
The founder of Islam, Muhammad, lived from 571-632. Beginning in his 30s, Muhammad claimed to have mystical experiences.
From what is now Saudi Arabia, Muhammad was a middle-class citizen. Saying he received a message from the angel Gabriel, Muhammad was instructed to find followers of Allah. Instead of believing in a polytheistic religion, Muhammad preached one god but found few converts in his native Mecca. Islam is not trinitarian, but emphasizes the oneness of god.
Muhammad quickly received opposition from the ruling elites of Mecca, because he claimed that the religious shrine in Mecca called the “Kaaba” was only to be worshiped by followers of Islam. Muhammad also stated that no other idols should be placed there. After fleeing to the neighboring city of Medina, Muhammad had great success there and was welcomed as a political and religious leader to a city torn by divisions.
Shortly after becoming a leader in Medina, Muhammad led the city in an attack against Mecca, raiding their trading caravans and blockading their city. Eventually, Mecca submitted in 630. By the time of Muhammad’s death, Arabia was united under Islam as a political entity for the first time. Over the next hundred years, Islamic conquests continued from India, Central Asia, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Spain. These gains were slowed when the Islamic forces were defeated by Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours in 732. Before these invasions, most of the Middle East consisted of Christian lands like Syria, Palestine, and North Africa.
In Islam, Muhammad is not believed to be divine but a prophet similar to Abraham or Moses. The Koran is alleged to be the holy book that was dedicated to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel from Allah. In Islamic law, there is no separation of Church and State.
The Pillars of Islam are equivalent to the Ten Commandments and say this: There is no god but Allah, pray five times a day, fast during the month of Ramadan, give alms of 2.5% of your income, and make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca during your lifetime.