Muhammad

Muhammad
Name	Muhammad
Birth date	c. 570 CE
Birth place	Mecca, Hejaz, Arabian Peninsula
Death date	8 June 632 CE
Death place	Medina, Hejaz, Rashidun Caliphate
Resting place	Green Dome at Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Religion	Islam
Spouse	Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Sawda bint Zamʿa, Aisha, Hafsa bint Umar, Zaynab bint Khuzayma, Hind bint Abi Umayya, Zaynab bint Jahsh, Juwayriyya bint al-Harith, Ramla bint Abi Sufyan, Rayhana bint Zayd, Safiyya bint Huyayy, Maymunah bint al-Harith, Maria al-Qibtiyya
Children	Qasim ibn Muhammad, Abd-Allah ibn Muhammad, Ibrahim ibn Muhammad, Zainab bint Muhammad, Ruqayyah bint Muhammad, Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad, Fatimah

Muhammad. He is regarded as the final prophet and messenger of God in Islam, through whom the Quran was revealed. His life, teachings, and actions, known as the Sunnah, documented in the hadith, form the foundational basis for Islamic law and Muslim belief. Born in Mecca, his religious and political leadership unified Arabia under the banner of a new monotheism.

Early life

He was born around 570 CE into the Quraysh tribe in Mecca, a significant trade and pilgrimage center for polytheistic worship centered on the Kaaba. Orphaned early, he was raised first by his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib and then by his uncle Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib. As a young man, he earned a reputation for honesty, gaining the nickname Al-Amin (the Trustworthy), and worked as a merchant for Khadija bint Khuwaylid, a wealthy widow whom he later married. This period exposed him to diverse religious communities in Arabia, including Jewish and Christian tribes, and the monotheistic tradition of Hanif.

Prophethood

According to Islamic tradition, at age 40, while meditating in the Cave of Hira on Mount Nur, he received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel. These revelations, which continued for approximately 23 years, would later be compiled as the Quran. He began preaching the oneness of God (Tawhid), calling for the abandonment of idolatry and social justice. His early followers, including Khadija, Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Abu Bakr, faced increasing persecution from the Quraysh leaders who saw his message as a threat to the socio-economic order of Mecca.

Migration to Medina

Facing severe opposition and the death of his protector Abu Talib, his situation in Mecca became untenable. In 622 CE, he and his followers undertook the Hijrah to the city of Yathrib, later renamed Medina (Madinat an-Nabi, "City of the Prophet"). This event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, he established the Constitution of Medina, a pact that created a multi-tribal, multi-religious community (the Ummah) under his leadership, forging alliances with local tribes including the Banu Aws and Banu Khazraj.

Leadership in Medina

His leadership in Medina involved both spiritual guidance and political-military defense. Tensions with the Quraysh of Mecca led to several key battles, including the Battle of Badr (624 CE), the Battle of Uhud (625 CE), and the Battle of the Trench (627 CE). Concurrently, relations with Jewish tribes in Medina deteriorated, leading to conflicts such as the expulsion of some tribes. During this period, Islamic practices were formalized, including the direction of prayer (Qibla) being changed towards the Kaaba and the establishment of key rituals.

Conquest of Mecca

In 628 CE, he negotiated the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah with the Quraysh, a truce that allowed for peaceful pilgrimage. When the treaty was broken, he marched on Mecca with a large force in 630 CE, encountering minimal resistance. The Conquest of Mecca was largely bloodless, and he granted general amnesty to its inhabitants. He proceeded to cleanse the Kaaba of idols, rededicating it to the worship of God alone, an act that marked the decisive victory of Islam in Arabia.

Final years and death

Following the Conquest of Mecca, he consolidated the allegiance of numerous Arabian tribes. He delivered what is known as the Farewell Sermon during his final Hajj pilgrimage in 632 CE, reiterating core ethical teachings. Shortly after returning to Medina, he fell ill and died on 8 June 632 CE in the apartment of his wife Aisha. He was buried where he died, a site now housed within the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina. His death precipitated the question of succession, leading to the appointment of Abu Bakr as the first Caliph.

Legacy

His legacy fundamentally transformed Arabia and shaped world history. The Quran and his Sunnah are the primary sources of Sharia (Islamic law). The rapid expansion of the Rashidun Caliphate after his death spread Islam across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. He is venerated as the "Seal of the Prophets" within Islam, and his life is studied as the perfect model (Uswa hasana) for Muslims. Major Islamic institutions, from caliphates to diverse schools of jurisprudence and mystical traditions, trace their origins to his mission.

Category:570 births Category:632 deaths Category:Founders of religions Category:Islamic prophets