Who is Muhammad

Muhammad* was born in Makkah in the year 570* at a time when Christianity was not yet fully established in Europe. Since his father died before his birth* and his mother shortly afterwards* he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up* he became known for his truthfulness* generosity and sincerity* so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative.

Muhammad was of a deeply religious nature* and had long detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur* the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah.

<LI>How did Muhammad become a prophet and a messenger of God?

At the age of 40* while engaged in a meditative retreat* Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation* which continued for twenty-three years* is known as the Quran

 

The Mountain of Lightwhere Gabriel came toProphet Muhammad. As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel* and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him* he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution* which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This event* the Hijra* 'migration'* in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260 miles to the north* marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

After several years* the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Makkah* where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet died at the age of 63* the greater part of Arabia was Muslim* and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China.
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