Islam

Islam

Place of Origin Hijra 622 C.E.

Islam, "the submission to God" is a monotheistic faith, one of the Abrahamic religions and the world's second-largest religion. The Hijra is the emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622.

Historical Figures

Mohammad

Muhammad (ca. 570-632 CE) is believed by mainstream Muslims to be God's final prophet sent to guide mankind with the message of Islam. He is referred to as "The Prophet" within the faith. Non-Muslims generally consider him to be the founder of Islam. He could not read or write.

In 610, while praying in a cave called Hira near Mecca, Mohammad was visited by the Angel Gabriel. The angel commanded Mohammad to memorize and recite the verses sent by God, which were later collected as part of the Qur'an. Gabriel told Mohammad that God (Allah) had chosen him as the last of the prophets to mankind. Mohammad expanded his mission as a prophet, publicly preaching a strict monotheism and warning against a Day of Judgement where all humans shall be held responsible for their deeds.

Many in Mecca resented his preaching, at least in part due to his followers' tendency to hold his authority above that of their leaders. Eventually, persecution followed and in 622, Mohammad was forced to flee from Mecca and settled in Medina with his followers, where he was the leader of the first avowedly Muslim community.

War between factions in Mecca and Medina followed, in which Muhammad and his followers were eventually victorious. The military organization honed in this struggle was then set to conquering the other tribes of Arabia. By the time of Muhammad's death, he had unified Arabia, spread Islam throughout the Arab Peninsula, and launched expeditions to the north, towards Syria and Palestine.

Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr...