time, the Umayyad caliphs made Damascus their capital. Apart from this, the Umayyad rulers had built many buildings like Abd al-Malik Palace and Umayyad Mosque.

The Abbasid caliphs moved the capital from Damascus to Baghdad in modern day Iraq.

In 750 AD, the Abbasid Caliphs established rule in Syria. The Abbasid caliphs shifted the capital from Damascus to Baghdad and Syria remained under the Abbasid caliphs until 1260.

Although Syria has been a diverse of religions, most Syrians are Muslims, mostly Sunnis. Apart from this, there are Shia groups, Druzes, and Christian minorities in Syria, but you will be surprised to know that before becoming the stronghold of Islam, Syria was considered to be the stronghold of Christians, but today the scenario of Syria has changed completely.

The majority of Syrian Muslims are Sunnis who come from diverse backgrounds like Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, and Circassians, followed by the Alawites, Shia groups, particularly Isma’ilis and Twelver Shi’ism, and Druzes.

In addition, there are several Christian minorities including Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholics, Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholics, Nestorians, Chaldeans, Maronites, Latin Catholics, and Protestants. There is also a small Yazidi community.