Introduction

This section tells you something about the history of Islam. After Muhammad did, the area of land which Muslims ruled grew quickly. Muhammad had taught that fighting was not wrong if it was to defeat persecution.
Over the next few hundred years, Muslims came to rule more and more parts of the world. They went east, and much of India became Muslim.
One of the areas where most battles were fought was the land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. This was the area called Palestine. Jewish and Christian soldiers fought Muslims soldiers over the land for many years. At this time in the Middle Ages holy wars known as the Crusades were fought.

Questions

1. 
   What does the term Islam mean and come from?
   Where and when did Muhammad and his followers move?
   Why was the Muslim world different after the fifteenth century?
   
   
2. 
   What year was Muhammad born?
   Who raised Muhammad after his parents?
   Who did Muhammad marry?
   
   
3. 
   What was the message presented in the Meccan period?
   
   
4. 
   What is the Hadith and what does it provide?
   
   
5. 
   What was the date of Muhammad's death?
   
   
6. 
   When did Muhammad's father and mother die?
   
   

The Internet Resources

• History of Islam
• World of Islam
• Islamic Guide
• Islamic History in Arabia and Middle East
• General Characteristics of Islam
• Islam

The Big Question

Why was Muhammad so important to the Islamic Religion?