Offers a vision of how Islam first evolved. This title argues that the origins of Islam lie in what we may call the Believers' movement begun by the prophet Muhammad - a movement of religious reform emphasizing strict monotheism and righteous behavior in conformity with God's revealed law.
The book explores the complex dynamics behind the Islamic conquests in Syria and Iraq during the sixth and seventh centuries. Fred Donner emphasizes the importance of differentiating between the causes of the conquests themselves, the factors that contributed to their success, and the reasons for the subsequent Arab migrations to the Fertile Crescent. This nuanced analysis aims to deepen the understanding of this pivotal historical period.