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Mohammad was born in Arabia in the city of Mecca in 570 CE. He came from a prominent and highly respected family. When he was 25 he married a wealthy widow named Khadija. Their marriage was a happy one although only one of their children, Fatima, lived to maturity. Mohammad spent most of his time in solitary meditation. He began to have many disturbing visions. Once he believed he saw the angel Gabriel. Mohammad said that the angel gave him the following command:
“Recite, in the name of the Lord who has created,Created man from clots of blood,Recite, seeing that the Lord is the most generous, Who has taught by the pen, Taught man what he did not know.”
The Arabic word for “recite” is Qur’an (often called Koran), meaning the reciting or the reading. Thus, the Qur’an, the sacred book of the Muslims, is the “reciting” of “revelations” given to Mohammad. Over a period of 22 years, Mohammad reported many other revelations. Encouraged by his wife, he began to preach in the streets and market places of Mecca. Mohammad never claimed to be divine, but insisted that Allah had called him to be a prophet.
Mohammad hated the idolatry and the immorality of the Arabs who lived in Mecca or came there to trade their goods. He was met with bitter opposition, but for many years his influential uncle, Abu Talib, was able to protect him.
When both Khadija and Abu Talib died in 620 CE, plots were hatched to kill Mohammad and his followers. Finally, on July 16, 622, Mohammad was forced to flee to Medina, a friendlier city to the north. This flight, called the hegira, marks the beginning of Islam. The Muslim calendar starts with this date, and the years are counted from “A.H.” meaning “the year of the hegira.” Medina, which is the city’s current name, was first named Madinat an Nabi (City of the Prophet), in honor of Mohammad. Mohammad became the religious and political leader of the city.
“Recite, in the name of the Lord who has created,Created man from clots of blood,Recite, seeing that the Lord is the most generous, Who has taught by the pen, Taught man what he did not know.”
The Arabic word for “recite” is Qur’an (often called Koran), meaning the reciting or the reading. Thus, the Qur’an, the sacred book of the Muslims, is the “reciting” of “revelations” given to Mohammad. Over a period of 22 years, Mohammad reported many other revelations. Encouraged by his wife, he began to preach in the streets and market places of Mecca. Mohammad never claimed to be divine, but insisted that Allah had called him to be a prophet.
Mohammad hated the idolatry and the immorality of the Arabs who lived in Mecca or came there to trade their goods. He was met with bitter opposition, but for many years his influential uncle, Abu Talib, was able to protect him.
When both Khadija and Abu Talib died in 620 CE, plots were hatched to kill Mohammad and his followers. Finally, on July 16, 622, Mohammad was forced to flee to Medina, a friendlier city to the north. This flight, called the hegira, marks the beginning of Islam. The Muslim calendar starts with this date, and the years are counted from “A.H.” meaning “the year of the hegira.” Medina, which is the city’s current name, was first named Madinat an Nabi (City of the Prophet), in honor of Mohammad. Mohammad became the religious and political leader of the city.
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