Outline of Muhammad's life

Birth

570

Muhammad is born in the town of Mecca in the year of the elephant. He is part of the Banu Hashim clan, part of the Quraysh tribe, and one of Mecca's prominent families

Becomes an orphan

575

Muhammad's mother takes him to Yathrib, an oasis town, when he is five to stay with relatives and visit his father's grave. On the journey back home, his mother gets sick and dies. Muhammad is placed in the protection of his paternal grandfather, Abdul Al-Muttalib. In this man's care, Muhammad learned the fundamentals of statecraft.

Teenage years

590

Muhammad worked as a shepherd to help support his uncle who h lived with. He sometimes traveled with Abu Talib, a merchant, accompanying caravans to trade centers. Older merchants recognized his character and nicknamed him El–Amin, the one you can trust.

Marriage

595

Khadija, a wealthy widow, proposes marriage to Muhammad after he works as a merchant for her. He was twenty-five and she was nearly forty. Their years were pleasant and prosperous with 6 children. Two sons both died in infancy, but they had four daughters.

Receives first revelation

610

Mecca's materialism and traditional idolatry disturbed Muhammad so he began making long retreats to a mountain cave outside town where he fasted and meditated. After a number of indistinct visionary experiences, Muhammad was visited by an overpowering presence (angel Gabriel) and instructed to recite words of such beauty and force that he and others gradually attributed them to God.

Begins preaching Islam faith

613

Muhammad starts to preach the Islam faith to the people of Mecca. He publicly preaches his faith to the people along with his new followers that he had gathered a couple of years before. Muhammad is growing in his faith and encouraging others to follow him and do the same.

Year of sorrows

619

In this year, Muhammad's wife Khadijah and uncle Abu Talib both die. Because of the death of his uncle, the Banu Hashim clan's leader becomes his son, Abu Lahab, a great enemy of Muhammad's.

Isra and Mi'raj

621

Muhammad takes a journey to Mecca and Jerusalem and then finally ascends to heaven to meet God one night. Isra was the part where he went to Mecca and then traveled to the furthest mosque, also believed to be the dome of the rock. The second part of the journey is when Muhammad goes to heaven, which is called the mi'raj.

Hijra

622

Muhammad completes his "hijra", which means flight, to Medina from Mecca. He flees from persecution. This event marks year one for the Muslim calendar and was a very important part of Muhammad's life.

Death

632

Muhammad dies in 632 in Medina, Saudi Arabia. After his death, a lot of disagreement and anger broke out over who should be his successor. The argument and different perspectives over who should be the heir to Muhammad is what caused the splits in Islam and the different groups.