Islam was founded by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

Around 570 AD, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was born in Mecca (now in Saudi Arabia). He was reared first by his grandfather and later by his uncle after his father passed away before he was born.

He came from a Quraysh family that was well respected in spite of their poverty.

The family was involved in trade and politics in Mecca.

Muslims from all backgrounds aim to emulate Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) since he was Allah's chosen messenger and recipient of the heavenly revelations.

The hadith, or sayings of the Prophet, and the sunna, or explanations of his manner of life, are the two most significant Islamic books after the holy Qur'an.

Initially, the ranks of the Muslims only included Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and some of his close friends and relatives. However, as more members of the Quraysh and other Arab tribes respected his words and accepted his message, the vast majority of them, including tribal leaders and some of his relatives, such as Abū Lahab, opposed, ridiculed and eventually boycotted his clan, the Banu Hashim, and Muhammad and his followers were harassed, assaulted and forced into exile in Abyssinia. After experiencing the Isra and Mi'raj in 620 and receiving delegations from Medina and pledges of protection from the two Arab tribes that lived in the city at al-'Aqabah, Muhammad instructed his companions to gradually migrate to the city, before doing so himself in 622.

Eventually, in 622, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and his adherents were compelled to leave Mecca for Medina, a city 260 miles to the north, due to growing opposition to them.

The Muslim calendar is officially launched at this time.

In that place, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) played a key role in putting an end to a civil war that was raging among several of the city's tribes.

Muhammad made Medina his permanent home, where he established the Muslim community and slowly won over more adherents.

Muhammad and a few of his closest friends and family were the first members of the Muslim community. He started receiving revelations from Allah at the age of 40, and these revelations served as the inspiration for the creation of the Quran, the holy book of Islam.

He had brought the majority of Arabia under one religion by 630 AD.

More over 1.8 billion people worldwide claim to be Muslims as of 2015.

أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأشهد أن محمدا رسول الله

"There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet."