Introduction to the History of Islamic Countries
There is no doubt that people do not realize the virtue of a blessing unless they are deprived of it, so the best way to know the value and greatness of any blessing is to compare the period of its abundance with the period of its deprivation, and this is supported by the words of Imam al-Hassan bin Ali (peace be upon them): "Blessings are unknown while they last, but when they are gone, they are known." Therefore, before studying the history of Islamic countries and their current conditions, it is worthwhile to first look at the state of the world at the time of the emergence of the true religion of Islam.
In this section of the paper, we will examine the state of the world at the time of the emergence of Islam, the achievements made during this period, and some of the virtues of this valuable religion; this is in fact a comparison between a dark period of human history and a period illuminated by the light of guidance. We will then address the spread of Islam to other countries outside the Arabian Peninsula, where it will become clear why Islam triumphed over the great powers of the East and West and spread to the corners of the earth despite the poor material resources at the disposal of the Muslims.