Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah (saw), an illiterate man of humble origin, promulgated Islam, one of the world's greatest religions, and became an effective political leader. Today, fourteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and pervasive.
Muhammad was born in the year 570 AD, in the city of Mecca, in what is presently southern Saudi Arabia, at that time a backward area of the world, far from civilization. His father died when he was an infant, and his mother died when he was six years of age. He was fostered in modest surroundings. He attended sheep herds and was illiterate. His economic position improved when, at age twenty-five, he married Khadijah, a wealthy widow. He was the utmost in honesty since his childhood.
Most Arabs at that time were pagans, worshipping many idols. During his trading expeditions, Muhammad learned of one, omnipotent God who ruled the universe. When he was forty years old he received the revelation and inspiration from God through the archangel Gabriel, ordering him to spread the true faith, the Muslim faith, the faith of his forefather, Abraham. For three years Muhammad preached only to close friends and associates. Later he started revealing the message to his tribe (Quraish). As he slowly gained converts, the Meccans began considering him as a danger to their customs, traditions, and positions among other tribes. Around 622 AD, fearing for his safety, he was inspired by God to flee to Medina, where he gained many followers and supporters (Hijrah).
In Medina, Muhammad's following grew rapidly and Islam started spreading everywhere. A series of battles were fought between the people of Medina and Mecca (Badr, Uhad, Khandaq), and this war ended in 630 with Muhammad's triumphant return to Mecca. During the next two-and-a-half years of his remaining life, the Arabian Peninsula witnessed a rapid conversion of Arab, Jewish, and Christian tribes to Islam...
You can read the entire biography at:
http://www.mtmcenter.org/resource_biog.htm
Muhammad was born in the year 570 AD, in the city of Mecca, in what is presently southern Saudi Arabia, at that time a backward area of the world, far from civilization. His father died when he was an infant, and his mother died when he was six years of age. He was fostered in modest surroundings. He attended sheep herds and was illiterate. His economic position improved when, at age twenty-five, he married Khadijah, a wealthy widow. He was the utmost in honesty since his childhood.
Most Arabs at that time were pagans, worshipping many idols. During his trading expeditions, Muhammad learned of one, omnipotent God who ruled the universe. When he was forty years old he received the revelation and inspiration from God through the archangel Gabriel, ordering him to spread the true faith, the Muslim faith, the faith of his forefather, Abraham. For three years Muhammad preached only to close friends and associates. Later he started revealing the message to his tribe (Quraish). As he slowly gained converts, the Meccans began considering him as a danger to their customs, traditions, and positions among other tribes. Around 622 AD, fearing for his safety, he was inspired by God to flee to Medina, where he gained many followers and supporters (Hijrah).
In Medina, Muhammad's following grew rapidly and Islam started spreading everywhere. A series of battles were fought between the people of Medina and Mecca (Badr, Uhad, Khandaq), and this war ended in 630 with Muhammad's triumphant return to Mecca. During the next two-and-a-half years of his remaining life, the Arabian Peninsula witnessed a rapid conversion of Arab, Jewish, and Christian tribes to Islam...
You can read the entire biography at:
http://www.mtmcenter.org/resource_biog.htm