Islam originated in the 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula with the Prophet Muhammad.

The core message of Islam is monotheism—the belief in one God, Allah—and submission to His will.

The Quran is the sacred text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God revealed to Muhammad.

The Five Pillars of Islam are the fundamental practices: the declaration of faith, prayer, charity, fasting during Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

After Muhammad's death in 632 CE, the religion spread with remarkable speed.

The early Muslim conquests were driven by a combination of religious zeal, political unity, and the military weakness of the neighboring Byzantine and Sassanian empires.

Within a century, the Islamic Caliphate stretched from Spain in the west to the Indus River in the east.

The spread of Islam was facilitated by trade, missionary work (Sufism), and the appeal of its message.

Unlike some other conquests, conversion to Islam was not always forced upon conquered peoples, who were often allowed to practice their own religion as 'dhimmi' (protected people).

The rise of Islam created a new global civilization that made significant contributions to science, art, and philosophy.