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The story of the origin of Islam is well known, or is it? Unlike Jesus, its founder The Prophet was a real person, there is credible evidence that he existed, and in spite of the revealed truth of its central message, there is no suggestion either that he was in any way more than human or possessed supernatural powers. Yet in recent years, both Christian apologists and especially mainstream historians focusing on the early years of Islam have come to some controversial and for Moslems disturbing conclusions.

Tom Holland is an historian who has published major works on the Romans, but when he turned his attention to the Arabs he concluded that much of what we thought we knew about Muhammad and the beginnings of Islam were not traceable to either the man or his contemporaries.

In this documentary he covers similar ground to his lectures which you can find on YouTube, but with the added attraction of jaunts in the desert and discussions with other scholars. You don't have to be any sort of academic to appreciate "Islam: The Untold Story", though you will probably appreciate it more if you don't attend mosque.

I was raised with the idea that Christianity has a real base and it's not just a bunch of ideas derived from a primitive novel. Only to find out later that the first stories of the future novel were drawn at least a century after the death of the main guru, giving ample time to die for all the people that have known the people who have heard about the wonderful guru.

I was also told that Islam is somehow better. There was an initial guru. And his life is well documented. Well, the documentation is quite different from one sect to another and the holy text is made following the same priceless technique that the book of Mormon was made. But some places were certain. Or are they? Tom Holland has spent some time looking for the origins of these myths and things are not that simple. Or have happened in the assumed places.

Contact me with Questions, Comments or Suggestions ryitfork @ bitmail.ch

When he says Mecca is not mentioned in the Quran, as far as I know it's not. However "Mekkah" and "Bakkah" are mentioned specifically 8 times, as many other times they are indirectly mentioned.

The Arabic name "Makkah" refers to the holiest city in Islam, also known as Mecca. It is located in the Hijaz region of Arabia. The term "Bakkah" is also used as an alternative name for Mecca in the Quran. Linguistically, "Makkah" traces its roots to the ancient Arabic word "bakka", which means "to crowd" or "to be full."

The term "Mecca" is an English word, although it has its origins in Arabic the exact word "Mecca" is not found in the Quran.

I see that the movie , goes somehow in the line of Islam, Tom was going to discovering , but i believe he hadn't took a solid reference in his journey in the discovery . he radicalized Muslims and their beliefs from his own side , he spent a time in the Gulf and Mediterranean but he hadn't made a reveal about the descendants he found their out From Prophet Mohamed peace upon him . i believe he was surface take somehow , and i wish he can make another journey to spot out what might had been missing on his previous Journey .

Mr Tom Holland should have read the complete Quran instead of reading selective verses, that too quoted out of context. There are multiple references of the incidents in Quran related to the lives of people living in Mecca, Madina and the surroundings in those times.. like Surah Quraish, Surah Lahab / Masad, Surah Muhammad, Surah Fil etc among others. He also needs to do some research on the circumstances in which these Quranic Surah and Ayats were revealed; surely he will get the answers if he relates them

He has also completely ignored the other city i.e Madina where the other part of Quran was revealed. Mr Holland has asked very simple and innocent questions which can only be asked by a person with very basic knowledge about Islam.. that too by a critic and not a real researcher or historian. I would only recommend him and his likes to READ (the first word of Quran which was revealed on Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H) more

One more thing to make things clear and easy for him.. Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H did not bring a new religion. He followed and preached the religion of Prophet Ibrahim A.S and Prophet Moses A.S and Prophet Jesus A.S and all other Prophets of Allah starting from first Prophet Adam A.S. the father of all human beings. The God has sent all prophets to preach the same religion and belief that God is One and when humans went astray he kept sending prophets to guide people to the right path. Muhammad P.B.U.H was the last one is that sequence. Quran was revealed on him through the angel for all the human beings (not just the Arabs) that's why Allah often referred to everyone in many Ayats. If you see the broader context then you need not the search for the alternative city of Mecca and waste resources and energy on such documentaries

May Allah guide us all