The discipline of Islamic History deals with the history of Muslim societies beginning from the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. It also focuses on the various institutions that have arisen under the influence of Islam. The discipline addresses each and every Muslim nation and state that has appeared in history. It investigates the historical background of these nations and states, their experiences throughout history, their institutions, and their historical significance within the broader framework of Islamic culture and civilization from a social, cultural, political, and economic perspective. Islamic History applies an interdisciplinary approach in its research and utilizes a wide variety of sources, from poetry to archival materials and from written primary sources to archaeological remains.