ISLAM
ISLAM Ref. Islamic History- A very short introduction by Adam J. Silverstein Oxford University Presws , First published in 2010 EXCERPTS Islam began in Arabia. To Muslims this happened not with Muhammad but with Abraham who- together with his son Ismael, the progenitor of the- Arab build the K-aba in Mecca. Muhammad was born in Mecca circa 570….. he began to receive revelations that would become verses of the Koran,…... In 622 , he was forced to flee together with his supporters. ……as his relation with the Jews soured, their tribes were gradually expelled from the town and even, in some instance , executed. The Meccans were defeated eventually in 630 and over the next two years Muhammad managed to unite the tribes of Arabia under the umma’s banner. Ali became caliph in 656 and struggled to exert his influence widely …... After Ali’s death…… Mu’awiya’s accession came to be known as the first civil war or strife in Islamic history…… Mu’awiya move the capital to Damascus a