The religion known as Islam originated in the seventh century
The religion known as Islam originated in the seventh century

of the common era in Arabia in the city of Mecca,
of the common era in Arabia in the city of Mecca,

a center of trade at which gathered diverse peoples, including those
a center of trade at which gathered diverse peoples, including those

from the Jewish and Christian faiths.
from the Jewish and Christian faiths.

At the center of Mecca was a cuboid structure known as the Kaaba.
At the center of Mecca was a cuboid structure known as the Kaaba.

According to Muslim traditions, the Kaaba
According to Muslim traditions, the Kaaba

was first built by the prophet Adam and then rebuilt
was first built by the prophet Adam and then rebuilt

by the prophet Abraham for the worship of the one god, Allah.
by the prophet Abraham for the worship of the one god, Allah.

However, by the seventh century, the Kaaba
However, by the seventh century, the Kaaba

had turned into a major pilgrimage site where different Arab venerated idols.
had turned into a major pilgrimage site where different Arab venerated idols.

Some of the residents of Mecca rejected the worship of idols.
Some of the residents of Mecca rejected the worship of idols.

Prominent among these was Muhammad, son of Abdullah,
Prominent among these was Muhammad, son of Abdullah,

who is known in the city as the trustworthy.
who is known in the city as the trustworthy.

In the year 610 at the age of 40, Muhammed
In the year 610 at the age of 40, Muhammed

was on retreat in a mountain cave during the month of Ramadan
was on retreat in a mountain cave during the month of Ramadan

when he is said to have been visited by the angel Gabriel who
when he is said to have been visited by the angel Gabriel who

commanded him, "Recite," and revealed words which Muhammad felt
commanded him, "Recite," and revealed words which Muhammad felt

had been written on this heart.
had been written on this heart.

These revelations, Muslims believe, continued over the next 23 years,
These revelations, Muslims believe, continued over the next 23 years,

and eventually came to be collected as the Quran.
and eventually came to be collected as the Quran.

They declare that God is one, overturning
They declare that God is one, overturning

the polytheistic foundations of seventh century Arabia religion.
the polytheistic foundations of seventh century Arabia religion.

They also questioned the economic inequalities of society
They also questioned the economic inequalities of society

by calling for social justice and particularly the care
by calling for social justice and particularly the care

the poor and oprhans, reminding people that they were
the poor and oprhans, reminding people that they were

accountable to God for their actions.
accountable to God for their actions.

The Quran declares itself to be the latest in a long line of revelations
The Quran declares itself to be the latest in a long line of revelations

from God to humanity explicitly affirming
from God to humanity explicitly affirming

the truth of the Torah, the psalms, and the Gospels,
the truth of the Torah, the psalms, and the Gospels,

and teaching about faith through stories about Moses, Joseph, Mary and Jesus,
and teaching about faith through stories about Moses, Joseph, Mary and Jesus,

and other the prophets.
and other the prophets.

The Quran states that the message of divine unity
The Quran states that the message of divine unity

is universal, for God has sent messengers to every nation and people.
is universal, for God has sent messengers to every nation and people.

Tradition places the total number of prophets at 124,000.
Tradition places the total number of prophets at 124,000.

In the Quran, Muhammad and his followers,
In the Quran, Muhammad and his followers,

as well as the previous prophets and their followers,
as well as the previous prophets and their followers,

are all called Muslim, a word that literally means
are all called Muslim, a word that literally means

a person who has submitted to God.
a person who has submitted to God.

Understood in a general sense, everything in the universe
Understood in a general sense, everything in the universe

is Muslim in its submission to the creator, silently singing his praises.
is Muslim in its submission to the creator, silently singing his praises.

Muhammed began his mission teaching to a small group of followers in Mecca,
Muhammed began his mission teaching to a small group of followers in Mecca,

but soon found himself ostracized by the Meccan aristocracy, who
but soon found himself ostracized by the Meccan aristocracy, who

were unwilling to part ways with the traditions of their forefathers.
were unwilling to part ways with the traditions of their forefathers.

In the year 622, facing severe persecution, Muhammad fled from Mecca
In the year 622, facing severe persecution, Muhammad fled from Mecca

to the oasis city of Yathrib, now known as Al Madinah Al Munawarah,
to the oasis city of Yathrib, now known as Al Madinah Al Munawarah,

the city of light, or simply Medina.
the city of light, or simply Medina.

This event, called the Hijrah, or emigration,
This event, called the Hijrah, or emigration,

marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

In Medina, Muhammad was able to organize his followers
In Medina, Muhammad was able to organize his followers

into a community for the first time.
into a community for the first time.

He negotiated both war and peace with the Meccans and the surrounding
He negotiated both war and peace with the Meccans and the surrounding

tribesmen, eventually conquering Mecca in the year 630.
tribesmen, eventually conquering Mecca in the year 630.

By the end of Muhammad's mission, he had provided
By the end of Muhammad's mission, he had provided

what the Quran calls a beautiful example of the way
what the Quran calls a beautiful example of the way

to live in accordance with God's will, which Muslims from then until today
to live in accordance with God's will, which Muslims from then until today

have endeavored to emulate.
have endeavored to emulate.

When Muhammad passed away in 632, there were
When Muhammad passed away in 632, there were

disagreements among his companions about succession
disagreements among his companions about succession

and the nature of political and spiritual authority.
and the nature of political and spiritual authority.

In the course of time, these would lead to the split between what we today
In the course of time, these would lead to the split between what we today

call Sunni and Shia Islam.
call Sunni and Shia Islam.

Other forms of diversity within the Islamic community, or Ummah,
Other forms of diversity within the Islamic community, or Ummah,

would develop over the centuries.
would develop over the centuries.

Early Muslim leaders and dynasties expanded the borders
Early Muslim leaders and dynasties expanded the borders

of Islamic civilization through to Spain, Central South and Southeast
of Islamic civilization through to Spain, Central South and Southeast

Asia, Africa, and even into Eastern Europe.
Asia, Africa, and even into Eastern Europe.

In the process, Islamic concepts were adapted to local contexts,
In the process, Islamic concepts were adapted to local contexts,

at times accepting ideas and modes of expression from traditions as diverse
at times accepting ideas and modes of expression from traditions as diverse

as Greek philosophy and Confucianism.
as Greek philosophy and Confucianism.

The ever-developing traditions of faith, practice, and spirituality
The ever-developing traditions of faith, practice, and spirituality

unfolded as Muslim communities emerged and involved in diverse settings
unfolded as Muslim communities emerged and involved in diverse settings

across the globe.
across the globe.

Muslim traders, mystics, scholars, poets, rulers, and architects
Muslim traders, mystics, scholars, poets, rulers, and architects

all contributed to the shaping of distinctive regional cultures
all contributed to the shaping of distinctive regional cultures

as trans-regional Islamic notions and traditions interacted
as trans-regional Islamic notions and traditions interacted

with local communities to produce distinctive forms of law, statecraft,
with local communities to produce distinctive forms of law, statecraft,

theology, art, architecture, and science.
theology, art, architecture, and science.

Like other world religions, Islam, too, has
Like other world religions, Islam, too, has

been invoked to support and legitimize diverse and even contradictory values.
been invoked to support and legitimize diverse and even contradictory values.

For example, interpretations of Islam have
For example, interpretations of Islam have

been used to both liberate and oppress women
been used to both liberate and oppress women

or to promote peace and provide arguments for war.
or to promote peace and provide arguments for war.

In more recent times, Islam has been utilized by a variety of nation states
In more recent times, Islam has been utilized by a variety of nation states

to legitimize a range of political ideologies.
to legitimize a range of political ideologies.

As a result, the experience of being Muslim today
As a result, the experience of being Muslim today

is often deeply influenced by the political context one is living in.
is often deeply influenced by the political context one is living in.

Diversity of interpretation has always been an essential aspect
Diversity of interpretation has always been an essential aspect

of the Muslim experience as particular groups
of the Muslim experience as particular groups

have turned towards different individuals for guidance.
have turned towards different individuals for guidance.

From religious scholars to members of the prophet's family
From religious scholars to members of the prophet's family

considered divinely appointed to spiritual guides who
considered divinely appointed to spiritual guides who

teach to the sanctity of their characters
teach to the sanctity of their characters

and the wisdom of their insight.
and the wisdom of their insight.

It is helpful to think of Islam in terms of both unity and diversity.
It is helpful to think of Islam in terms of both unity and diversity.

Muslims believe in one god, Allah, whom they worship
Muslims believe in one god, Allah, whom they worship

and conceive of in different ways.
and conceive of in different ways.

The prophet Muhammad provides the single most important model
The prophet Muhammad provides the single most important model

of how Muslims should live an exemplary life of faith,
of how Muslims should live an exemplary life of faith,

but there are diverse understandings of how this model should be followed.
but there are diverse understandings of how this model should be followed.

The single most important text in Islam, the Quran,
The single most important text in Islam, the Quran,

is interpreted in diverse ways and for diverse purposes,
is interpreted in diverse ways and for diverse purposes,

and as a single Muslim community that this diversified
and as a single Muslim community that this diversified

through cultural contexts, beliefs, and practices,
through cultural contexts, beliefs, and practices,

and the diverse authorities whom they follow
and the diverse authorities whom they follow