(Mohammad Masood Ahmed (2025), Would You Like To Know Something About Islam, Second Edition, Crescent Books Inc., New York, USA. Pg. 73-88)

The history of Islam is as old as the history of humankind. Since Islam claims to be the most appropriate form of guidance, a comprehensive way of life that aligns with human nature and is valid for all times, it must be as old as humankind. Many people believe that Islam originated in the sixth century CE. If this were the case, how can Islam claim to be the guidance for the first human to the last? As I proceed further, this question will be answered.

Allah states:

الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهُ  ۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلْقَ الْإِنسَانِ مِن طِينٍ ‎7‏ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسْلَهُ مِن سُلَالَةٍ مِّن مَّاءٍ مَّهِينٍ ‎8‏ ‏ ثُمَّ سَوَّاهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِ  ۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ  ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ ‎9‏ ¹

The One Who created all things excellent, and who initiated the creation of men from clay. Then kept his posterity with a part of an abject fluid. Then made him proper and blew into him a Spirit from Him, and bestowed ears and eyes and hearts to you.

“All things” means the entire universe and everything in it, including humans. Then, among all creations, Allah made humans the best of all creations – the Crown Creation.

The first human being that the Lord Almighty created was ‘Adam . He and his progeny were to become Allah’s vicegerents on the Earth. Heaven initially became ‘Adam’s abode; however, he soon began feeling lonely. Allah then created Hawwa’ (Eve) , the first woman and the second human being. Amazingly, she was created from ‘Adam’s left rib; Allah does whatever He wills because He is the All-Powerful. Allah created ‘Adam without parents; Hawwa’ was born without a female (mother); and ‘Isa (Jesus) was born without a male (father). All of the above are clear signs of His power.

‘Adam and Hawwa’ lived in Heaven, and Allah permitted them to eat from wherever they wished, except for the tree that was prohibited to them. Iblis/Shaytan (Satan) deceived them into eating from that forbidden tree. This did not amount to Original Sin, a concept widely promoted; rather, it was an innocent mistake. As a result of this mistake, they could no longer live in Heaven. Allah explains:

فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ  ۖ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ  ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ 36²

Then Satan caused the two to slip and got them out of the place where they lived, and We said, “Get down, you will be enemies to one another, and now on the Earth shall be your dwelling and provision for an appointed term.”

Upon their exit from Heaven, Allah further said:

قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا   ۖفَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ‎38 وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ  ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ 39 ‎³

…get down from here, all of you! Then, if there comes to you from Me ‘guidance,’ whosoever follows My guidance shall have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. And those who disbelieve and shall deny Our signs—they are to be the inmates of Hell, and therein they shall abide forever.

‘Adam and Hawwa’ , the first couple and parents of all the people to come, were lost on Earth and became separated from each other for a very long time. They felt genuinely ashamed of their mistake in Heaven for not adhering to the Lord's commandment. ‘Adam experienced guilt and wept profusely, seeking forgiveness. Thereafter, Allah forgave him, and ‘Adam and Hawwa’ found each other and continued to live together. Gradually, the world’s population increased, and guidance began to come, as Allah had stated on their departure from Heaven.

As the population expanded and humans learned how to live on Earth, laws were necessary to establish societies and address fundamental problems. An ideology was required to satisfy humanity’s natural curiosities about existence and to fulfill their inherent desire to worship. To meet this need, the Almighty periodically revealed His guidance, tailored to the needs of the times and the level of understanding of the people, through His chosen individuals, known as prophets. From the outset, this guidance was Islam, and all Prophets , along with those who chose to believe in them, were Muslims. With the teachings of the Last Prophet, Muhammad, guidance was completed and perfected. Allah officially chose Islam as the din and upon its completion stated:

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا     ۝   ⁴

This day, I have perfected for you your religion and have completed My favor to you, and I have approved Islam as the religion for you.

Some may ask, if these teachings were perfected in the form of Islam through Muhammad , what were the teachings of the earlier prophets called? The teachings were Islam, but in its incomplete form. Every Prophet’s din (religion) was Islam; however, their shar‘iahs (the rules and commandments appropriate for their time, place, and need as revealed in their respective books) varied. ⁵ The major previously revealed shari'ahs were sent to the followers of Musa (Moses) and ‘Isa (Jesus) , and these evolved into the religious traditions now known as Judaism and Christianity. In the Qur’an, the followers of those religious traditions are referred to as Ahl al-Kitab (People of the Book).

Since the Creator and the One Who completed His guidance are one and the same, how could His message vary among the Prophets , when they were all sent by Him and to the same creation? The fundamental beliefs—such as belief in Allah, His Prophets , the unseen, refraining from shirk and idolatry, worshiping Allah, life in the Hereafter, the Day of Judgment, and belief in Heaven and Hell—were all the same as they are in Islam today. Every Muslim must declare that:

قُلْ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَالنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ 84⁶

…we believe in Allah and what has been sent down to us and that which was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham ) and Ismail and Ishaaq (Isaac ) and Yaqub (Jacob ) and their offspring and what was given to Musa (Moses ) and Isa (Jesus ) and the other prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, in the matter of faith and to Allah have we surrendered ourselves.

Furthermore, Allah reveals:

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ 85⁷

And whosoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it shall certainly not be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter, he shall be of the losers.

Allah sent Prophets to all nations, one after another, providing them a fair chance to accept and believe. Written and/or oral guidance was revealed to almost all of them: some adhered to the teachings of their prophets, while others dismissed them; some even killed their prophets, others followed for a brief time before forgetting the actual teachings, and some entirely altered the guidance after their prophets passed away. Hopes for those who disregarded sacred guidance and disrespected the prophets were dismissed. After that, Allah sent His wrath. The following verses of the Holy Qur’an explain this further.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ 33⁸

Surely, Allah chose Adam () and Nuh (Noah ) and the progeny of Ibrahim (Abraham ) and the progeny of Imran (Amran ) above all people of the world…

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا     ۝  ⁹

And indeed We raised in every community a prophet to instruct them…

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ  ۖ فَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ  ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ 4 ‎¹⁰

And We did not send any prophet but (to preach) in the language of his own people in order that he might explain to them in clear terms (the commandments of Allah) …

وَمَا كَانَ النَّاسُ إِلَّا أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَاخْتَلَفُوا     ۝   ¹¹

And mankind was but a single community (in the beginning), then they began to differ among themselves…

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ فَقَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ     ۝   ¹²

And surely We sent Nuh (Noah ) to his people, and he said, “O, my people! Worship Allah, you have no god for yourselves besides Him” …

The nation of Nuh , about him, said:

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ بِهِ     ۝   ¹³

He is not but a mad man…

Nuh requested help from Allah and said:

قَالَ رَبِّ انصُرْنِي بِمَا كَذَّبُونِ 26¹⁴

He said, “O Lord! Help me, for they have denied me.”

Allah informed Nuh about the great flood and said:

فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ أَنِ اصْنَعِ الْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا     ۝   ¹⁵

Then we revealed to him, “Build an Ark before Our sight and by Our command” …

‏

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ  ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ‎131‏ وَوَصَّىٰ بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ‎132‏¹⁶

And recall when his Lord said to him: “(O Abraham) Surrender!” He submitted: “I surrender myself to the Lord and Cherisher of all the worlds.” And Ibrahim (Abraham ) enjoined upon his sons and so did Yaqub (Jacob ), saying: “O my sons! Verily Allah has chosen for you this religion, so die not except as Muslims.”

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ  ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا     ۝   ¹⁷

And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham ) was tested by his Lord with regard to His certain commands, which he fulfilled in all entirety. Allah said: “Verily, I am going to appoint you leader for all mankind” …

إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِّلَّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ36¹⁸

Surely! Ibrahim (Abraham ) was a model of perfection, obedient to Allah and devoted exclusively to the truth. And he was not at all of the polytheists.

وَلُوطًا آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَت تَّعْمَلُ الْخَبَائِثَ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَوْمَ سَوْءٍ فَاسِقِينَ 74¹⁹

And as to Lut (Lot ), We gave him authority and knowledge, and We delivered him from the town whose people committed foul deeds. And surely they were a people most wicked and disobedient.

كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ الْمُرْسَلِينَ 160²⁰

The People of Lut (Lot ) denied the prophets.

وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُودَ الْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَالطَّيْرَ     ۝   ²¹

…We made subservient to Dawud (David ) the mountains and the birds, so they all celebrated Our praise with him…

وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً تَجْرِي بِأَمْرِهِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا     ۝   ²²

And to Sulayman (Solomon ), We made subservient the violent wind—that it blew at his bidding to the land that We had blessed…

ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا تَتْرَىٰ     ۝   ²³

Then we kept sending our prophets, one after the other…

ثُمَّ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ وَأَخَاهُ هَارُونَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَسُلْطَانٍ مُّبِينٍ ‎45‏ إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ وَمَلَئِهِ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا عَالِينَ ‎46‏ فَقَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ لِبَشَرَيْنِ مِثْلِنَا وَقَوْمُهُمَا لَنَا عَابِدُونَ ‎ 47‏ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَكَانُوا مِنَ الْمُهْلَكِينَ 48وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ ‎49 ‏²⁴

Then we sent Musa (Moses ) and his brother Harun (Aaron ), with Our signs and a clear authority to Pharaoh and his courtiers, but they also became proud and stiff necked, and surely they were a headstrong and insolent people. So they said, “Shall we believe these two humans who are like us, while their people are our worshiping slaves.” So they denied both of them; they then were destroyed. And surely, We gave Musa (Moses ) the Book that they might be guided aright.

وَجَعَلْنَا ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَأُمَّهُ آيَةً وَآوَيْنَاهُمَا إِلَىٰ رَبْوَةٍ ذَاتِ قَرَارٍ وَمَعِينٍ50²⁵

We made the son of Maryam and his mother (Maryam ) a sign (of Our might) and settled them both on an elevated ground fit for abode with meadows and running springs in sight.

وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ مُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يَبْعَثَ فِي أُمِّهَا رَسُولًا يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ وَمَا كُنَّا مُهْلِكِي الْقُرَىٰ إِلَّا وَأَهْلُهَا ظَالِمُونَ 59²⁶

And how many towns have We destroyed when they boasted of their prosperity. So these are their houses that have not been inhabited, after them, but a little; and (in the end) We alone are inheritor.

فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ ‎36²⁷

…so travel on the earth and see with your own eyes how exemplary was the end of those who denied the prophets.

Thus, all divine prophets succeeded one another in delivering guidance efficiently; however, many of the respective nations to which these prophets were sent never fully submitted, and only a few achieved notable success. However, ultimately, their nations deviated, and their teachings became corrupted. Then came the time when the Final Prophet , the ‘Seal of the Prophethood’, was born in Makkah, Arabia, roughly six centuries after the holy Prophet ‘Isa (Jesus ). Since NO prophet was to come after Muhammad , Allah completed His guidance and made arrangements to protect it from human interference, as it had become humanity’s habit to distort divine guidance. At this point, I can say with certainty that Prophet Muhammad is the perfection of all previous Prophets , that the Holy Quran represents the culmination of all prior scriptures, and that Islam embodies the ultimate refinement of all earlier beliefs, as preached by the authentic Prophets of Allah.

The final guidance was conveyed to humanity through the Final Prophet, Muhammad , and complete success in its implementation was accomplished during his lifetime. Tens of thousands of Arabs and non-Arabs embraced Islam and were prepared to spread it across the globe and protect it at all costs. In a short time, the world was not only introduced to Islam, but much of it also came under its influence. The guidance, religion, and complete way of life—starting with the first human being, ‘Adam , and completed with the teachings of the Final Prophet, Muhammad , have been embraced by billions. Currently, it is estimated that one in every four people in the world is Muslim. Furthermore, Islam remains the fastest-growing religion. The history of Islam is extensive, and only a brief overview can be provided here. All of the prophets from ‘Adam , the first man and the first human, to Nuh , from Ibrahim (Abraham) to ‘Ishaq (‘Isaac) to Ya‘qub (Jacob) to Yusuf (Joseph) , from Musa (Moses) to ‘Isa (Jesus) , from Isma‘il (Ishmael) to Muhammad , and those either mentioned or not in the divinely revealed books: Tawrah (Torah), Zabur (Psalms), Injil (Gospel), and the Holy Quran, brought the message of the same religion, Islam.

شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ  ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ     ۝   ²⁸

He has decreed for you the religion which He had enjoined on Nuh, and which We have revealed to you, and which We enjoined on Ibrahim and Musa and Isa saying: “Establish this very religion and be not divided therein” …

يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا   ۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ ‎ 51‏ وَإِنَّ هَٰذِهِ أُمَّتُكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ فَاتَّقُونِ52²⁹

O (Our) prophets! Eat of the pure things, and do good deeds. Verily, I am the Knower of what you do. And assuredly, this religion of yours is but one religion, and I am Lord and Cherisher of you all, so you should fear Me and Me alone.

مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا   &HijraHijranbsp ۝   ³⁰

…follow the faith of your father Ibrahim. He (Allah), it is Who has named you Muslim before, and in this Quran as well your name is the same…

مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَٰكِن كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُّسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ‎67‏ إِنَّ أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِإِبْرَاهِيمَ لَلَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ وَهَٰذَا النَّبِيُّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاللَّهُ وَلِيُّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ 68³¹

(Look!) Ibrahim was not a Jew or a Christian, but he was an upright Muslim aloof from all falsehood, nor was he of the polytheists. Surely, the nearest of mankind to Ibrahim are those who followed him and this Prophet and the believers. And Allah is the patron of the believers.

قَالُوا أَإِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابًا وَعِظَامًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ 82³²

They said: “What! When we are dead and become dust and bones, shall we then really be raised up again?”

Islam teaches that Judaism and Christianity were valid only during their respective eras. Until the divine way of life, Islam, was completed and perfected in its original form. The central teaching of every prophet focused on Tawhid (Oneness of Allah). All their other teachings, such as the laws of life and belief in the Hereafter, revolved around this fundamental principle. They were later incorporated into, modified by, or repealed by Islam. Since then, every earlier Shar‘iah and revealed book has become null and void. Salvation is now achievable only through Islam. To this end, Allah reveals in the Holy Quran:

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ 85³³

And whosoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it shall certainly not be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter, he shall be from the losers.

If Islam were a different religion and had been invented by Muhammad in the sixth century CE, it would have been unnecessary to recognize any prophet, let alone all of them, before Muhammad or any other book before the Holy Quran. In fact, Islam makes belief in previous Prophets and their books one of its essential tenets because they, too, were sent by Allah and were part of His guidance. Since they are a part of Islam, Muslims must recognize them and their authentic teachings.

كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ     ۝   ³⁴

…each one believes in all sincerity in Allah and His angels and His books and His prophets (and they proclaim), “We discriminate not against any of His prophets”

The laws and commandments brought by earlier Prophets were either erased from human history or corrupted through human intervention. A new set of divine laws and ordinances was needed to replace those that had been altered. Therefore, Allah ultimately and decisively completed His guidance through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and the Holy Quran. Allah formally and officially approved Islam, and from now on, salvation can only be achieved through Islam.

The ‘guidance’ and teachings had to be completed and perfected with Muhammad , as no other prophet would come after him. The need for heavenly guidance was now fulfilled; Allah has guaranteed the preservation of the Holy Quran from human tampering or distortion. Now, even the final soul entering this world can be guided and prepared for ultimate success.

The Holy Quran is the final set of commandments from the Almighty and offers a complete way of life. From its first revelation to the day it was completed, Allah has safeguarded and preserved the Holy Quran in its original form. No vowel or letter has been omitted, added, or changed since its revelation approximately fifteen centuries ago. This will remain true until the end of time because the Lord has taken upon Himself the responsibility for its preservation. Allah reveals:

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ9³⁵

Verily, it is We Who have revealed this discourse (Quran), and verily We are its Guardian.

The ordeal that began after Prophet Muhammad declared his Prophethood in Makkah, Arabia, when the first verse of the Holy Quran was revealed to him by Allah through the Archangel Jibra’il (Gabriel) and he was commanded to spread the message of Islam, is a subject that requires a separate book.

During the twenty-three years preceding the completion of the divine mission, much sacrifice was exacted from Prophet Muhammad and his Companions! How were they persecuted, exiled, and boycotted? How much resistance, difficulty, and suffering they endured at the hands of the Quraysh, the Arab tribe living in Makkah? How many battles did they have to fight to survive, incurring injury and death? What price did they pay to safeguard their newly acquired faith? How Muhammad managed to provide guidance to his followers, keep them united and steadfast, and effectively implement Allah’s guidance by forming treaties and alliances with other tribes, training his companions to spread Islam across the globe, and successfully fulfilling all of his obligations. These aspects of Islamic history require lengthy discussions.

The true followers of Islam, including the Companions of the Holy Prophet and others who followed, spread the message to every corner of the globe. The message of Islam, along with the character of its followers, amazed everyone who witnessed it. They had never seen such a complete, simple, and encompassing belief system combined with the humility, sincerity, and truthfulness of its loyal followers. Many were naturally attracted to Islam and embraced it. Within a short period, Islam grew rapidly worldwide, uniting people of diverse backgrounds under one umbrella.

It is astonishing to know that today, despite widespread misinformation about Islam—whether stemming from negative campaigns by some, the misbehavior of certain Muslims, or other factors—Islam continues to be the fastest-growing religion in the world. I am hopeful that upon finishing article series on Islam, the reader will satisfy their curiosity about why Islam continues to grow at such a rapid pace.

Below are some essential facts about the history of Islam since the time of the Prophet Muhammad to enhance the reader’s understanding.

Prophet Muhammad was born in 571 CE in Makkah, Arabia. His father’s name was Abdullah , and his mother's name was Amina . His father passed away before he was born, and his mother passed away when he was six years old. Subsequently, his grandfather Abdul Muttalib became his caretaker.

After his grandfather passed away when he was about eight years old, his uncle Abu Talib lovingly cared for him for a long time. His genealogy traces back to Prophet Isma‘il , the first son of Prophet Ibrahim . Amongst the descendants of Isma‘il , there are no Prophets except Prophet Muhammad , while numerous esteemed and notable Prophets descended from Prophet ‘Ishaq (Isaac) , the second son of Ibrahim .

Abu Talib, Prophet Muhammad’s uncle, recognized his special qualities and took great care in raising him. He never left him home alone, even during business trips. Unlike many Arabs who worshiped idols, his uncle never pressured him to do the same. Within the Ka’bah in Makkah alone, there were three hundred sixty different idols to worship. However, Prophet Muhammad never approached these idols in his childhood; he deeply despised idol worship.

After gaining trade experience with his uncle and undertaking several business trips abroad, Muhammad earned a reputation for his unmatched honesty, integrity, and remarkable demeanor. The people of Makkah, recognizing his strong moral character, bestowed upon him the titles Sadiq (truthful) and Amin (trustworthy). On one occasion, he led a merchant caravan for the wealthy Makkan, Lady Khadija , achieving impressive profits for her merchandise. Impressed by his honesty and morals, Lady Khadija sent him a marriage proposal after hearing her slave, who had accompanied him, recount the details of his trip.

Through arrangements made by his uncle, Abu Talib, he married at the age of twenty-five to the Honorable Khadija , who was forty years old and a widow. Contrary to popular belief (of non-Muslims), he did not marry her for selfish reasons or use her wealth to achieve his goals. Furthermore, her wealth did not influence the declaration of his Prophethood, which occurred fifteen years later when he was forty years old. Nevertheless, it allowed him ample free time to meditate and stay secluded in a cave (Hira) on top of a nearby mountain, Mount Nur (Jabal al-Nur). His wife was always supportive of him and stood by him. When Muhammad declared his Prophethood, she, with complete confidence, became the first person and woman to recognize him as the Prophet of Allah, and she wholeheartedly embraced Islam.

While meditating in the cave of Hira, Allah revealed the first few verses of the Holy Quran through Archangel Jibra’il . In those verses, Prophet Muhammad was commanded to:

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ‎1‏ خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ‎2اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ ‎3‏ الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ 4‏ عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ5³⁶

Recite! In the name of your Lord, Who created all. Created man from the clot of congealed blood. Recite! And your Lord is the Most Bountiful. Who taught writing by the pen. Taught man what he knew not…

Later, Allah instructed Muhammad to invite people to Islam, assuring him of protection and success in his mission. Despite facing opposition from those who had previously deemed him Sadiq and Amin, he persisted in delivering the message revealed to him by Allah, with unwavering confidence, dedication, and commitment. Muhammad urged his people to acknowledge the Oneness of Allah and to abandon their longstanding idol worship.

For the Quraysh tribe, idol worship served a dual purpose: it was both a religious ritual and a lucrative business venture. They generated considerable revenue from the pilgrims who traveled to Makkah to worship idols and engage in trade. Therefore, it was evident that they felt compelled to oppose the Holy Prophet and his message.

Initially, only a handful of people accepted his teachings; yet, he persevered in preaching with steadfastness and determination, enduring even the harshest conditions. Prophet Muhammad , along with his extended family—some of whom had not yet embraced Islam—and the new Muslims faced an economic and social boycott. They were forced to leave their homes and move to the nearby valley of Sh’ib abi-Talib, where they endured harsh conditions for three years; nonetheless, this experience only strengthened their resolve. The sanctions placed on their economy and trade were finally lifted when termites consumed the document outlining these restrictions, a turn of events that disgraced the Quraysh for mistreating their own community members.

Meanwhile, the Muslim community gradually grew and became stronger, even as the resistance and brutality of the non-believers spread widely. The Holy Prophet ordered those believers who could not persist to migrate to Abyssinia (contemporary Ethiopia). Muslims found favorable conditions in Abyssinia and gained the goodwill and compassion of the Christian King, Al Najashi. Upon learning about Islam and its Prophet , he recognized the divinity of Islam, as Allah had previously revealed it to Prophet ‘Isa (Jesus) .

The Muslims who remained in Makkah continued to suffer pain and hardship at the hands of the disbelievers. Soon after, a year of grief came upon the Prophet , as two of his ardent supporters and family members, his wife Khadija and his uncle Abu Talib, passed away, making his task harder. Now, his life was in greater danger from the Makkan chiefs because they had feared and respected Abu Talib. Upon his death, all the Makkan chiefs united to prevent the Holy Prophet from continuing with his mission, even if they had to take his life.

During this period of grief and hardship, the Prophet was summoned to meet Allah in the Heavens. The journey, known as Isra Wal Mi’raj , took place during a brief part of the night. In the company of the Archangel Jibra’il , he first visited Masjid al-Aqsa in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) and then ascended to the Heavens. Among other purposes, this miraculous journey aimed to bring him relief, uplift his morale, strengthen his resolve, show him the Heavens, and make him an eyewitness to Allah’s signs and majesty, and grant him the honor of meeting Allah in person, a privilege not bestowed upon any other Prophet. There, he was assured of his Prophetic success and received the gift of Salah (the five daily prayers of worship), which every adult Muslim is obliged to practice.

The abuse and persecution from the Quraysh had become unbearable, prompting the Prophet to permit more of his followers to migrate to Madinah, then known as Yathrib, approximately four hundred kilometers northeast of Makkah. He would join them in the near future when commanded by Allah. Muslims safely leaving Makkah angered the disbelievers, resulting in an increase in their persecution. The Makkan chiefs unanimously decided to attack the Prophet while he slept, but Allah informed him and granted permission to migrate. The Prophet left for Madinah, entrusting his affairs to his cousin, Ali , who would later become his son-in-law. He instructed Ali to sleep in his place that night and then join him in Madinah later.

He traveled with the Honorable Abu Bakr as-Siddiq , his closest companion and the first adult male to embrace Islam. The Makkans pursued them but were unable to catch up with them. After traveling for about five hundred kilometers in the excruciating desert heat for over fifteen days, they safely arrived in Madinah, where many anxiously awaited him. Out of respect and honor for him, he was greeted with a grand celebration. This Hijra (migration of the Prophet ) marked the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar and the second phase of Islam.

In Madinah, the Prophet established a common brotherhood among the believers, uniting the Ansar (the Muslim residents of Madinah) and the Muhajirun (the migrant Muslims). He drew up treaties with local tribes and the followers of the Jewish faith to coexist in peace and harmony, thereby fostering tolerance and understanding. With a sigh of relief, he laid the Muslim community on the solid foundations of Islam, according to the continuous revelations from Allah. The Muslim community grew and prospered due to the hard work of the migrants and the unprecedented cooperation and selflessness displayed by their Ansar brethren. The Holy Prophet established a Masjid (Masjid an-Nabawi) in Madinah to serve as the center for this newly formed nation of believers.

On the other hand, the Makkans were in despair at having failed to destroy a handful of poor and disadvantaged people. Unbeknownst to them, however, Muslims were truly blessed by the Almighty, who allowed them to succeed, become strong, sustain themselves, and disseminate Islam throughout Arabia. The Makkans ran amok, looted the belongings and properties that the emigrants left behind, and conspired with the local tribes of Madinah to weaken the Muslims. They sought alliances to wage war against Islam and Muslims. Although the Muslims had left the city of Makkah, the Makkans never let them live in peace in Madinah and never allowed the Muslims to practice their religion freely.

After almost fifteen years of enduring persecution at the hands of the Quraysh, Allah finally granted Muslims permission to defend themselves and retaliate against their enemies. Many small and fullscale battles were fought where Muslims, despite being outnumbered, were ultimately victorious. At this point, both parties were prepared to sign a peace treaty and agreed to a ten-year period of peace. This period of tranquility allowed Muslims to focus on other matters, such as strengthening themselves to confront other tribes and powers in Arabia and expanding Islam beyond Arabian borders.

The relative peace allowed Muhammad to send letters via emissaries inviting the Roman, Persian, and other emperors to adopt Islam. He was also able to address the hidden mischief of the hypocrites living among the Muslims. As Islam grew and gained strength, every existing empire became aware of it. Moreover, the revelations of the Holy Quran accelerated. Uniform codes of conduct, family life, personal and public affairs, economy and social welfare, civil and criminal justice, and principles for conducting war and establishing peace were revealed to Muslims. Simultaneously, the Prophet appropriately implemented divine laws among the Muslim community of Madinah and throughout the nearby lands.

When the Makkans and their allies breached the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, the Muslims prepared to march toward Makkah. They then conquered Makkah without spilling a drop of blood. Muhammad became a conqueror, but as a Prophet of mercy, he forgave all Makkans, including his staunchest enemies. He issued a general amnesty and pardoned everyone, whether they embraced Islam or not. Allah’s promise to His Prophet and the Muslims came true. They entered Makkah as victors, when eight/nine years earlier, they had been forced to leave their homes, belongings, and everything they possessed in order to find refuge, so they could uphold their beliefs and show their love for their Prophet .

Muhammad demonstrated undeniable generosity that has yet to be matched. Consequently, tens of thousands embraced Islam without any swords drawn, free from fear of death, without bloodshed, and without coercion. Those who once sought to eradicate Islam now became its champions, joining other Muslims in spreading the message of Islam from Makkah and Madinah to every corner of the world.

The Holy Prophet returned to Madinah to live there for the rest of his life among those who once did him great favors, the Ansar. Soon thereafter, the Holy Quran was complete when, at the Last Sermon, on the occasion of Hajj, Allah revealed to Muhammad that,

الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا     ۝   ³⁷

This day, I have perfected for you your religion and have completed My favor to you, and I have approved Islam as the religion for you.

The beloved Prophet passed away at the age of sixty-three, entrusting the mission of disseminating Islam worldwide to his Companions and future generations of Muslims. The righteous, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq , was appointed as the First Khalifa (Caliph) of the Muslim ummah (community). The Holy Quran and the noble Sunnah (the teachings of the Prophet ) became pillars of guidance for the Muslim ummah. Even centuries later, Islam continues to shine brightly, casting its rays of enlightenment on those who encounter it.

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• ¹  Holy Quran, As-Sajdah, 32: 7-9
• ²  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 36
• ³  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 38-39
• ⁴  Holy Quran, Al-Ma’idah, 5: 3
• ⁵  Holy Quran, Al-Imran, 5: 48
• ⁶  Holy Quran, Al-Imran, 3: 84
• ⁷  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 85
• ⁸  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 33
• ⁹  Holy Quran, An-Nahl, 16: 36
• ¹⁰  Holy Quran, Ibrahim, 14: 4
• ¹¹  Holy Quran, Yunus, 10: 19
• ¹²  Holy Quran, Al-Mu’minun, 23: 23
• ¹³  Holy Quran, Al-Mu’minun, 23: 25
• ¹⁴  Holy Quran, Al-Mu’minun, 23: 26
• ¹⁵  Holy Quran, Al-Mu’minun, 23: 27
• ¹⁶  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 131-132
• ¹⁷  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 124
• ¹⁸  Holy Quran, an-Nahl, 16: 120
• ¹⁹  Holy Quran, Al-Ambiya, 21: 74
• ²⁰  Holy Quran, ash-Shuara', 26: 160
• ²¹  Holy Quran, Al-Anbiya, 21: 79
• ²²  Holy Quran, Al-Anbiya, 21: 81
• ²³  Holy Quran, Al-Mu’minun, 23: 44
• ²⁴  Holy Quran, Al-Mu’minun, 23: 45-49
• ²⁵  Holy Quran, Al-Mu’minun, 23: 50
• ²⁶  Holy Quran, Al-Qasas, 28: 59
• ²⁷  Holy Quran, Al-Nahl, 16: 36
• ²⁸  Holy Quran, Ash-Shura, 42: 13
• ²⁹  Holy Quran, Mu’minun, 23: 51-52
• ³⁰  Holy Quran, Al-Hajj, 22: 78
• ³¹  Holy Quran, Aal-e-Imran, 3: 67-68
• ³²  Holy Quran, Al-Muminun, 23: 82
• ³³  Holy Quran, Aal-Imran, 3: 85
• ³⁴  Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah, 2: 285
• ³⁵  Holy Quran, Al-Hijr, 15: 9
• ³⁶  Holy Quran, Al-Hajj, 96: 1-5
• ³⁷  Holy Quran, Al-Ma’idah, 5: 3