Muslim period:
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Origins of Islam:
- Most historians believe that Islam originated with Muhammad’s mission in Mecca and Medina at the start of the 7th century CE.
- Although Muslims regard this time as a return to the original faith passed down by the Abrahamic prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus, with the submission (Islām) to the will of God1.
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Muhammad’s Mission:
- According to the traditional account, Muhammad began receiving what Muslims consider to be divine revelations in 610 CE.
- His message called for submission to the one God, preparation for the imminent Last Judgment, and charity for the poor and needy.
- As his message attracted followers (the ṣaḥāba), he faced increasing hostility and persecution from Meccan elites1.
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Spread of Islam:
- The early Muslim conquests were responsible for the spread of Islam.
- By the 8th century CE, the Umayyad Caliphate extended from Muslim Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east.
- Polities ruled by the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates, the Fatimids, Seljuks, Ayyubids, and Mamluks were among the most influential powers in the world1.
In summary, the Muslim period witnessed the rise of Islam, the spread of its influence, and the emergence of powerful caliphates and dynasties.