Final answer:
Muhammad came into contact with Middle Eastern religions and cultures as a merchant traveling on the trade routes and by engaging with Christians and Jews. His tribe's control of the Kaaba in Mecca further exposed him to various beliefs before he received revelations that led to the foundation of Islam.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Muhammad Encountered Middle Eastern Religions and Cultures
Muhammad, a member of the prominent Quraysh tribe from Mecca, came into contact with various religions and cultures through his business as a merchant. Dealing with goods and interacting with people on the trade routes, particularly in places like Palestine and Syria, he encountered followers of Christianity and Judaism. Through his travels, Muhammad became knowledgeable about different religious customs and beliefs prior to the revelations that began in 610 CE, when he received contact from God through the angel Gabriel while contemplating in a cave outside Mecca. These revelations were later compiled into Islam's holy book, the Quran, marking the beginning of his religious mission.
Muhammad's early life exposed him to a multitude of cultural exchanges and the religious diversity of the Middle East. Associating with Christian and Jewish merchants provided him with a broad understanding of monotheistic theology. Additionally, the sacred Kaaba in Mecca, controlled by his tribe, was a central point for various beliefs, enabling him to grasp the complex religious climate of his time.
The onset of the Islamic calendar and the consolidation of the Quran marked the profound influence of his experiences and his subsequent preaching that forged the foundation of a new monotheistic religion, stressing submission to Allah. This religion, Islam, rapidly spread across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond after Muhammad's death, carried by merchants, scholars, and through military conquests.