Islam began as a religion of city dwellers but grew to include the loosely organized Bedouin tribal society populating the Arabian Peninsula. Trace the rise of Islam in its geographic, socio-cultural and religious environments. What are the basic beliefs of the Islamic religion? Examine the background, status and influences of Muhammad. Access the central beliefs and ideas of the Islamic movement as they developed. To what degree are they reflective of Muhammad and the culture of Arabian society? For Muslims, the Qur'an came to be the basis of history, prophecy, and the legal and moral code by which men and women should live - explain this and provided examples.