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I ask if the following things would be in the realm of possiblity, i have a 100 AD POD

1. In my timeline a (northern) african superstate should rise. What could its maximal size be , how strong could it be ? it should be strong enough to be a serious threat to Europe, it conquers Italy, Iberia and many other regions around the mediterrean sea.
In the end it collapses because of its sheer size, unrest in the population and because it is completly exhausted after it's war against Europe. This should happen around 300 or 400 AD.

or would it simply lack resources to do so (afterall most of Northern Africa is desert) and it is impossible ?

2. I need a religion as alternative for Islam. i think islam like we know it, would not exist, since Mohammed wouldnt be born in this timeline. But i thought of another religon, which should have similarities to Islam. however i dont really want to invent a religon, so Was there any widespread and strong religion (aside from christianity or judaism) in the Arabian world and middle eastern world during that time ?
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