Ancient Islam

Islam is one of the world’s largest religions that has an extensive following all over the world. Its origins however started in the remote Arabian Peninsula around 570. Ancient Islam not only conquered much of the known world and had an empire even bigger than the Roman Empire, but was also credited with establishing an impressive social, cultural, economic and educational environment with their tolerance of other religions, social justice, patronage of the sciences, skilled craftsmen and entrepreneurial acumen.

The founder of Islam, Muhammad was born in 570 C.E in Mecca and at the age of six with both parents dead, he was sent to live with a Bedouin clan, growing up under its protection and guidance, learning the skills of being a merchant

On one such occasion an angel appeared to him and commanded him to recite in God’s name one message, that there was only one supreme god. This was a radical doctrine that was not received well by most of the polytheistic clans whose very heritage was rooted in their own clan deities and opposition arose against Muhammad. His followers calling themselves Muslims however grew, because they were attracted to the social justice of the message and the hope of a life in paradise to escape the social oppression, division and wars of the clans and the arid

Even though Jews and Christians were respected because Muhammad called them “people of the book” since God had been revealed himself to them first, they along with other non-Muslim groups, were required to pay a tax called “Jizya” and many converted to Islam to avoid the tax or to have a sense of security in a religion that treated everyone equally, creating a sense of solidarity and being attracted to the simplicity and requirements of this faith. “O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. YOU ARE ALL EQUAL. NOBODY HAS SUPERIORITY OVER OTHER EXCEPT BY PIETY AND GOOD