Origins of Islam: A Religious History

The founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, was born in Mecca around 570 C.E.

Orphaned at a young age, he grew up under the care of relatives and became known for his honesty in trade. He later married a wealthy widow named Khadija, who supported him during the early years of his prophetic mission.

At the age of 40, Muhammad retreated to a cave on Mount Hira, where he received his first revelation from the archangel Gabriel. These messages, believed to be from Allah (God), would form the basis of the Quran, the holy book of Islam.

This marked the beginning of the Islamic faith.

Muhammad began preaching in Mecca, urging people to abandon pagan idols and worship one God. His teachings were met with resistance from Meccan elites, who profited from the city’s many pagan gods and religious pilgrims.

Eventually, Muhammad and his followers migrated to Medina, forming the first cohesive Muslim community. This early period of Islam, known as the Hijra, was pivotal in uniting tribes under a new religious and social structure. From here, Islam spread rapidly across the Arabian Peninsula.

When Muhammad died in 632 C.E., the Islamic community faced a crucial turning point. Leadership passed to Abu Bakr, the first of the four caliphs known as the "Rightly Guided Caliphs."

These caliphs expanded Muslim rule across the Middle East and North Africa, reaching as far as Persia and Egypt, and laid the groundwork for later conquests that would extend into Central Asia and the Iberian Peninsula.

Disputes over who should lead after the Prophet’s death led to the division of the Muslim community into Sunni and Shia Islam. Sunni Muslims followed the authority of the caliphs, while Shia Islam turned to the Prophet’s family line—particularly Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law.

Within a century of Muhammad’s death, Islam had become a dominant religion across vast territories.

The early Islamic conquests were not just military campaigns. They spread theology, law, and culture. Cities like Baghdad became centers of learning during the Islamic Golden Age, when scholars made major advances in science, medicine, and philosophy.

Islamic history shows how faith, community, and governance intertwined to build a lasting civilization. The Quran became not just a holy book but the foundation for Islamic law and ethical conduct.

The Islamic faith shares roots with Judaism and Christianity, honoring prophets like Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the final prophet, sent to deliver the complete message of God in the same way earlier prophets did.

Today, the Muslim world spans continents and cultures, but its foundation lies in the revelations received by Muhammad and the early Islamic community.

From Mecca and Medina to modern-day Iran, North Africa, and beyond, the origins of Islam continue to influence theology, society, and the daily lives of over a billion people.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.