The beginning of Islam dates back to the early 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula, specifically in the city of Mecca (present-day Saudi Arabia). The religion was founded by the Prophet Muhammad, who received revelations from Allah (God) through the angel Gabriel. These revelations were later compiled into the Islamic holy book, the Quran.
Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 CE, and he began receiving revelations in 610 CE. He started preaching the message of Islam, which emphasized monotheism, social justice, and moral values. Initially, his teachings faced opposition from the polytheistic tribes in Mecca. In 622 CE, Muhammad and his followers migrated to the city of Medina in an event known as the Hijra, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
In Medina, Muhammad established the first Islamic community and continued to receive revelations. Over time, Islam gained more followers, and Muhammad's influence grew. After several battles and negotiations, Mecca was peacefully conquered by the Muslims in 630 CE. Muhammad passed away in 632 CE, but his teachings continued to spread, and Islam became one of the world's major religions.
Today, Islam is the second-largest religion globally, with over 1.8 billion followers, known as Muslims. The faith is based on the Five Pillars of Islam: Shahada (declaration of faith), Salat (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting during Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
