Early Expansion of Islam

In 622 Muhammad was cast out of Mecca for condemning the polytheistic religious practices associated with the holy site of the Kabba. With a small band of followers Muhammad sought out the city of Medina to the north where his monotheistic message was better received by the city’s large Jewish population. Within a month of his exile, Muhammad returned to Mecca and defeated the dominant Quraysh tribe in a decisive battle. After cleansing the Kabba of its polytheistic idols, Muhammad gained control over the entirety of the Arabian peninsula. Fortunately for the Umma, or community of Muslim believers, the expansion of Islam was made easier because their Persian neighbors were weakned by warfare with the Byzantine Empire.