However, Islam rose in a certain historical and geographical context.

What was Arabia like before Muhammad and the rise of the Islamic religion The Arabian Peninsula was originally the home of nomadic peoples who coped with the desert climate by migrating every season (Arab roughly translates as desert dweller).

It did not offer a favorable climate or many natural resources, but it was the site of the Kaba, a large cubical shrine dedicated to various deities.

It was believed that the desert was populated with fiery spirits called jinn.

Mecca soon became the religious center, with 360 shrines, one for each day in the lunar year.

Local merchants depended heavily on pilgrims to these shrines for their livelihood, a fact which would become significant for Muhammad.

By Muhammads time, blood feuds, violence, and general immorality abounded.

It was a dualistic religion with beliefs in heaven, hell and a final judgment.

In addition, both Judaism and Christianity had established a presence on the Arabian Peninsula, especially in the south.

In Yathrib (later renamed Medina), the Jewish population was especially influential.

Allah (Arabic for the god) was the creator, provider and determiner of human destiny, and he was capable of inspiring authentic religious feeling and genuine devotion (Smith, 225).

It was into this world of sporadic monotheism and rampant immorality that Islam was born.

Muawiya assumed this position for the first 20 years of the Dynastys rule.

Under the Umayyads, the Islamic Empire spread to North Africa, Spain and central Asia.

As sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, the state grew into a mighty empire.

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History Of Islam Religion Muhammad