Qur'an: Early Days

Islam is like an Arabian reboot of Jewish Christianity, the branch of Christianity that considered Jesus a fully human Jewish prophet: neither semi-divine nor God in human form. There was a feeling amongst the 7th century Arabs that they had been left out of history; their monotheist neighbours worshipped only one god, had cosmopolitan cities and a rich culture. The Arabs were still worshipping a plethora of gods and had a very tribal culture; some tribes were nomadic, others had built primitive settlements, and the tribes were constantly at war with each other. The Arabian climate was not conducive to speedy social development; the Arabs lived on the brink of starvation.

The Quraysh tribe, based in Mecca, had become quite wealthy. Mecca was a sacred pilgrimage site to Arab pagans; every year they would gather around the Kabah, an ancient shrine housing a 'Rock from Paradise' (a meteorite), and worship the top god of the Arabian pantheon: Allah. Violence was forbidden in and around Mecca, which made it a great place to trade. The wealthy elite, corrupted by greed and material possessions, did not help the weaker members of society. This upset a lot of people, one of whom founded a major world religion.

In 610 C.E., a man from the Quraysh tribe, Muhammad ibn Abdallah, woke from his slumber and could not move. He felt a presence constricting him, and heard a voice speaking to him (Google 'sleep paralysis'). At first, Muhammad thought he was either insane or being tormented by a jinn (a desert spirit). But these experiences continued, so he confided to his wife and one of her cousins (who was a Jewish Christian). Both concluded that he was receiving messages from the Judeo-Christian God, who was also the top god of the Arabian pantheon. God had finally turned his attention to the Arabs; it was time for Arabian monotheism. Two years after his first revelation, Muhammad started to preach.

'He it is Who created the heavens and earth in six days, then sat firmly on the throne. He knows whatever passes into the earth and whatever comes out thereof, What comes down from heaven, and what ascends thereto; He is with you where you may be; He knows full well what you do. To Him belongs sovereignty of the heavens and earth, and to God all matters shall revert. He it is Who entwines night with day, and day with night, and knows full well what lies within hearts. He created man from thin clay, like earthenware, And created jinn from shimmering flame. Jinn and humans, if you can make your escape from the regions of the heavens and earth, escape! You shall not escape except by divine authority. The Imminent Event is at hand. And you laugh instead of weeping - lost in your frivolity? Bow to God and worship!'

There was a mixed response to Muhammad's anti-capitalist polemics and vivid descriptions of the Imminent Judgement Day Which Is Gonna Happen Any Day Now. He slowly gathered followers, but most people in Mecca just thought he had been out in the sun too long. Twenty-years later, Muhammad ruled Arabia.