The Year Muslims Took Rome...

[discipleofJesus]

According to the Hadith, Muhammad said that his followers would take their wars of conquest to distant lands (including Rome).
Here is a Hadith from Muslim’s collection

Sahih Muslim, Book 041, Number 6930:
“Nafi’ b. Utba reported: We were with Allah’s Messenger in an expedition that there came a people to Allah’s Apostle from the direction of the west. They were dressed in woolen clothes and they stood near a hillock and they met him as Allah’s Messenger was sitting. I said to myself: Better go to them and stand between him and them that they may not attack him. Then I thought that perhaps there had been going on secret negotiation amongst them. I however, went to them and stood between them and him and I remember four of the words (on that occasion) which I repeat (on the fingers of my hand) that he (Allah’s Messenger) said: You will attack Arabia and Allah will enable you to conquer it, then you would attack Persia and He would make you to Conquer it.** Then you would attack Rome and Allah will enable you to conquer it,** then you would attack the Dajjal and Allah will enable you to conquer him. Nafi’ said: Jabir, we thought that the Dajjal would appear after Rome (Syrian territory) would be conquered.”

The following quote is excerpted from ‘The Next Pope and Islamic Prophecy’ By Steven Stalinsky frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=17710 (bold and underline emphasis mine)

Saudi Sheikh Muhammad bin Abd Al-Rahman Al-'Arifi, Imam of the mosque of King Fahd Defense Academy, discussed the coming Muslim conquest of the Vatican. Citing a Hadith in an article posted on the Kalemat website in 2002, he stated: “… We will control the land of the Vatican; we will control Rome and introduce Islam in it. Yes, the Christians, who carve crosses on the breasts of the Muslims … will yet pay us the Jiziya [poll tax paid by non-Muslims under Muslim rule], in humiliation, or they will convert to Islam…”

Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and head of The European Council for Fatwa and Research and the founder of European based International Council of Muslim Scholars (Imams) posted a fatwa on the website www.islamonline.net, in 2002 about the “signs of the victory of Islam” in Europe.

Also citing a well-known Hadith, Al-Qaradhawi wrote: "… The Prophet Muhammad was asked: 'What city will be conquered first, Constantinople or Romiyya?’ He answered: ‘The city of Hirqil * will be conquered first’ - that is, Constantinople… Romiyya is the city called today ‘Rome,’ the capital of Italy … and we hope and believe [that it too will be conquered]*."