How did Islam begin in 7th-century Arabia?

Islam began in 7th-century Arabia through the ministry of the Prophet Muhammad. According to tradition, Muhammad received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel at age 40, an event that marked the beginning of his role as a prophet. Over the next 22 years, these revelations continued and were compiled as the Qur'an, which serves as the foundational text of the faith and the literal word of God (Allah).123

A pivotal moment occurred in 622 when Muhammad and his followers, facing persecution in Mecca, migrated to the town of Yathrib, now known as Medina. This migration, known as the Hijra, allowed for the consolidation of the Muslim community (ummah) under Muhammad’s spiritual and political leadership.12

Following his return to Mecca eight years later, Muhammad purged the city of idols and established it as the center of Muslim pilgrimage. By the time of his death in 632, Islam had begun to unite various tribes under its principles, setting the stage for the rapid expansion of the faith across the Middle East.415