Islam is the dominant religion of the Middle East, although Muslims, like Jews and Christians, are found in all parts of the world.  The Islamic prophet Muhammad (c570 AD to 632 AD) was the founder of Islam, and wrote the Quran based on visions he had of Allah (God) speaking through the Angel Gabriel.  The teachings of Muhammad are founded upon Jewish and Christian theology and history, with Muhammad regarded as the last true prophet.  The Muslim conquest of the Middle East took about ten years, with many forced conversions of conquered peoples. 

 Within twenty years of the conquest, Islam split into two chief sects:

 1) Shiites (~15% of Muslims today), who believe that Muhammad's successor (the Caliph) should be a direct descendent of his, and

 2) Sunnis (~85% of Muslims), who hold that the Caliphate should be a chosen rather than inherited position.

 Over the ages, clashes between Muslims and non-Muslims have waxed and waned, as have struggles between and within the two major sects.  Throughout the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the dispute over Kashmir, and especially since the end of the Cold War, Sunni and Shiite extremists have battled with non-Muslims on several fronts.  This conflict represents the greatest challenge to the foreign policies of Western nations today.