
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,436
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Mound Builders
- 1 player
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2014

2020
Rules assistance for The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 is a board game released in 2020 for 1 player, 30–120 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Ben Madison and Wes Erni and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Area Majority / Influence, and Simulation.
"The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750" is an "inside-out" States of Siege-style solitaire wargame from White Dog Games (2020). The First Jihad simulates the rise of the Umayyad Caliphate between 632 and 750 AD. The game's AI plays the forces of the Muslim Caliphate, based in Mecca (the game's center position); the player plays a host of nations invaded by the Caliphate (Byzantium, Persia, Visigothic Spain, Nubians, Khazars, Armenians, the Chinese, Indian states, etc.) The game has about 77 counters, one 11x17" map, 50 event cards, and numerous player aids and historical background materials.
The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 supports 1 player according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 is 30–120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 has a complexity rating of 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Medieval, and Religious. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Area Majority / Influence, and Simulation. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 are: Ben Madison and Wes Erni. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists The First Jihad: The Rise of Islam 632-750 as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.