Origins of Islam

Islam arose in Arabia in the early seventh century through the preaching of Muhammad, a merchant of Mecca whom Muslims regard as the final prophet. According to tradition, he began to receive revelations around 610, which were later collected in the Quran. Facing opposition in Mecca, he and his followers moved to Medina in 622, an event, the Hijra, that marks the start of the Islamic calendar. He returned to take Mecca in 630, and by 631 delegations from across the Arabian Peninsula were pledging allegiance, so that most of Arabia had accepted the new faith by the time of his death in 632. His successors, the caliphs, led rapid expansions into the Near East, North Africa and Persia. A division over leadership produced the two main branches, Sunni and Shia Islam.

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