Muslims believe Muhammad (peace be upon him)* is the last prophet to follow in the footsteps of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others who preached a message of submission to One God (Allah), the Creator. While earlier prophets were sent to specific nations, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent to all of humanity.
Early Life of Prophet Muhammad
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in Mecca on the Arabian Peninsula in 570 CE. His father, Abdullah, died before his birth and his mother, Aminah, died when he was six years old.
Raised first by his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, and then by his uncle, Abu Talib, Muhammad (peace be upon him) grew up illiterate but was distinguished by exceptional character. His honesty, humbleness, sincerity, and good manners earned him the name of Al-Amin, "the Trustworthy," among Meccans.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) learned the trade of a merchant from his uncle. Eventually he was hired by a wealthy businesswoman, Khadija bint Khawilad, to manage her caravan along a route to Syria.
Muhammad's Marriages and Children
Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) impeccable character so impressed the twice-widowed Khadija that she proposed marriage to him, although she was 15 years his senior. They married when he was 25 and she 40. They had six children together, two of whom died at very young ages. Muhammad (peace be upon him) took no other wives during their 25-year marriage.
After Khadija’s death in 620, Muhammad (peace be upon him) contracted 12 other marriages, mostly to divorced or widowed women for benevolent or strategic reasons. Only one boy was born, but he died in infancy. Nine wives survived the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the youngest, Aisha, is credited with narrating more than 2,000 hadith, or accounts of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) sayings and teachings.
Prophet and Messenger
It was at the age of 40, during his long marriage to Khadija, that Muhammad (peace be upon him) received his first revelation from the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel). The revelations continued for 23 years. Revelations included verses of the Holy Qur’an, which Muhammad (peace be upon him) repeated verbatim as the Word of Allah. Other revelations, summarized in the Prophet 's (peace be upon him) own words but attributed to Allah, were recorded as Hadith Qudsi, or Sacred Hadith.
Spiritual, Military and Political Leader
Muhammad (peace be upon him) began preaching publicly several years after the first revelation. The pagan Meccans were extremely hostile towards the message of Islamic monotheism, causing some Muslims to seek refuge in Abyssinia and others, including the Prophet (peace be upon him), to migrate to Medina. A series of battles ensued, with the Muslims claiming final victory and placing Mecca under Islamic rule.
During these years, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) filled the roles of spiritual leader, military commander, statesman, orator and visionary. Historians and writers note that he was successful on all counts. In two decades, he transformed polytheistic Arabia from a violent land of feuding tribes into a civilized nation united under Islamic brotherhood.
Through Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him) established social order, public charity, fair governance, and fair trade and economics. He instilled an Islamic way of life with high moral and ethical standards, unprecedented rights for women, and limits on polygamy. He encouraged scholarship, abolishment of slavery and demonstrated tolerance towards all people. Muhammad (peace be upon him) always credited Allah, saying, "Do not venerate me as the Christians venerated Jesus, son of Mary. I am only servant of Allah and His Messenger!"
Muhammad’s Death and Legacy
Muhammad (peace be upon him) died in 632, following an illness. His death severely tested the faith of his followers. In a famous address, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq admonished them: "If any of you worship Muhammad, you should know that Muhammad is dead. But those of you who worship God, let it be known that God is alive and cannot die.”
This powerful message affirmed what Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself insisted and what Allah revealed in the Qur'an – that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was simply a man and Allah's Messenger. Allah alone is deserving of worship and submission.
Islam Today
More than 1400 years later, Muslims now number more than one billion worldwide. Allah's revelation to Muhammad (peace be upon him) remains unaltered in the Holy Qur’an, while thousands of hadith document the Prophet of Islam's (peace be upon him) eloquent teachings and example.
* Muslims invoke Allah's blessings on the Prophet Muhammad whenever his name is mentioned.
Sources:
The Prophet Muhammad: Biography, Mission and Message of the Muhammad, Prophet of Islam (Muhammad.net)
The Sealed Nectar: Biography of the Noble Prophet by Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri (Dar-us-Salam Publications, Saudi Arabia, 1979)
Islamic Institute of Toronto Website (www.islam.ca)
Christine Benlafquih - Christine (Amina) Benlafquih is a Morocco-based writer. She covers varied topics including religion, food, health and culture.
