Final answer:
Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula, within the Hijaz region, and spread through trade and travel well beyond its initial borders. The faith's rapid expansion was facilitated by Arab traders and consolidation under the Islamic Caliphate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Geographic Origin of Islam:
Islam first emerged from the geographic region of the Arabian Peninsula, specifically from the western part of the peninsula known as the Hijaz. This area is home to Islam's holiest sites and is where the Prophet Muhammad lived and began preaching. During the seventh century, Islam expanded rapidly beyond the Arabian Peninsula across North Africa, into the Levant, and over much of the Byzantine Empire's territories. Significant to the faith's spread were the Arab traders who brought Islam to distant lands such as Indonesia, which today has the world's largest Muslim population. The religion's origins are deeply tied to trade, travel, and the common cultural and legal frameworks provided by the Islamic Caliphate and Sharia law. Hence, Islam's growth was not solely through conquest but also through these networks of commerce and exchange of ideas.