Mohammad (who was to become a prophet) was born in Arabia in the city of Mecca in 570 AD. He came from a prominent and highly respected wealthy family. Mohammed told the people who chose to listen to him that he had visions. In these visions it was declared to him that he is the last and only prophet to reveal the truth. Mohammed did not deny other prophets like Moses or Jesus Christ, but the key thing about him was that he is the last and only prophet who can reveal the truth.
The religion which Mohammed preached was simple and accessible: A strict belief in one God with none of the complications that Christianity required - not living after the flesh but after the Spirit. Islam teaches a straight forward ritual one that is similar to that practiced by the Jews which was related to cleanliness and hygiene. The emphasis of basic virtues like courage, charity and hospitality. And above all it promises potential believers that those who fell in love with his religion went straight to paradise which the holy book of Islam, the Koran described in detail, and it seems like fun compared with the paradise Christians go to.
For example, in Islam when a man dies he is going to have virgins in paradise to which he can do whatever he pleases with them. All the while here on earth a Muslim man can marry a lot of women. If you want to pit Islam with Christianity you can say that Islam is the religion of the flesh - carnal passions.
Combined with military force, the message of Islam proved very potent indeed. In the ten years before his death in 632 Mohammed had united all the warring divided tribes and cities of Arabia. By 644, that is 12 years after his death, Egypt and Libya had fallen to Islam as well as Syria, Iraq and Persia. By the time the century ended in 700 AD Arab armies had overthrown of what was left at the Persian Empire, they then laid siege to Constantinople - the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire where the thrown of Emperor Constantine was. And within another 15 years Islam has spread from India to Spain. Part of the secret of their success was that they were not backward and uncivilized as they seemed in appearance.
Arabia had long been a long route for trade in spices, perfumes and slaves. Mohammed himself was a merchant in Mecca before he thought of himself as a prophet. Mecca was the great merchant town and Mohammed found his first support of his claims as prophet in Medina, another merchant town. Mohammed also knew a great deal about Christianity and Judaism. He was once depicted by his diehards in a drawing riding on a donkey next to Jesus Christ.
Another part of Arab's success was that they were Semites speaking a Semitic language which was close to Aramaic, a language spoken by common people from Iraq to Palestine.
Perhaps the most crucial fact that made them successful was their religious tolerance. Muslims in their wars of conquests did not try to exterminate those who believed in Judaism, Christianity or anything else. They simply asserted a higher revelation which made them appear as a chosen people entitled to special privileges on earth and exclusive access to heaven. This left non Muslims second class citizens - tolerated but a bit despised. And further Muslims did not have to pay taxes only non Muslims paid taxes and this was a strong argument for conversion and a strong argument for Muslims to tolerate non Muslims.
Dr Chris Kanyane, PhD (History) of Central Western University, Arlington, Texas (US), http://www.turfloop.com
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