Tracing Islam’s movement out of Arabia, Shah Wali Allah described how, as different Companions settled in different cities, varied approaches to understanding Islam’s teachings emerged. Not only did each group of Companions bring with them their own recollection of the Prophet’s Sunna as well as their own understanding of the Qur’an, they also faced starkly divergent local environments. These early Muslims were a small minority compared to the huge native populations, and the specific customs, foods and climates of each region began impacting their lifestyles.
