Traces the history of Islam back from the twentieth century to its origins, discussing the faith-based "Believers' movement" started by the prophet Muhammad, and explaining how this led to the separation of Muslims from Christians and Jews as monotheists.

The Near East on the eve of Islam. The empires of the late antique Near East ; Arabia between the Great Powers ; Mecca and Yathrib (Medina) -- Muhammad and the Believers' Movement. The traditional biography of Muhammad the Prophet ; The problem of sources ; The character of the early Believers' Movement -- The expansion of the Community of Believers. Sources ; The Community in the last years of Muhammad's life ; Succession to Muhammad and the Ridda Wars ; The character of the Believers' early expansion ; The course and scope of the early expansion -- The struggle for leadership of the Community 34-73/655-692. Background of the First Civil War ; The course of the first Civil War (35-40/656-661) ; Between civil wars (40-60/661-680) ; The Second Civil War (60-73/680-692) ; Reflections on the civil wars -- The emergence of Islam. The Umayyad Restoration and return to the imperial agenda ; The redefinition of key terms ; Emphasis on Muhammad and the Qur'an ; The problem of the Trinity ; Elaboration of Islamic cultic practices ; Elaboration of the Islamic origins story ; The coalescence of an "Arab" political identity ; Official vs. popular change -- Appendix A. The Umma document -- Appendix B. Inscriptions in the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem.