Question
Most of the world’s major religions—such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism—originated in Asia or the Middle East. Why is it that no globally recognised or major religion seems to have originated in Africa, Europe, or Australia?
Answer
Salaam
Thank you for writing to us. Your query is small but requires a somewhat detailed response. I will deal with aspects of your query under certain headings.
A Misconception about Where Religions Originate
A careful reading of religious history, particularly from an Islamic perspective, shows that prophets and divine guidance were not restricted to any one region. According to the Qur’an, every nation received a messenger at some point in its history (Qur’an, 10:47; 13:7; 40:78). The fact that today’s largest, most historically documented religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.) emerged from Asia and the Middle East does not mean other parts of the world did not receive guidance or produce notable religious traditions. Rather, these global traditions have been preserved in records, scriptures, or continuous communities, whereas the teachings in some other parts of the world may have been lost, changed, or overshadowed by cultural and historical circumstances.
Islamic Understanding of Prophethood
From an Islamic point of view, there is only one true religion, which the Qur’an refers to as Islam (Qur’an, 3:85). This “Islam” means complete submission to the one Creator. This message, in various forms, was brought by all prophets across different regions and eras (Qur’an, 22:78; 2:132). However, according to Islamic tradition, after the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), prophethood largely remained within his lineage, culminating in the final Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Before Abraham (pbuh), God raised prophets among all nations. After Abraham (pbuh), his progeny was specifically chosen to carry forth the last phases of divine guidance (Qur’an, 3:33).
The Qur’an acknowledges that we only know some of these prophets by name; many others remain unknown to us (Qur’an, 40:78).
Loss and Preservation of Religious Traditions
One reason we see fewer globally recognised religions emerging from other regions (e.g., Africa, Europe, Australia) may be the loss or metamorphosis of earlier prophetic teachings. Oral traditions can fade over centuries if not meticulously preserved, or they may develop into philosophical systems or mythologies without retaining a single, well-defined name or scripture. By contrast, the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) as well as certain Asian religions (like Hinduism and Buddhism) benefited from strong textual traditions and communal practices that preserved their core teachings over millennia.
Prevalence of “Major Religions”
What we label as the “major religions” today are often those which:
- possess a large global following,
- have a well-preserved scriptural or written tradition,
- spread extensively through trade, imperial expansion, missionary activity, or the printing press.
For example, Christianity arose in the Middle East, but it is now practised on every continent. Islam, as preached by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), also began in the Arabian Peninsula, yet has adherents worldwide. Over the course of history, these faiths’ teachings, scriptures, and institutions helped ensure their longevity and growth, overshadowing local traditions that did not spread as widely or retain their following.
Investigating Islam’s Claims
Rather than viewing Islam as just one among many human-made religions that happen to come from a certain region, Muslims understand it as the culmination of divine guidance for humanity, restating the same truths that earlier prophets (like Moses and Jesus) taught. If one wishes to test Islam’s claim to being from God, there are two primary considerations:
Authenticity of Transmission: The Qur’an has been preserved through continuous memorisation and a robust chain of transmission. The Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Sunnah was safeguarded by widespread communal practice passed down from generation to generation.
Divine Quality of its Contents: By reading the Qur’an, one can assess whether its message, style, and worldview seem to be a human product or, as Muslims believe, the word of God. The Qur’an itself highlights four key arguments for its divine origin:
- The impeccable character of the Prophet (pbuh) who conveyed it.
- The Qur’an’s coherent, penetrating message.
- Fulfilment of prophecies found in earlier scriptures.
- The Qur’anic prophecy that the Prophet and his companions would prevail over their adversaries.
Broader Notion of Salvation
Finally, Islamic teaching emphasises that salvation is not based solely on labels (like being called “Muslim”). It centres on recognising God and doing righteous deeds (Qur’an, 2:62). This aligns with the understanding that true faith transcends geographic origins and traditions, uniting humanity in the essential truths of worshipping one Creator and living ethically.
Conclusion
In short, the premise that “no major religion was born in Africa, Europe, or Australia” can be misleading. The Qur’an explicitly states that messengers have been sent to every community throughout history. The major religious traditions we see today tend to be those that were preserved and grew globally, especially from the lineage of Abrahamic prophets. Meanwhile, other regions’ revelations and teachings may have been lost, merged with indigenous beliefs, or never gained the same worldwide prominence and documentation. Nonetheless, from the Islamic viewpoint, God’s guidance was indeed universal, and thus it is not restricted to a single geographic location.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Mushfiq Sultan
Image Credits: Prevailing World Religions Map by ArtemisEyrie, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
