Historically, Islam as a community began in Makkah, in the Arabian Peninsula, in 610 CE, when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received his first revelation. Muslims believe Islam is not new: it is the same message of worshipping One God taught by every prophet from Adam onward, completed with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
What is the origin of Islam?
Islam has two connected origins: a theological one and a historical one. Muslims believe Islam is the original faith of humanity, while historians date the beginning of the Muslim community to the revelation of the Quran in Makkah in the early seventh century.
The word "Islam" comes from the Arabic root s-l-m, which carries the meanings of peace and submission. A Muslim is someone who submits to the will of God, whose name in Arabic is Allah. The central teaching of Islam is tawhid: that God is One, with no partner, and that worship belongs to Him alone.
The Muslim view: the religion of all the prophets
Muslims believe that Allah sent prophets to every nation, and that all of them, including Adam, Noah, Abraham (Ibrahim), Moses (Musa) and Jesus (Isa), peace be upon them, called people to worship One God. In this sense, Islam did not start in the seventh century; it was renewed and completed then. The Quran states, "Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam" (Quran 3:19).
Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the final messenger, described in the Quran as "the seal of the prophets" (Quran 33:40), and that the message was perfected through him: "This day I have perfected for you your religion" (Quran 5:3). You can read more about the earlier messengers in our guide to the stories of the prophets in Islam.
The historical view: Makkah in the seventh century
Historians date the beginning of Islam as a distinct community to 610 CE, when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, then about forty years old, received the first verses of the Quran in the Cave of Hira near Makkah. Those first words were "Read in the name of your Lord who created" (Quran 96:1).
Makkah was already an important center of trade and pilgrimage, home to the Kaaba, which Muslims believe was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael (Ismail) for the worship of One God. Over the following twenty-three years, the Quran was revealed in stages, and a small group of believers grew into a community that would reshape the region.
When and where did Islam begin?
Islam began in Makkah (Mecca), in what is now Saudi Arabia, with the first revelation in 610 CE. The community then moved to Madinah (Medina) in 622 CE, an event called the Hijrah, which marks year one of the Islamic calendar.
The table below shows the key dates in the early history of Islam. Dates before the Hijrah are approximate, as is usual for this period.
| Year (CE) | Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| c. 570 | Birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Makkah | Known as the Year of the Elephant; he was raised as an orphan by his grandfather and then his uncle Abu Talib |
| 610 | First revelation in the Cave of Hira | The beginning of the revelation of the Quran through the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) |
| c. 613 | Public preaching begins in Makkah | The message moves from a small private circle to the wider city, and opposition grows |
| c. 615 | Some Muslims migrate to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) | A Christian king gives persecuted Muslims protection |
| c. 619 | The Year of Sorrow | The deaths of Khadijah, the Prophet's wife, and Abu Talib, his uncle and protector |
| 622 | The Hijrah: migration to Madinah | The first Muslim community and state are established; year one of the Hijri calendar |
| 624 | Battle of Badr | The first major battle between the Muslims of Madinah and the Quraysh of Makkah |
| 628 | Treaty of Hudaybiyyah | A truce with Makkah that allowed the message to spread peacefully |
| 630 | Return to Makkah | The city is entered with very little fighting, and the Kaaba is cleared of idols |
| 632 | Farewell Pilgrimage and death of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ | The revelation is complete; Abu Bakr becomes the first caliph |
| 632-661 | The Rightly Guided Caliphs | Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali lead the community; the Quran is compiled into a single standard copy |
How old is Islam?
Measured from the first revelation in 610 CE, the final message of Islam is a little over 1,400 years old. From the Muslim point of view, though, the core belief in One God is as old as humanity itself, going back to Adam, the first prophet.
Many people ask why Islam is called the "youngest" of the major monotheistic religions. Historically, the Muslim community did form after Judaism and Christianity. But Muslims see the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as continuing the same line of prophets, not founding a new faith. For a closer look at this question, see our article on how old the religion of Islam is.
Why does the Islamic calendar start in 622?
The Islamic calendar counts years from the Hijrah, the migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, rather than from the Prophet's birth or the first revelation. The system was adopted during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, because the Hijrah marked the moment the Muslim community became free to practice its faith openly.
The Hijri calendar is lunar, so its year is about eleven days shorter than the solar year. That is why Ramadan and the two Eids move earlier each year. Our guide to the Islamic calendar and its months explains how it works.
What did the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ teach in Makkah and Madinah?
In Makkah, the early revelations focused on belief: the Oneness of God, the truth of prophethood, the Day of Judgement and moral responsibility. In Madinah, the revelation added detailed guidance on worship, family life, trade and justice for a growing society.
The core of this teaching is summed up in the five pillars, which every Muslim practices:
- Shahada: bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger.
- Salah: the five daily prayers.
- Zakat: the obligatory annual charity given to those in need.
- Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan.
- Hajj: the pilgrimage to Makkah, once in a lifetime for those who are able.
Our full guide to the five rules and pillars of Islam explains each one in more detail. Alongside the pillars, the Quran stresses honesty, kindness to parents, care for orphans and the poor, and equality before God regardless of race or tribe: "Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you" (Quran 49:13).
How did Islam spread?
Islam spread first across the Arabian Peninsula during the Prophet's lifetime, then within about a century reached from Spain and North Africa in the west to Central Asia in the east. Later it spread much further through trade, scholarship and personal contact, especially in Africa and Southeast Asia.
The early expansion
After 632, the early caliphs extended the territory of the Muslim state into Syria, Iraq, North Africa and Persia. Political rule spread quickly, but historians note that conversion among the local population was often gradual and took place over generations. The Quran states, "There is no compulsion in religion" (Quran 2:256), and many Christian and Jewish communities continued to live and worship under Muslim rule.
Trade, scholars and travelers
In many regions, Islam arrived without any army at all. Muslim merchants carried their faith along sea trade routes to East Africa and to the islands of Southeast Asia, where Indonesia today has the largest Muslim population of any country. Across the Sahara, trade and scholarship brought Islam to West African cities that became famous centers of learning.
Wherever Islam went, local cultures kept their languages, food and dress while adopting a shared faith, prayer and scripture. This is why the Muslim world is so diverse today while still facing the same Kaaba in prayer.
How many Muslims are there today?
Islam is the world's second-largest religion, with roughly 1.9 to 2 billion followers, or around a quarter of the world's population. Muslims live on every continent, and most of them live outside the Arab world.
Keep reading
- How old is Islam?
- Stories of the prophets in Islam
- What are the rules of Islam?
- What is the Day of Judgement in Islam?
Where can you learn the history of Islam in depth?
The best way to understand the origin of Islam is to study the life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (the Seerah), the Quran and the history of the early community with a qualified teacher who can answer your questions. The Islamic studies for kids course at Murouj Academy covers the Seerah, the foundations of belief and practical fiqh in live, private one-to-one online classes, with a personalized plan for each student.
Every teacher is a native Arab, and many of our teachers studied at or are certified by Al-Azhar. You choose your teacher, women and girls are taught by female teachers, and you can book a free trial class before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Islam?
Muslims do not consider Islam to have a human founder. They believe it is the religion revealed by Allah to all the prophets, and that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the final messenger who received the Quran, not the inventor of a new faith.
What was the first revelation of the Quran?
The first verses revealed were the opening of Surah Al-Alaq, beginning "Read in the name of your Lord who created" (Quran 96:1). They were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira near Makkah in 610 CE.
Which came first, Christianity or Islam?
Historically, Christianity came first, beginning in the first century CE, while the Muslim community began in the seventh century. Muslims believe Jesus (Isa) was one of the great prophets of Islam, and that he and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught the same belief in One God.
Why is Makkah important in the origin of Islam?
Makkah is where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born, where the revelation began and where the Kaaba stands. Muslims everywhere face the Kaaba in prayer, and those who are able travel to Makkah for Hajj.
What does the word Islam mean?
Islam is an Arabic word meaning submission, specifically submitting to the will of Allah. It comes from the same root as salam, meaning peace.
