When, Where, and How
You’ve probably heard that Islam is one of the world’s major religions. But when did it actually start? Where did it begin? And how did a single man in the middle of the Arabian desert end up changing the course of human history?
According to historical documentation preserved by Islamic scholars and verified through multiple chains of authentic narration, Islam began in the year 610 CE—over fourteen hundred years ago—when a 40-year-old merchant named Muhammad ﷺ received the first revelation from Allah ﷻ through the Angel Jibril (peace be upon him) in a cave outside the city of Mecca.
That moment in that cave changed everything. Not just for Arabia. Not just for that time period. For all of humanity, forever.
But to really understand when Islam started, you need to know the full story. The world Muhammad ﷺ was born into. The society he grew up in. The struggles he faced. The message he brought. And how a small group of believers transformed into one of the most influential movements in human history.
So let’s go back. Way back. To 7th century Arabia.
The World Before Islam: Pre-Islamic Arabia
Picture the Arabian Peninsula around the year 570 CE, when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born. According to historical accounts, this was a harsh world. Desert everywhere. Tribal warfare constantly. No central government. No written laws that everyone followed. Just survival.
The Arabs of that time lived in a tribal society. Your tribe was everything—your identity, your protection, your only chance of survival in that brutal environment. If someone attacked you, your tribe defended you. If you were killed, your tribe took revenge. Blood feuds lasted generations. Islamic historical sources describe how entire tribes would go to war over a single insult or murdered member.
Mecca, the city where Muhammad ﷺ was born, was different from the rest of Arabia in one crucial way: it was a major commercial center. Trade caravans from Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and beyond passed through Mecca. Merchants made fortunes. The powerful Quraysh tribe controlled the city and its lucrative trade routes.
But Mecca had something else that made it special: the Kaaba.
The Kaaba was originally built by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son Prophet Ismail (peace be upon him) as a house dedicated to the worship of the One God, Allah ﷻ. But by the 6th century CE, as documented in historical accounts of pre-Islamic Arabia, the Kaaba had been filled with 360 idols. People worshipped gods made of stone and wood. They prayed to statues, asking them for rain, wealth, children, victory in war.
The rich oppressed the poor. Women had almost no rights. Female infanticide—burying baby girls alive—was practiced by some tribes who saw daughters as burdens. Slavery was widespread. Alcohol and gambling consumed people’s lives. Tribal pride led to endless violence.
This was the world into which Muhammad ﷺ was born. This was the darkness that needed light.
The Birth and Early Life of Muhammad ﷺ
Historical accounts preserved by early Islamic biographers document that Muhammad ﷺ was born around the year 570 CE in Mecca. But his start in life was difficult. His father, Abdullah, died before he was born. His mother, Aminah, died when he was only six years old. He became an orphan.
First his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, took care of him. When his grandfather passed away, his uncle Abu Talib raised him. Muhammad ﷺ grew up with very little material wealth but with something more valuable—impeccable character.
Even as a young man, people in Mecca called him “Al-Amin”—the Trustworthy. They called him “As-Sadiq”—the Truthful. If someone needed to store their valuables safely, they gave them to Muhammad ﷺ. If people had disputes, they asked him to arbitrate because they knew he would be fair.
He worked as a shepherd, then as a merchant. When he was 25 years old, he married Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), a wealthy businesswoman who had hired him to manage her trade caravans. She was 40 years old when they married. She became his first supporter, his closest companion, and the first person to believe in him when he received revelation fifteen years later.
But even with a good marriage and financial stability, Muhammad ﷺ wasn’t satisfied with the society around him. Islamic biographical sources note that he would often retreat to a cave on Mount Hira, just outside Mecca, to meditate and reflect. He was disturbed by the idol worship, the injustice, the greed, the violence. He was searching for something more. For truth. For purpose.
He had no idea that the answer was about to find him.
The First Revelation: The Night Everything Changed
The year was 610 CE. Muhammad ﷺ was 40 years old. It was the month of Ramadan—though Muslims wouldn’t start fasting it for another dozen years. According to the most authentic accounts transmitted through Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet’s ﷺ wife who narrated this story, he was in the Cave of Hira when it happened.
Suddenly, an angel appeared before him. Not in a dream. In reality. The angel commanded him: “Iqra!” Read! Or Recite!
Muhammad ﷺ, who could not read or write, responded: “I cannot read.”
The angel grabbed him and squeezed him until he thought he would die. Then released him. And commanded again: “Iqra!”
“I cannot read,” Muhammad ﷺ repeated.
The angel grabbed him again, squeezed harder, released him. And a third time commanded: “Iqra!”
Then the angel, who would later reveal himself as Jibril (peace be upon him), recited the first words of the Quran ever revealed to Muhammad ﷺ:
[Surah Al-Alaq, Ayah 1-5]
“Read in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the most Generous. Who taught by the pen. Taught man that which he knew not.”
According to the detailed account preserved in Sahih Bukhari, Muhammad ﷺ was terrified. His heart was pounding. He rushed back down the mountain, shaking, and ran home to Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). He said, “Cover me! Cover me!” She wrapped him in a cloak while he trembled.
When he finally calmed down enough to speak, he told her what had happened. And here’s where you see the wisdom of Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). She didn’t dismiss him. She didn’t think he was crazy. Islamic sources document that she took him to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, an elderly Christian scholar who knew the previous scriptures.
When Waraqah heard the story, he said something that confirmed what had just begun: “This is the same angel that was sent to Moses. I wish I could be young and alive when your people drive you out.”
Muhammad ﷺ was shocked. “Will they drive me out?”
Waraqah, drawing on his knowledge of prophetic history, replied: “Yes. No man has ever brought what you will bring without being treated with hostility.”
That was the beginning. That night in the cave. That’s when Islam started—not as a religion in the modern sense yet, but as a divine message beginning to be revealed to the final messenger of Allah ﷻ.
The Early Years: Secret Preaching and Growing Opposition
For the first three years after that revelation, according to historical accounts documented by Islamic biographers, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ preached quietly. Not publicly, yet. He shared it privately with those close to him—his family, trusted friends, people he knew had good hearts.
Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) was the first to believe. Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), his young cousin who lived with him. Then Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), his closest friend, one of the most respected men in Mecca. Then Zaid ibn Harith (may Allah be pleased with him), a freed slave who had chosen to stay with Muhammad ﷺ instead of returning to his own family. Then Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), a wealthy merchant. Then Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him), a slave who would become Islam’s first caller to prayer.
These early believers—came from all backgrounds. Rich and poor. Free and enslaved. Young and old. The message was universal from the start.
After three years, Allah ﷻ commanded Muhammad ﷺ to preach publicly. The command came in the Quran:
[Surah Al-Hijr, Ayah 94]
“Then declare what you are commanded and turn away from the polytheists.”
So in 613 CE, Muhammad ﷺ climbed Mount Safa in Mecca, called out to get people’s attention, and when the Quraysh tribe gathered, he warned them clearly: Abandon idol worship. There is only One God. Submit to Him. Or face consequences in this life and the next.
The reaction? Mockery. Anger. Rejection. His own uncle, Abu Lahb, publicly cursed him. The Quraysh leaders who profited from the religious tourism of pilgrims visiting their idols at the Kaaba saw Muhammad ﷺ as a threat to their power and wealth.
That’s when the real suffering began.
The Persecution: When Believing in One God Cost Everything
If you’re learning about when Islam started, you need to understand this: the early Muslims didn’t have mosques, community centers, or protection under law. They had torture. Boycotts. Death threats.
The wealthy Muslims like Abu Bakr and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them) faced social boycotts and economic pressure. But they could survive. The real horror was reserved for those who had no tribal protection—the slaves and the poor.
Take Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him). Historical accounts documented by early Islamic biographers describe how his master would drag him into the desert at the hottest part of the day, pin him down with a massive rock on his chest, and leave him there to die unless he renounced Islam. Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) would just repeat, “Ahad, Ahad”—One, One—affirming his belief in the One God even as the sun burned him and the rock crushed him.
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) eventually bought Bilal’s freedom. But not everyone survived.
Sumayyah (may Allah be pleased with her) and her husband Yasir (may Allah be pleased with him) were among the first to accept Islam. They were tortured by their master, Abu Jahl, one of Islam’s fiercest enemies. According to accounts preserved in Islamic historical sources, Abu Jahl stabbed Sumayyah (may Allah be pleased with her) to death while she refused to abandon her faith. She became the first martyr in Islam—a woman who died for saying there is no god but Allah ﷻ.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself wasn’t safe despite his tribal protection. People threw garbage on him while he prayed. They threw intestines of animals on his back while he prostrated. They tried to strangle him. They offered him wealth, power, marriage to the most beautiful women—anything if he would just stop preaching this message.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, as recorded in Sahih Bukhari (Book 56, Hadith 719), describing the persecution of earlier prophets: “No prophet was harmed as I was harmed.”
But he didn’t stop. Neither did his followers. They held secret meetings in the house of a companion named Al-Arqam. They prayed in hidden places. They recited the Quran quietly. They waited for Allah’s ﷻ help.
The Migration to Abyssinia: Seeking Refuge
By the fifth year after Muhammad ﷺ started preaching publicly, the persecution became unbearable for many Muslims. So, the Prophet ﷺ made a strategic decision: he told some of his followers to migrate to Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia), where a just Christian king ruled.
Around 80 Muslims, made the dangerous journey across the Red Sea. The Quraysh sent representatives to demand their return, but when the Muslims recited Quranic verses about Prophet Isa (peace be upon him) and Mary, the Christian king wept and refused to hand them over.
This was a turning point. Islam had spread beyond Mecca. The message had reached Africa. And it wasn’t going to be stopped by persecution.
The Year of Sorrow and the Journey to Ta’if
Ten years after the first revelation, according to Islamic biographical sources, Muhammad ﷺ experienced what scholars of his life call “the Year of Sorrow”—619 CE.
Within months, he lost two of his greatest supporters. First, his uncle Abu Talib, who had protected him from the worst of Quraysh violence even though he never accepted Islam, passed away. Then Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), his wife of 25 years, his first believer, his emotional anchor, also died.
Muhammad ﷺ was 50 years old, grieving, and suddenly more vulnerable than ever without his uncle’s tribal protection. So according to historical accounts, he went to the nearby city of Ta’if to invite its people to Islam. Maybe they would listen. Maybe they would accept.
They didn’t. The leaders of Ta’if not only rejected him but ordered street children and thugs to chase him out of the city, throwing rocks at him until his feet bled. Covered in blood, exhausted, heartbroken, he took shelter in a garden and made one of the most humble and powerful duas ever recorded.
According to accounts preserved by scholars of prophetic biography, he didn’t ask Allah ﷻ to punish his persecutors. He said: “O Allah, to You I complain of my weakness, my lack of resources, and my lowliness before people. O Most Merciful, You are the Lord of the weak, and You are my Lord. To whom do You leave me? If You are not angry with me, then I do not care what happens to me.”
That’s surrender. That’s trust. That’s what it means to be a true believer even when everything looks hopeless.
But Allah ﷻ was preparing something bigger. Something that would change not just Muhammad’s ﷺ situation, but human history.
The Night Journey and Ascension: A Miraculous Turning Point
In the year 621 CE, according to Islamic tradition based on Quranic references and prophetic narration, Allah ﷻ granted Muhammad ﷺ one of the greatest miracles any prophet had ever experienced: Al-Isra wal-Mi’raj—the Night Journey and Ascension.
In one night, the Angel Jibril (peace be upon him) brought a winged creature called Al-Buraq. Muhammad ﷺ was taken from Mecca to Jerusalem—a journey that normally took weeks by camel. At the site where the Al-Aqsa Mosque now stands, he led all the previous prophets in prayer. Then, from Jerusalem, he ascended through the seven heavens, meeting prophets including Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, and Isa (peace be upon them all). And according to Islamic sources, he reached a point where even Jibril (peace be upon him) could not proceed, and Muhammad ﷺ was brought into the presence of Allah ﷻ.
It was during this miraculous night that the five daily prayers were prescribed for Muslims, as documented in authentic hadith collections.
Allah ﷻ mentions this journey in the Quran:
[Surah Al-Isra, Ayah 1]
“Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”
When Muhammad ﷺ returned and told people about this journey, many mocked him. Even some Muslims doubted. But Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) immediately affirmed his belief, which is why he earned the title “As-Siddiq”—the Truthful. When asked if he believed Muhammad’s ﷺ story, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, as recorded in Islamic historical accounts: “If he said it, then it is true. I believe him in matters far greater than this.”
That journey strengthened Muhammad ﷺ for what was coming next: the complete transformation of his situation.
The Hijrah: Migration to Medina and the Birth of an Islamic State
By 622 CE, thirteen years after the first revelation, the situation in Mecca had become dangerous enough that Allah ﷻ gave permission for Muslims to migrate. And this time, not to Abyssinia—to a city 280 miles north called Yathrib, which would soon be renamed Medina (the City of the Prophet).
According to historical accounts documented by Islamic scholars, delegations from Yathrib had been coming to Mecca and accepting Islam. They invited the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to come to their city, promising to protect him and support him. Over several months, Muslims quietly left Mecca in small groups, abandoning their homes, their businesses, their entire lives, for their faith.
The Quraysh realized what was happening. They plotted to assassinate Muhammad ﷺ. According to historical accounts, they gathered men from different tribes so that his blood would be on all their hands, making revenge impossible. They surrounded his house at night, waiting to kill him in the morning.
But Allah ﷻ protected His messenger. Muhammad ﷺ, informed of the plot through divine revelation, asked Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to sleep in his bed wearing his cloak. Then he walked right past the assassins—according to Islamic accounts, Allah ﷻ caused them not to see him—and escaped with Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).
They hid in a cave called Thawr for three days while Quraysh search parties scoured the area. According to a famous incident documented in Islamic sources, the assassins came right to the mouth of the cave. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) whispered, “If any of them looks down, they will see us.” Muhammad ﷺ calmly replied: “What do you think of two when Allah is the third with them?”
Allah ﷻ mentions this moment in the Quran:
[Surah At-Tawbah, Ayah 40]
“When the two were in the cave, he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.’ And Allah sent down His tranquility upon him and supported him with soldiers you did not see.”
According to the account preserved by scholars, a spider had spun a web across the cave entrance and a dove had nested there, making the assassins assume no one could have entered recently. They turned away.
After the danger passed, Muhammad ﷺ and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) continued their journey and arrived safely in Medina. The date of this migration—the Hijrah—was so significant that it marks year one of the Islamic calendar. Not the year Muhammad ﷺ was born. Not the year he received the first revelation. The year he established the first Islamic society.
This is where Islam transformed from a persecuted message into a complete way of life with its own community, laws, and governance.
Islam in Medina: Building a Community
In Medina, everything changed. According to historical documentation by scholars of early Islamic history, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ immediately began establishing the foundations of an Islamic society:
He built a mosque—Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque)—which served as a center for prayer, education, governance, and community gathering. It still stands today, expanded many times, as one of the holiest sites in Islam.
He established brotherhood between the immigrants from Mecca (Muhajirun) and the helpers in Medina (Ansar), creating bonds so strong that they shared wealth, homes, and even inheritance rights, as documented in historical accounts of early Islamic community-building.
He created a constitution—the Constitution of Medina—establishing rights and responsibilities for Muslims, Jews, and polytheists living in the city. This document, preserved by historians, is considered one of the earliest written constitutions in human history.
He taught the Quran which continued to be revealed verse by verse, addressing the needs, questions, and circumstances of the growing Muslim community.
But the Quraysh weren’t going to let the Muslims live in peace. They wanted to destroy Islam completely. And that led to several major battles that tested the Muslims’ faith and resolve.
The Battles: Badr, Uhud, and the Trench
In 624 CE, two years after the Hijrah, according to historical accounts documented by Islamic sources, the Quraysh marched toward Medina with 1,000 well-armed warriors. The Muslims, numbering only 313 men with minimal weapons, met them at a place called Badr.
Against all odds, the Muslims won decisively. Allah ﷻ mentions this in the Quran:
[Surah Al-Anfal, Ayah 17]
“And you did not kill them, but it was Allah who killed them. And you did not throw when you threw, but it was Allah who threw.”
One year later came the Battle of Uhud. This time the Muslims initially had the upper hand, but when some archers disobeyed orders and left their positions, the tide turned. Seventy Muslims were martyred, including Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet’s ﷺ beloved uncle. Muhammad ﷺ himself was injured, his tooth broken, his face bloodied. But the Muslims survived, and according to scholarly analysis of this event, they learned a painful lesson about obedience and discipline.
In 627 CE came the Battle of the Trench. The Quraysh, now allied with other tribes, brought 10,000 warriors to wipe out the Muslims once and for all. According to historical documentation, a Persian companion named Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) suggested digging a trench around the vulnerable parts of Medina—a defensive tactic unfamiliar to Arabs. For two weeks, the Muslims dug. When the enemy arrived, they were shocked. They couldn’t cross. A siege began. But cold weather, internal divisions, and divine intervention broke their morale. They retreated. Medina was safe.
After that battle, according to accounts preserved by Islamic historians, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Now we will go to them, and they will not come to us.”
The momentum had shifted. Islam was no longer on the defensive.
The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah: Victory Through Patience
In 628 CE, six years after migrating to Medina, according to historical sources, Muhammad ﷺ had a dream that he and his followers would perform pilgrimage at the Kaaba. So he set out with 1,400 Muslims, unarmed, intending only to worship.
The Quraysh panicked and sent negotiators to stop them at a place called Hudaybiyyah, just outside Mecca. After tense negotiations, a treaty was signed. On the surface, according to historical accounts, it looked like the Muslims had given up too much—they had to return to Medina without performing pilgrimage that year, return any Quraysh person who accepted Islam without their guardian’s permission, and accept a ten-year truce.
Many Muslims were frustrated. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) questioned the terms. But Allah ﷻ revealed that this was actually a clear victory:
[Surah Al-Fath, Ayah 1]
“Indeed, We have given you a clear conquest.”
Why was it a victory? According to Islamic scholarly analysis of this event, the treaty gave Muslims something they desperately needed: peace to spread the message without constant threat of war. During those two years of peace, as documented by historians, more people accepted Islam than in all the previous years combined. The message could now be heard without the noise of battle.
The Conquest of Mecca: Returning Victorious
In 630 CE, eight years after leaving Mecca as a persecuted refugee, according to historical accounts authenticated by Islamic scholars, Muhammad ﷺ returned with 10,000 Muslims. The Quraysh had violated the treaty, and now justice would be served.
But here’s what makes this moment remarkable: there was almost no bloodshed. According to detailed historical documentation, Muhammad ﷺ entered Mecca humbly, his head bowed low on his camel in gratitude to Allah ﷻ. He granted general amnesty to the people who had tortured Muslims, who had murdered his companions, who had tried to kill him repeatedly.
He stood at the Kaaba—the same structure filled with 360 idols—and recited:
[Surah Al-Isra, Ayah 81]
“And say, ‘Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed, falsehood is bound to depart.'”
According to historical accounts, as he recited, he pointed at each idol with a stick, and they fell over one by one. The Kaaba was purified and returned to its original purpose: worship of the One God, Allah ﷻ, as established by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) thousands of years earlier.
To the people of Mecca who stood before him expecting revenge, historical sources document that Muhammad ﷺ asked: “What do you think I will do with you?” They replied: “You are a noble brother, son of a noble brother.” He said: “Go. You are free.”
No mass executions. No torture. No revenge. Just mercy. This was the character of the final messenger of Allah ﷻ.
The Final Years and the Farewell Sermon
After the conquest of Mecca, according to historical documentation, delegations from all over Arabia came to Medina to accept Islam. Entire tribes that had been enemies now embraced the message. By 632 CE, most of the Arabian Peninsula had accepted Islam—not through forced conversion, as documented by historians, but through the compelling message of monotheism, justice, and accountability.
In March 632 CE, three months before his death, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ led approximately 100,000 Muslims in what would be called the Farewell Pilgrimage. On the plain of Arafat, he delivered a sermon that Islamic scholars regard as one of the most important speeches in human history.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said in his Farewell Sermon, as documented by multiple companions and preserved in hadith collections: “All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white; none have superiority over another except by piety and good action.”
He addressed the rights of women, the sanctity of life and property, the prohibition of interest, the importance of treating people justly. According to the accounts preserved by companions who were present, he asked the gathering three times: “Have I conveyed the message?” Each time, the massive crowd responded: “Yes!” He then raised his finger to the sky and said: “O Allah, bear witness.”
During that sermon, according to Islamic sources, this verse was revealed:
[Surah Al-Ma’idah, Ayah 3]
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.”
The message was complete. The mission was accomplished.
Three months later, on June 8, 632 CE, according to historical documentation, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away in Medina, resting his head on the lap of his wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). He was 63 years old. He had spent 23 years receiving and teaching revelation—13 years in Mecca facing persecution, and 10 years in Medina building a society.
According to accounts of those final moments documented by early Islamic sources, his last words were: “The highest company… with those whom Allah has blessed—the prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the righteous.”
After the Prophet ﷺ: The Rapid Spread of Islam
The Prophet’s ﷺ death was devastating for the Muslim community. According to historical accounts, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was so shocked he initially refused to believe it had happened. But Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reminded everyone of a crucial reality by reciting a Quranic verse:
[Surah Aal-Imran, Ayah 144]
“Muhammad is not but a messenger. Other messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to disbelief]?”
The Muslims understood. The message didn’t die with the messenger. Islam would continue.
Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became the first Caliph (successor). Then Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Then Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him). Then Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). These four—known as the Rightly Guided Caliphs—led the Muslim community as Islam spread beyond Arabia at a pace that historians still find remarkable.
According to historical documentation of early Islamic expansion, within 100 years of the Prophet’s ﷺ death, Islam had spread from Spain in the west to India in the east. Not primarily through military conquest, as many assume, but through the compelling message, the justice of Islamic governance, and the example of Muslims who actually lived according to the values they preached.
Why Understanding This History Matters
So why does it matter that you know when Islam started, where it began, and how it developed?
Because according to Islamic teachings rooted in prophetic guidance, understanding this history does several things:
It strengthens your faith. When you see how Allah ﷻ protected His message and His messenger despite impossible odds, your trust in Him grows. When you read about early Muslims who sacrificed everything for this faith, your commitment deepens.
It gives you perspective. When you face difficulties in practicing Islam today—whether it’s discrimination, mockery, or just the challenge of waking up for Fajr—you realize it’s nothing compared to what those early Muslims endured. If Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) could affirm faith while being crushed by a boulder in the desert heat, you can handle your coworkers making comments about your hijab or beard.
It connects you to something greater. You’re not just practicing random rituals. You’re part of a historical chain that goes back to that moment in the Cave of Hira in 610 CE. The same Quran revealed to Muhammad ﷺ is the one you recite. The same prayers he taught are the ones you perform. The same message he brought is the one you believe.
It clarifies the mission. Islam didn’t start as a religion of compulsion or violence. According to historical documentation of prophetic methodology, it started with one man standing alone, calling people to worship One God, to treat each other justly, to care for the poor, to free slaves, to elevate women’s status, to value character over tribal affiliation. That mission hasn’t changed. That’s still what Islam is about.
Your Connection to This Story
Here’s something powerful to think about: if you’re Muslim, you’re part of this story. The same declaration—the Shahada—that Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Khadijah, Bilal, and Sumayyah (may Allah be pleased with them all) declared, you’ve declared. The same Quran they heard revealed, you read. The same direction they prayed toward, you pray toward.
You stand in the same prayer positions that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught. You fast the same month he fasted. You give charity according to the same principles he established. You aim to make pilgrimage to the same Kaaba he purified.
According to Islamic teachings about the continuity of this message and community, you’re not separate from this history. You’re part of it. Your Islam today exists because people you never met refused to abandon their faith despite torture and death. Because an illiterate merchant in 7th century Arabia had the courage to stand up and proclaim truth in a society built on falsehood.
The question is: what will you do with this inheritance? Will you value it? Protect it? Live it? Pass it on?
Where to Learn More
If this history of when Islam started has stirred something in you—curiosity, inspiration, conviction—then keep learning. According to Islamic scholarly tradition, seeking knowledge is an obligation on every Muslim.
Read authentic biographies of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ written by qualified scholars. Study the lives of his companions documented in reliable historical sources. Read the Quran with tafsir (explanation) so you understand the context in which verses were revealed. Listen to lectures from knowledgeable teachers who have studied this history deeply.
Visit Islamic educational websites like Alim.org for Quranic and hadith references. Consult authenticated hadith collections through resources like Sunnah.com where you can verify the narrations about the Prophet’s ﷺ life and teachings.
Connect with your local mosque or Islamic center. According to the practice of early Muslims and the emphasis in Islamic teachings, learning within a community, asking questions to knowledgeable people, and studying with others strengthens both knowledge and faith.
The more you learn about how Islam started, the more you’ll appreciate what you have. And the more you appreciate it, the more you’ll want to protect it, practice it, and share it.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in presenting Islamic history, readers are strongly advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars and historians for specific details, interpretations, and deeper study of early Islamic history. The historical accounts presented here are based on traditional Islamic biographical sources, authenticated hadith collections, and scholarly documentation preserved across centuries, but should not replace comprehensive study with qualified teachers for those seeking detailed knowledge of the Prophet’s life and early Islamic history.