MAHOOR HAYA SHAH
Did Islam Begin with Muhammad (S.A.W.) or Was It Always Here?
Have you ever wondered where a story truly begins? Is it at the moment you first hear the name? Or does it stretch back, unnoticed, through generations, entwining through time like a river carving its path across a land? When people talk about Islam starting with the Prophet Muhammad, they often forget something vital—something so simple yet so profound: Islam didn’t just appear in the 7th century. No, my friend. It’s much older than that.
Think about it for a moment. We Muslims, we believe in Adam and Eve (Hawwa A.s.), right? That’s how it begins for us—the first humans. And here’s the question: if we believe in Adam (A.s) , then how can we believe Islam started with Muhammad (S.A.W) ? How do we, as Muslims, honor Noah (Nuh), Abraham (Ibrahim), Moses (Musa), and Jesus (Isa), who came long before him? If Islam were truly a new religion, why would we cherish the stories of these prophets? Why would we follow their footsteps? And most importantly, why do we call it Islam—the same religion that stretches back to the very first human?
If Islam Began with Muhammad, What About Adam?
The truth is, the story of Islam is not just about Muhammad and his time. It’s not about one man or one moment. It’s a thread that runs through the history of humanity. A thread that connects us to the first man, Adam. To the great prophets who came before Muhammad. It’s a message that God has been sending since the beginning of time.
The Story of Adam: A Journey of Fall and Redemption
Imagine the very first moments of creation. The world is a blank canvas, empty and still. Allah (God) , in His infinite wisdom, shaped the first human from clay—Adam. But this wasn’t just any creation; into Adam, Allah breathed a soul. He was different from everything else in the world. He was given knowledge, the ability to think, to understand and most importantly, to choose.
After creating Adam, Allah commanded the angels to bow before him. All the angels obeyed, but one—Iblis, a jinn made from fire. He looked at Adam and felt a surge of pride. He believed that because he was made from fire and Adam from clay, he was better. Iblis refused to bow, and in his arrogance, he was cast out of Paradise. He became Satan, with one goal—to lead humans astray.
Allah placed Adam and his wife, Hawwa (Eve), in a beautiful garden, a paradise filled with everything they could desire. They were told to enjoy everything, but there was one tree they were forbidden to approach. Allah warned them that eating from it would cause harm. But Satan, the deceiver tempted them to eat it. Tempted by his words, they ate from the tree, and immediately, they felt shame. Their innocence was gone, and they realised they were exposed.
Allah called out to them, “Did I not forbid you from this tree? Did I not warn you?” They were filled with regret, and in their sorrow, they asked for Allah’s forgiveness. Allah, in His mercy, forgave them, but there was a consequence. Adam and Hawwa were sent to Earth to live out their lives, far from the peace of Paradise.
But Adam wasn’t just sent to Earth to live—he was given a purpose. Allah made him the first prophet, to guide humanity back to the truth, to remind them of the One true God. Adam’s job was to teach his children to live righteously, to follow the path of Allah.
As time went on, Adam had children, and among them were two sons: Habil (Abel) and Qabil (Cain). They grew up learning about sacrifice and devotion. One day, they each made an offering to Allah. Habil gave with a sincere heart, and his offering was accepted. Qabil, however, gave out of pride, and his offering was rejected. Jealousy and anger boiled in Qabil’s heart. Unable to control his emotions, he killed his brother Habil. It was the first murder in human history.
Adam, devastated by his son’s actions, had to confront the reality of human sin. But even in his grief, Adam didn’t abandon Qabil. Instead, he taught him the way to repentance, showing him that forgiveness was possible, even after such a grave mistake.
Adam’s story wasn’t just about his fall from Paradise—it was about redemption. It was about learning from our mistakes and understanding that we are never too far from Allah’s mercy. His story became a lesson that transcended time. Through Adam, humanity learned the importance of faith, obedience, and the power of repentance. And as the first prophet, Adam set the foundation for the message that would be carried by countless others—from Noah to Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally, Muhammad (peace be upon them all).
Believing in Satan: Where Does It Come From?
In Islam, belief in Satan, or Iblis, is not just a concept—it’s a key part of our understanding of the world and our spiritual journey. Iblis was once a devout servant of God, created from fire, who lived in the heavens with the angels. But when Adam was created, God commanded all the angels to bow to him. Iblis, consumed with pride, refused. His refusal wasn’t just defiance; it was a rejection of God’s will. And that act of rebellion marked the beginning of his role as Satan—the tempter, the adversary, the one who seeks to lead humans astray.
But where does this belief come from? It’s not just a story from ancient times—it’s embedded in the Quran, the holy book Muslims follow, which speaks of Iblis’ fall in several chapters. His story is a timeless reminder of the consequences of pride and disobedience. It also teaches us about human nature—the struggle between good and evil, right and wrong. Satan’s role in Islam is not merely about evil; it’s a test for believers, urging them to remain faithful and submit to God’s will, just as Adam did. The belief in Satan in Islam, therefore, isn’t just a supernatural concept—it’s a part of the broader narrative of humanity’s free will, choices, and the eternal battle between obedience and defiance. It reminds us that we are constantly being tested, just as the first human being, Adam, was.
A Message from the Beginning of Time—Why Did God Keep Sending Prophets?
And what about Noah? Moses? Jesus? Every single one of these prophets, just like Muhammad, was sent to guide a specific people. They each brought a book, a message. And each time, humanity wandered, misunderstood, and sometimes even corrupted the message. But God, in His mercy, would send another prophet. And the cycle would continue.
It was as if God was waiting, patiently, for humanity to hear, understand, and finally embrace the truth. So when Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born, he wasn’t bringing something entirely new. No, he was completing a message that had been unfolding for centuries. The Quran, given to him by God, was the final, unaltered scripture—preserving everything that came before it and making sure that the message of worshiping the one true God was clear for all times.
You see, every prophet was given a community to guide, a people to lead. This is what we call the Ummah. Noah had his Ummah. Moses had his. Jesus had his. And Muhammad (PBUH), the final prophet, was given the Ummah of all humanity. The message he carried wasn’t meant just for the Arabs or the people of his time—it was for us. It’s for you and me, no matter where we are, no matter when we live.
Hajj, Eid, and Zam Zam Water—What Do These Have to Do with Muhammad?
Do you ever wonder why we Muslims celebrate Eid? Why we go on the pilgrimage of Hajj, or why we drink Zam Zam water with such reverence? These acts aren’t just rituals. They’re a part of a shared history, a collective memory. The act of going to Hajj traces back to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who built the Kaaba with his son, Ismail (Ishmael). And every time we drink Zam Zam water, we remember Hagar’s desperate search for water in the desert, the same water that flowed miraculously when her son Ismail cried out in thirst. These acts, these symbols—they’re part of the fabric of our faith, connecting us not just to Muhammad (PBUH), but to the great prophets who came before.
When we gather on Eid, we’re not just celebrating a moment in time. We’re celebrating the faith that stretches back to Ibrahim (A.s) . Therefore we’re honoring a legacy that has been passed down from one prophet to another, from one generation to the next. We’re part of something much bigger than ourselves.
Was Islam New in the 7th Century? Or Was It Always There?
But here’s the thing. When people say that Islam began with Muhammad, they forget one important detail. Muhammad (PBUH) wasn’t creating a new religion. He was completing the story of the prophets, finalising what had been started long before him. Each prophet brought a message, a book, a revelation. And Muhammad’s message, the Quran, was the last and final revelation. It was the one that would remain unchanged, preserved for all time.
If you ever wonder why we Muslims hold the Quran in such high regard, it’s because we believe it’s the culmination of all the revelations that came before it. The Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel—they were all part of the same message, but over time, they became corrupted, lost, or altered. The Quran, however, is the unaltered word of God. It is the message that every prophet, from Adam to Muhammad, was teaching in their own time, in their own way.
And so, when we talk about Islam, we’re not talking about a new faith. We’re talking about the final chapter in a long, ongoing story—a story that has been unfolding since the dawn of time.
Islam Is as Old as Humanity
So when someone tells you that Islam began with Muhammad, you can ask them, “Why do Muslims believe in Adam? Why do we honor Noah, Moses, and Jesus? Why do we have the story of Satan as fundamental in Islam? Why do we perform Hajj and drink Zam Zam water?” The answer is simple: because Islam isn’t just 1,400 years old. It’s as old as humanity itself. It’s a faith that began with the first man and has been passed down through the prophets. And it’s a faith that will continue to guide us, to remind us of our purpose, until the end of time.
In the end, it’s not about the years. It’s about the message that has endured, the message of worshiping one God, living justly, and helping those in need. It’s a message that has been carried by every prophet, every book, and every believer who came before us. And it’s a message that continues to guide us today.
Mahoor Haya Shah Kashmir based Writer, Columnist and Editor can be reached at hayashah546@gmail.com
