Outline of Muhammad's Life

Muhammad's Birth

570

Muhammad was born in the town of Mecca. His name is derived from the Arabic verb hamada, meaning "to praise, to glorify." He was the first and only son of Abd Allah bin Al-Muttalib and Amina bint Wahb. His father died before his birth, and he was raised by his mother.

Muhammad Becomes an Orphan

575

When Muhammad was five or six years old, his mother took him to Yathrib to stay with relatives and visit his father's grave. On the return journey, his mother fell ill and died. Halima, Muhammad's nurse, returned to Mecca with Muhammad and placed in the protection of his paternal grandfather, Abdul Al-Muttalib.

Muhammad in His Uncle's Care

578

When Muhammad's grandfather died in 578, he was passed into the care of a paternal uncle, Abu Talib. Muhammad grew up in his uncle's home and remained under his care for many years.

Muhammad Acts as a Caravan

594

Muhammad entered the service of a wealthy Meccan merchant in his early twenties. He worked for a widow named Khadija bint Khawalayd. They were distant cousins. Muhammad carried her goods to the north and returned with a profit.

Muhammad's Marriage

595

Khadija eventually proposed marriage to Muhammad in 595. He was 25 years old and she was nearly 40 years old. Muhammad continued to manage Khadija's business affairs. They had six children. They had two sons who both died in infancy, and four daughters.

Muhammad Receives First Revelation

610

Mecca's new materialism and its traditional idolatry disturbed Muhammad, so he began making long retreats to a mountain cave outside town to fast and meditate. After a number of visionary experiences, Muhammad was visited by an overpowering presence and was instructed to recite words.

Muhammad and the Muslims Emigrate to Medina

622

Muhammad and his followers left Mecca and traveled to Yathrib in 622. The leaders in Yathrib were suffering through a vicious civil war, and they had invited Muhammad to act as their mediator. Yathrib soon became known as Medina, the City of the Prophet. Muhammad stayed here for the next six years, building the first Muslim community and gradually gathering more followers.

The Military Period

625

The Meccans did not take Muhammad's new success lightly. Early skirmishes led to three major battles in the next three years. The Muslims won the first (the Battle of Badr, March 624), lost the second (the Battle of Uhud, March, 625), and outlasted the third, (The Battle of the Trench and the Siege of Medina, April, 627). A treaty was signed between the two sides in March, 628.

The Conquest of Mecca

630

The power had shifted away from the once-powerful Mecca, toward Muhammad and the Muslims. Muhammad and the Muslims marched on Mecca in January, 630, and were joined by many tribes along the way. They entered Mecca without bloodshed and the Meccans, seeing the tide had turned, joined them.

Muhammad's Final Years

632

Muhammad returned to live in Medina. In the next three years, he reinforced most of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam. In March, 632, he returned to Mecca one last time to make a pilgrimage, and many Muslims joined him. He returned to Medina after the pilgrimage. Three months later on June 8, 632, he died in Medina after suffering from a brief illness. He was buried in the mosque in Medina.