Muhammad (ca. 570/571-632 ce)

Muhammad, literally the “praised one,” is believed by Muslims to be the last and final prophet sent by God (Allah) to guide humankind. Although from the modern historical perspective there has been much debate on the historicity of specific events related to his life, modern scholarship has conceded Muhammad's historicity, cautioning, however, that there is much that awaits research.

Muhammad was born in Mecca (Makkah) in 570–571 CE to the noble tribe of Banu Hashim. His father had died just months before his birth, and within the first 10 years of his life, he lost his mother and grandfather ‘Abd al-Muttalib and was subsequently brought up by his paternal uncle Abu Talib. He assisted his uncle in trade and traveled around Arabia and to Syria a couple of times. From a young age, he had become known as “the honest one” and “the trustworthy one.” He married Khadijah, a rich widow 15 years his senior, who bore him four daughters and two sons, both of whom died very early. Close to age 40, he took to meditation and would retire to the cave of Hira’ outside Mecca in reclusion. On one such occasion around 610 CE, he received the first revelation through the archangel Jibreel (Gabriel), and thus began his prophetic career that would last till his death in 632 CE.