A Brief History of Islam
by Grady L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D.
Former Chairman of Directed Individualized Studies
Golden State School of Theology, Oakland, CA ©1983,2003,2004

Mohammad was born in Arabia in the city of Mecca in 570 CE. He came from a prominent and highly respected family. When he was 25 he married a wealthy widow named Khadija. Their marriage was a happy one although only one of their children, Fatima, lived to maturity. Mohammad spent most of his time in solitary meditation. He began to have many disturbing visions. Once he believed he saw the angel Gabriel. Mohammad said that the angel gave him the following command:

“Recite, in the name of the Lord who has created,
Created man from clots of blood,
Recite, seeing that the Lord is the most generous,
Who has taught by the pen,
Taught man what he did not know.”

The Arabic word for “recite” is Qur’an (often called Koran), meaning the reciting or the reading. Thus, the Qur’an, the sacred book of the Muslims, is the “reciting” of “revelations” given to Mohammad. Over a period of 22 years, Mohammad reported many other revelations. Encouraged by his wife, he began to preach in the streets and market places of Mecca. Mohammad never claimed to be divine, but insisted that Allah had called him to be a prophet.

Mohammad hated the idolatry and the immorality of the Arabs who lived in Mecca or came there to trade their goods. He was met with bitter opposition, but for many years his influential uncle, Abu Talib, was able to protect him.

When both Khadija and Abu Talib died in 620 CE, plots were hatched to kill Mohammad and his followers. Finally, on July 16, 622, Mohammad was forced to flee to Medina, a friendlier city to the north. This flight, called the hegira, marks the beginning of Islam. The Muslim calendar starts with this date, and the years are counted from “A.H.” meaning “the year of the hegira.” Medina, which is the city’s current name, was first named Madinat an Nabi (City of the Prophet), in honor of Mohammad. Mohammad became the religious and political leader of the city.

Soon the Meccans organized an army to destroy Mohammad and his followers. The fighting ended in 630 with Islam forces triumphant. Mohammad entered Mecca. He destroyed every idol in the Kaaba, the main temple, except the Black Stone, a sacred meteorite enshrined there.

Mohammad then declared the Kaaba to be the most holy shrine in Islam. Since that time it has been the spot toward which all devout Muslims direct their prayers.

During the next two years, Mohammad strengthened his position as the leading prophet and ruler of Arabia. He united the tribes into a vast army to conquer the world for Allah. His death in 632 A.D. did not lessen the fervor of his followers. They carried their faith across Asia, Africa, even into Europe—and to this day the growth of Islam has not ended.

Islam is the correct name for the religion often incorrectly called Mohammedanism. The word “Islam” means "submission" (to Allah, the G-d of Mohammad who founded this religion). The members call themselves Muslims (Moslems), meaning “those who submit.”

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Page last revised Friday, 24 October 2008