Early Life

• Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570CE to the Quraysh tribe.
• His father Abdullah died before his birth and his mother Amina died when he was six, leaving him an orphan.
• He was then brought up by his grandfather Abdul Muttalib and later his uncle Abu Talib.
• He was known as Al-Amin, meaning 'the trustworthy', due to his ethical and moral character.

Revelation

• Muhammad had his first revelation when he was around 40 years old. The angel Jibril delivered a message from Allah while Muhammad was meditating in the cave of Hira.
• This marked the beginning of Muhammad's role as a prophet.
• He later recorded these revelations in what is now known as the Quran.

Preaching in Mecca

• Muhammad began to preach in Mecca, and initially his messages weren't well received due to their challenges to traditional Meccan beliefs.
• His preaching emphasised monotheism, the rejection of idolatry, ethical and moral reform, egalitarianism and social justice.
• He attracted a small following, with his wife Khadijah being his first follower.

Hijra

• The threat of persecution forced Muhammad and his followers to flee to Medina in 622CE, an event known as the Hijra, marking the start of the Islamic calendar.
• In Medina, Muhammad established a theocratic state based on the revelations and laws of Islam.

Consolidation of Power

• Muhammad created the Constitution of Medina which established a multi-religious Islamic state, and provided a set of rights and duties for its citizens.
• This period saw several battles including the significant Battle of Badr in 624 CE, where Muslims scored a surprising victory against the Meccans.

Return to Mecca

• In 630 CE, Muhammad returned to Mecca with a large number of his followers. The city surrendered without a battle.
• Upon returning, he destroyed the idols in the Kaaba, declaring it a place of Islamic monotheistic worship.
• The remainder of his life was spent spreading the faith and establishing Islamic rule over the Arabian Peninsula.

Death

• Muhammad died in 632 CE in Medina. His teachings, actions, and religious leadership are foundational to the beliefs and practices of Muslims worldwide.