Like Buddhism and Christianity, Islam can be described as a derivative religion. Each grew out of other religious tradition through the efforts of one individual. In what way was Islam different from the others?

The central difference between Islam and other monotheistic religions is the figure of prophet Muhammad and the divine revelation he got from Allah, according to Islam. Koran, the Holy Book, and the main tenets of the religion were exclusively transmitted by God to Muhammad once. This was a unique act. Nobody else ever before or after him received it. So, the singular role of Muhammad as the only and exclusive messenger of divine truth, then as a the establisher of Koranic and Islamic norms and dogmas provides the explanation of this crucial difference.