when and where was islam founded

Tracing the Origins of Islam: A Historical Overview

 Islam is a monotheistic religion founded in the 7th century in Arabia. Its central text, the Qur'an, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over a period of 23 years and is considered the verbatim word of God as revealed to Muhammad ﷺ by the angel Gabriel.

The Origins of Islam can be traced back to the time of the Prophet Ibrahim, who is considered the father of the monotheistic Abrahamic religions. According to Islamic tradition, Hazrat Ibrahim's son Ismael was the first to believe in the concept of monotheism, and the religion of Islam can be seen as an extension of this belief.

Read: The Spread of Islam Throughout History

Islam first emerged in the Arabian Peninsula, specifically in the city of Mecca, which was a major center of trade and commerce. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born in Mecca in the year 570 and spent much of his life there as a merchant. At the age of 40, Muhammad ﷺ received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel and began preaching the message of Islam to the people of Mecca.

Muhammad ﷺ 's message was met with resistance from the powerful merchants of Mecca, who saw the teachings of Islam as a threat to their way of life. As a result, Muhammad ﷺ and his followers faced persecution and were eventually forced to flee to the city of Medina in the year 622. This event, known as the Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar and is seen as the birth of the Muslim community.

In Medina, Muhammad ﷺ (PBUH) and his followers were able to establish a community based on the principles of Islam. The community was successful and grew rapidly, attracting a large number of converts from among the local population. Muhammad ﷺ and his followers eventually returned to Mecca and, through a series of military campaigns, were able to establish Islam as the dominant religion in the Arabian Peninsula.

After the death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the year 632, his companions and followers continued to spread the message of Islam throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond. The early Muslim community, known as the caliphate, expanded rapidly and within a few decades had conquered a vast territory that stretched from present-day Spain in the west to present-day India in the east.

Read: Is Islam an Ethnic or Universal Religion?

Today, Islam is the second-largest religion in the world with over 1.8 billion followers. It is practiced by people of all races and nationalities and is the dominant religion in many countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia. The teachings of Islam, as outlined in the Qur'an and the hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ), are followed by Muslims around the world as a way of life and a guide for personal and social behavior.

Tracing the Origins of Islam: A Historical Overview