The History of Islam – Issue #1

Allah, Exalted is He, has blessed our nation by honouring us with the last
prophet and the complete code of life that is Islam. The advent of the Prophet
‫‘ﷺ‬s message changed the course of history for the entire world. The country
that he lived in, Arabia, had previously been backward and steeped in
ignorance; however, his emergence as the Messenger of Allah made it a land
radiant with the light of guidance.
Within a short span of 25 years, the land that was once the centre of
idolatry and prevalent theft, murder and adultery, now had the most civilized
and well-mannered people on earth. In the next 80 years, the Islamic empire
encompassed an area ranging from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and,
to say, most of the civilized world. The history of the world cannot present any
similar example of such a miraculous and enduring success.
Allah says in the Quran, ‘And on the earth are signs for the certain [in
faith], And in yourselves. Then will you not see?’ [surah adh-dhariyat 20-21]
Certainly, the story of the establishment of Islam is a sign from the many signs
of Allah. That one man with a message overturned the state of affairs of the
whole Arabian Peninsula undoubtedly points to the truthfulness of what he
came with. It is then crucial that we, who call ourselves Muslims, acquaint
ourselves with our glorious history so that we may make amends today and
once again regain our lost splendour.
The epoch in which the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was sent was one wherein ignorance
and evil was prevalent throughout the world. The two mighty empires of Rome
and Persia that had previously been centres of civilization were now immersed
in corruption and chaos. The Roman Empire had once been universally known
for its supreme advancements in science and arts and its efficient governance;
however, at the time of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, this kingdom had already broken into
pieces and its constitution had become distorted enough to wipe out whatever
good points it had therein. Similarly, the Persian Empire – once a renowned and
venerable civilization - had become a storehouse of corruption and atrocities.
Conditions in Arabia were the same, if not worse. Tribes acknowledged
neither the Creator nor reward and punishment, while worshipping idols, stars,
as well as fire. The Ka’bah built by the prophet Ibrahim had been transformed
into a centre of idolatry housing 360 idols within. Their society was rampant
with sacrifice for other than Allah, soothsaying, omens, frequent wars, illicit
sex, superstitions, killing of daughters, gambling and plunder.
Simply put, nowhere in the world the human race appeared to possess the
qualities of humanity and nobility. Civilization, society, morality, wisdom, and
the knowledge of Allah had perished everywhere at the same time. In such an
age and in a territory like Arabia, Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬rose to remove the filth of
polytheism, darkness of idolatry, pollution of corruption, and to raise the banner
of tawheed. Thus, the sun of Prophethood rose from Makkah to dispel darkness
from the earth and illuminated the whole world with its bright rays for centuries
to come.