Muhammad Biography

Muhammad	Abu al-Qasim Muhammad Ibn Abd Allah Ibn Abd al-Muttalib Born: 0570-01-30 Birthplace: Mecca Died: 0632-06-08 Location of Death: Medina Race: Middle Eastern Religion: Muslim Field: Religion Famous for: Muslim Prophet
Top 100 Influencial People #6 Field: Religion

Muhammad, established the religion of Islam and the Muslim community. Muslims believe him to have been God's (Allah) last and final prophet of Islam, to whom the Qur'an was revealed. According to traditional Muslim biographers, Muhammad was born c. 570 in Mecca and died June 8, 632 in Medina, both in the Hejaz region of present day Saudi Arabia.

The name Muhammad etymologically means "the praised one" in Arabic, being a passive participle from the root ḥmd حمد "to praise". Within Islam, Muhammad is known as "The Prophet" and "The Messenger". The Qur'an (33:40) also refers to him as the "Seal of the Prophets" (Arabic: ḫatamu-n-nabiyyīn). In verse 61:6 he is referred to as Ahmad, which in Arabic means 'more praiseworthy'.

Born to `Abdu'llah ibn `Abdu'l-Muttalib, the man who later came to be called Muhammad was said to have initially been a merchant, and had often retreated to a cave to a mountain outside Mecca called Hira, for contemplation. Muslims believe that in the year 610, when Muhammad was about forty, he was first visited here by the Angel Gabriel who commanded him to recite verses sent by God. These verses were later collected as part of the Qur'an (which was revealed to him over a period of about twenty-three years until his death).

He expanded his mission as a prophet, publicly preaching strict monotheism and warning of a Day of Judgment when all humans shall be held responsible for their deeds. He did not completely reject Judaism and Christianity, two other monotheistic faiths known to the Arabs, but said that he had been sent by God in order to complete and perfect those teachings.

Many in Mecca resented his preaching and persecuted him and his followers. Eventually, in 622, he was forced to move out of Mecca in a journey known to Muslims as the Hijra (the Migration). He settled in the area of Yathrib (now known as Medina) with his followers, where he was the leader of the first avowedly Muslim community.

The Meccans started attacking Medina to destroy the Islamic state. Even though the attacking armies were several times stronger in numbers and in weaponry, Muslims defeated these invaders every time they attacked. Muslims finally attacked Mecca under the leadership of Muhammad after eight years of Hijra and took control of the city. The Muslims subsequently removed all idols from the Kaaba. Most of the townspeople accepted Islam. Deputations began to come in from other Arabian tribes. The conditions for their adherence were: the acceptance of Islam, the destruction of idols, and the payment of the 'zakat' (tax) for the support of the poor community. In March 632, Muhammad led the pilgrimage, the Hajj. On returning to Medina he fell ill and died after a few days, on June 8.

Under Muhammad's immediate successors, the Islamic empire expanded into Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, North Africa, and Iberia. Later conquests, commercial contact between Muslims and non-Muslims, and missionary activity spread Islam over much of the Eastern Hemisphere, including China and Southeast Asia.