Muhammad founded the religion of Islam in 570 CE after receiving revelations from God through the archangel Gabriel. Islam gradually spread through military conquests and trade routes, establishing a vast Muslim empire. The core beliefs of Islam are the oneness of God and that Muhammad is his prophet, as outlined in the Quran. The five pillars of Islam are the fundamental acts worship: the declaration of faith, daily prayers, alms giving, fasting during Ramadan, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.