## TL;DR

Islam emerged in 7th century Arabia with the Prophet Muhammad (570-632 CE), whom Muslims believe received revelations from God (Allah) compiled as the Quran. Within a century, Islamic rule expanded from Spain to Central Asia. The Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries) preserved and advanced science, mathematics, and philosophy.

## Core Explanation

Five Pillars: Shahada (faith declaration), Salah (prayer 5x daily), Zakat (charity), Sawm (Ramadan fasting), Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca once). Sunni-Shia split: after Muhammad's death, disagreement over leadership. Islamic Golden Age: Baghdad (House of Wisdom), algebra (al-Khwarizmi), medicine (Ibn Sina/Avicenna), optics (Ibn al-Haytham). Caliphates: Rashidun, Umayyad (Damascus), Abbasid (Baghdad), Ottoman.

## Further Reading

- [Islam: A Short History (Karen Armstrong)](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/164306/islam-by-karen-armstrong/)