Islam is a very practical and complete religion that teaches the individual to think and reflect by observing the world around him. Islam, being a monotheistic religion, proclaims that there is only one God and he has no partner. Muslims worship Allah in all their thoughts and actions. The message of Islam was attractive because it allowed Jews, Christians, and other religious entities to worship freely without fear of retaliation or forced conversion. In fact, until about 100 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, conversion to Islam was frowned upon and was reserved only for Arabs. Islam has learned to manage itself and prosper as an economic and social power. The creation of caravan routes and shipping routes were used as arteries of intellectual and economic exchange throughout the dar al-Islam, or “Home of Islam.”1 (Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World Loc 1891) At the heart of this rise Unprecedented in success, in his expansiveness and pace, is Muhammad. A calculated, tactical and forgiving man believed he was the conduit to God, a God he preached was the one and only. By the time of Muhammad both Persia and Byzantium were in decline due to a series of debilitating wars between them. (MAPOOT loc 298) Now, although I will not delve into this topic, as it would deserve to focus on those particular dynasties, it is certainly essential to state it. It was the message of equality, cohesion and harmony that Muhammad brought to Arabia, through God, along with trade and commerce practices, that allowed Islam to shape and mold its message and influences across vast times and places. Muhammad was a complex man who was driven by ideology and who often did things that perplexed his followers and he converted...... middle of paper...... journey to Byzantium and Syria with goods of incense , spices, ivory, cereals, pearls, woods, fabrics and medicines. (MAPOOT loc 220) The Quraysh established all this and remained neutral so as to obtain maximum profit from all sides. They established the Haram, an area near the Kabah where violence was prohibited, and made agreements with the Bedouins to cease attacks on caravans during the trading seasons. (MAPOOT loc 241) Many trade routes were abandoned in Syria and Mesopotamia due to the wars between Persia and Byzantium. Mecca filled this void and allowed the Quraysh to become more powerful. (MAPOOT loc 300) The trading practices established by the Quraysh and the fortune of geography allowed the practice of trade to expand Islam as this allowed it to reach men from all corners of the known earth. Trade and religion were now indistinguishably combined through Mecca.