Jul 21, 20203 min read

How Islam Began: Story Behind the Origin of Islam and the Expansion of Islam!

Islam is one of the largest religions in the world. Like any other religion, it has certain sets of principles, beliefs, teachings, and the concept of God.

Often considered as the true religion and the religion of peace. The concept behind Islam and how Islam started are interesting areas of study. Before you read about Islam's origin history or how Islam started, let me give you a brief introduction to what Islam is and who is Allah.

What is Islam?

Islam is a monotheistic religion which whose basis lies upon the teachings of the great Prophet Muhammad. It is a continuation of the teachings of the original Abrahamic faith. The word Islam means "submission or surrender to the will of God."

As a true religion, it illuminates that the believer of Islam, the Muslims, surrender completely to the will of Allah. The tenets of Islam also propagate it as a ‘religion of peace.'

One of the chief historical characteristics of Islam is that:

● it offered the contemporary population freedom from conventional religion

● introduced a religious faith of brotherhood.

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Who is Allah?

Etymologically, Allah means God in Arabic. In Islam, Allah refers to the one and only true God of the Muslims. He was the sole creator, sustainer, and restorer of the world.

All the Muslims must abide and surrender to the ultimate will of Allah. The concept of Allah in Islam stood in contrast with the pre-existing polytheistic religion of the Arabian Peninsula.

How did Islam Start?

The roots of this religion go way back in time. Scholars and historians regard that the original beginning of Islam was at the start of the 7th century CE. The ‘religion of peace' originated in Mecca, about 600 years after the birth of Christianity. It was when Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah started getting divine revelations from the almighty God.

According to the Islamic texts and tradition, the answer to how Islam started traces back to 612 CE. It was when the first-ever divine revelation came to The Prophet. It came through the angel Gabriel while he was meditating. These divine revelations of Allah and the consequent holy messages of the Prophet are now compiled in the holy book Qur’an.

The message of the Prophet preaches about the fundamental principles, teachings, and beliefs. These form the basic pillars of Islam as a true religion and a religion of peace. The revelations brought about a drastic change in the existing religious structure and providing freedom from a polytheistic religion

From Mecca to Medina

Prophet Muhammad started preaching his holy message of one true God, the Allah, in Mecca's polytheistic environment from the year 613 CE. This developed conflict between The Prophet's newfound faith of monotheism and the existing polytheism.

While his opposition in the Meccan society increased, he also won over a handful of followers. In 622 CE, The Prophet fled to Mecca, against his wishes, as the opposition in the city started to vehemently increase. With his supporters, Muhammad migrated to Medina. He gradually developed a following in the less unorthodox environment of Medina.

The Prophet stronghold the region that he had conquered not by military means but by preaching the holy teachings of the true God Allah. The Muslims consider this flight from Mecca to Medina as Hejira (also, Hijra, Hegira), the holy journey. The year 622 also marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Thus confirming the beginning of Islam as an original faith of the people and a true religion.

Expansion of Islam

The very sense of a brotherhood brought in by The Prophet. It began with preaching his holy message created an unbreakable bond of faith between his followers. The sense of strong attachment. The shared experiences as a nascent community faith.

Combined with the apparent socioeconomic structure of Islam played an important role in cementing the bond of the faith. Islam provided freedom from multifaceted religions. Through this, a complete community-state of Islam started to emerge in Medina.

After spending about seven years in Medina preaching the teachings and doctrines of Islam, Muhammad, along with his followers, went back to Mecca and conquered the region.

Before Muhammad’s death in 632 CE, Islam had already gained its characteristic ethos. Especially as a true religion that united both the spiritual and temporal aspects of life. That is to say, Islam emerged as not only a new faith but also gave rise to a new military force to reckon with.

Muhammad died as the most powerful religious head and political leader in all Arabia. After his death, Islam started to expand. It gained popularity across geographical boundaries through the Caliphate system.

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