The birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the greatest event in the entire history of the Universe. The story of the prophet Muhammad

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was born in 570 according to the Christian calendar in Mecca (modern Saudi Arabia). His father Abdullah was the great-great-great-grandson of Qusay, the founder of Mecca, and belonged to the Hashemite family of the Quraish tribe. Muhammad's mother, Amina, was a descendant of her brother Qusay. One day, returning with a caravan from Syria and Palestine, Abdullah stopped to visit relatives at one of the oases north of Mecca. There he fell ill and died a few months before the birth of his son.

According to custom, the Quraish sent their children to a wet nurse in the desert, where, among the Bedouins, they spent the first years of their lives. This custom included not only concern for the child’s health, but also a return to the roots, the opportunity to feel freedom in the vast expanses of the desert. The Prophet Muhammad was taken by his nurse Halima. He lived in a Bedouin family for 4-5 years: he got used to life in the desert, looked after sheep as soon as he learned to walk.

Muhammad was about six when he and his mother went to Yathrib, where his father died. There Amina suffered from illness. She died on the way home. Now Muhammad’s guardian was his grandfather Abdul Mutalib, the head of the Hashemite clan. Two years later, when Muhammad was 8, he too died. The leadership passed to the prophet's uncle Abu Talib, and he became his new guardian. Muhammad was nine years old when his uncle, gathering a caravan, set off for Syria, and took his nephew with him to teach him the art of trade.

Muhammad succeeded in trade. Among the rich people of Mecca was the twice-widowed Khadija. Having learned of the illustrious reputation of Muhammad, often called Al-Amin (the trustworthy), she hired him to escort her caravan to Syria. Impressed by Muhammad's abilities and his charm, she sends matchmakers to him. At that time, Muhammad was twenty-five years old, Khadija was forty. After the wedding, she gave her husband a young slave named Zeid, to whom Muhammad granted freedom. When Zeid's relatives came to pay the ransom, he loved Muhammad so much that he chose to stay with his benefactor. Khadija bore Muhammad six children, including a son named Qasim, who died before he was two years old.

Muhammad became a wealthy man, a revered member of the community. His generosity and common sense aroused the admiration of people. It seemed that a bright future awaited him: he would achieve prosperity for his clan, become one of the most influential elders of the city, and die, perhaps like his grandfather, in the shadow of the Kaaba, reflecting on his past years. But he was destined for something completely different.

Hanifa

The Meccans were descendants of Abraham through his eldest son Ismail, their temple - the Kaaba - was built by Abraham to worship the One God. The Kaaba was still called the House of God, but numerous idols and deities, who were called daughters of God and considered intermediaries between people and God, became the object of worship. Only a few felt disgust at the widespread idolatry, and tried to adhere to the religion of Abraham. These truth seekers are known as Hanifs, which means “turning away from idolatry.” They did not unite into societies: each individually tried to find the truth. Muhammad, son of Abdullah, was one of them.

Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) around 570 AD. e., in the Hashim clan of the Quraish tribe. Muhamed's father, Abdallah, died before the birth of his Son, and Muhamed's mother, Amina, died when He was only six years old, leaving the Son an orphan. Muhammad was raised first by His grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, a man of exceptional piety, and then by His uncle, the merchant Abu Talib.

At that time, the Arabs were inveterate pagans, among whom, however, a few adherents of Monotheism stood out, such as, for example, Abd al-Muttalib. Most Arabs lived a nomadic life in their ancestral territories. There were few cities. The main ones among them are Mecca, Yathrib and Taif.

From his youth, the Prophet was distinguished by exceptional piety and piety, believing, like His grandfather, in One God. First He tended the flocks, and then He began to participate in the trading affairs of His uncle Abu Talib. He became famous, people loved Him and, as a sign of respect for his piety, honesty, justice and prudence, they bestowed the honorary nickname al-Amin (Trustworthy).

Later, He conducted the trading affairs of a wealthy widow named Khadija, who, some time later, proposed to Muhammad to marry her. Despite the age difference, they lived a happy married life with six children. And although in those days polygamy among Arabs was common. The Prophet did not take other wives while Khadija was alive.

This newfound position freed up much more time for prayer and reflection. As was his custom, Muhammad retired to the mountains surrounding Mecca and secluded himself there for a long time. Sometimes His seclusion lasted several days. He especially fell in love with the cave of Mount Hira (Jabal Nyr - Mountains of Light), majestically rising above Mecca. On one of these visits, which occurred in the year 610, something happened to Muhammad, who was about forty years old at that time, that completely changed His entire life.

In a sudden vision, the angel Gabriel (Gabriel) appeared before Him and, pointing to the words that appeared from outside, ordered Him to pronounce them. Muhammad objected, declaring that he was illiterate and therefore would not be able to read them, but the angel continued to insist, and the meaning of these words was suddenly revealed to the Prophet. He was ordered to learn them and accurately pass them on to the rest of the people. This is how the first revelation of the sayings of the Book, now known as the Koran (from Arabic “reading”), was marked.

This eventful night fell on the 27th of the month of Ramadan, and was called Laylat al-Qadr. From now on, the life of the Prophet no longer belonged to him, but was given to the care of the One who called him to the prophetic mission, and he spent the rest of his days in the service of God, proclaiming His messages everywhere.

When receiving revelations, the Prophet did not always see the angel Gabriel, and when he did, the angel did not always appear in the same guise. Sometimes the angel appeared before Him in human form, eclipsing the horizon, and sometimes the Prophet only managed to catch his gaze on Himself. At times He heard only a voice speaking to Him. Sometimes He received revelations while deeply immersed in prayer, but at other times they appeared completely “at random”, when Muhammad, for example, was busy worrying about the affairs of everyday life, or went for a walk, or simply enthusiastically listened to a meaningful conversation.

At first, the Prophet avoided public sermons, preferring personal conversations with interested people and with those who noticed extraordinary changes in Him. A special path of Muslim prayer was revealed to him, and He immediately began daily pious exercises, which invariably caused a wave of criticism from those who saw him. Having received the highest order to begin a public sermon, Muhammad was ridiculed and cursed by the people, who thoroughly mocked His statements and actions. Meanwhile, many Quraysh became seriously alarmed, realizing that Muhammad's insistence on establishing faith in the One True God could not only undermine the prestige of polytheism, but also lead to the complete decline of idolatry if people suddenly began to convert to the faith of the Prophet. Some relatives of Muhammad turned into His main opponents: humiliating and ridiculing the Prophet himself, they did not forget to do evil against converts. There are many examples of mockery and abuse of those who accepted a new faith. Two large groups of early Muslims, seeking refuge, moved to Abyssinia, where the Christian negus (king), very impressed by their teachings and way of life, agreed to provide them with protection. The Quraysh decided to ban all trade, business, military and personal connections with the Hashim clan. Representatives of this clan were strictly forbidden to appear in Mecca. Very difficult times came, and many Muslims were doomed to severe poverty.

In 619, the Prophet's wife Khadija died. She was His most devoted supporter and helper. In the same year, Muhammad’s uncle, Abu Talib, who defended Him from the most violent attacks from his fellow tribesmen, also died. Stricken with grief, the Prophet left Mecca and went to Taif, where he tried to find refuge, but was rejected there too.

The Prophet's friends betrothed a pious widow named Sauda as his wife, who turned out to be a very worthy woman, and also a Muslim. Aisha, the young daughter of his friend Abu Bakr, knew and loved the Prophet all her life. And although she was too young for marriage, however, according to the customs of that time, she nevertheless entered the Muhamed family as a sister-in-law. It is necessary, however, to dispel the misconception that exists among people who completely do not understand the reasons for Muslim polygamy. In those days, a Muslim who took several women as wives did so out of compassion, graciously providing them with his protection and shelter. Muslim men were encouraged to help the wives of their friends killed in battle, to provide them with separate houses and to treat them as if they were their closest relatives (of course, things could be different in the case of mutual love).

In 619, Muhammad had the opportunity to experience the second most important night of his life - the Night of Ascension (Laylat al-Miraj). It is known that the Prophet was awakened and carried on a magical animal to Jerusalem. Over the location of the ancient Jewish Temple on Mount Zion, the heavens opened and a path opened that led Muhammad to the throne of God, but neither he nor the angel Gabriel accompanying him was allowed to enter the beyond. That night the rules of Muslim prayer were revealed to the Prophet. They became the focus of faith and the unshakable basis of Muslim life. Muhammad also met and talked with other prophets, including Jesus (Isa), Moses (Musa) and Abraham (Ibrahim). This miraculous event greatly consoled and strengthened the Prophet, adding confidence that Allah did not abandon Him and did not leave Him alone with his sorrows.

From now on, the fate of the Prophet changed in the most decisive way. He was still persecuted and ridiculed in Mecca, but the Prophet's message had already been heard by people far beyond the city's borders. Some of the elders of Yathrib persuaded Him to leave Mecca and move to their city, where He would be received with honor as a leader and judge. Arabs and Jews lived together in this city, constantly at war with each other. They hoped that Muhammad would bring them peace. The Prophet immediately advised many of His Muslim followers to migrate to Yathrib while He remained in Mecca, so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicion. After the death of Abu Talib, the emboldened Quraish could calmly attack Muhammad, even kill him, and he understood perfectly well that this would sooner or later happen.

The Prophet's departure was accompanied by some dramatic events. Muhammad himself miraculously escaped captivity thanks to his exceptional knowledge of the local deserts. Several times the Quraysh almost captured Him, but the Prophet still managed to reach the outskirts of Yathrib. The city was eagerly awaiting him, and when Muhammad arrived in Yasrib, people rushed to meet him with offers of shelter. Confused by their hospitality, Muhammad gave the choice to his camel. The camel stopped at a place where dates were drying, and it was instantly presented to the Prophet for building a house. The city received a new name - Madinat an-Nabi (City of the Prophet), now abbreviated as Medina.

The Prophet immediately began preparing a decree according to which He was proclaimed the supreme head of all the warring tribes and clans of Medina, who were henceforth forced to obey His orders. It established that all citizens were free to practice their religion in peaceful coexistence without fear of persecution or disgrace. He asked them only for one thing - to unite and repel any enemy who dared to attack the city. The former tribal laws of the Arabs and Jews were replaced by the basic principle of "justice for all", regardless of social status, color and religion.

Becoming the ruler of a city-state and gaining untold wealth and influence. The prophet, however, never lived like a king. His dwelling consisted of simple mud houses built for His wives; He never even had his own room. Not far from the houses there was a courtyard with a well - a place that from now on became a mosque where devout Muslims gather.

Almost the entire life of the Prophet Muhammad was spent in constant prayer and in the instruction of believers. In addition to the five obligatory prayers that He conducted in the mosque, the Prophet devoted a lot of time to solitary prayer, and sometimes devoted most of the night to pious reflections. His wives performed night prayer with Him, after which they retired to their chambers, and He continued to pray for many hours, falling asleep briefly towards the end of the night, only to wake up soon for the pre-dawn prayer.

In March 628, the Prophet, who dreamed of returning to Mecca, decided to make His dream come true. He set out with 1,400 followers, completely unarmed, wearing pilgrim attire consisting of two simple white veils. However, the followers of the Prophet were denied entry into the city, despite the fact that many citizens of Mecca practiced Islam. To avoid clashes, the pilgrims made their sacrifices near Mecca, in an area called Hudaibiya.

In 629, the Prophet Muhammad began plans for the peaceful capture of Mecca. The truce concluded in the town of Hudaibiya turned out to be short-lived, and in November 629 the Meccans attacked one of the tribes that was in a friendly alliance with the Muslims. The Prophet marched on Mecca at the head of 10,000 men, the largest army to ever leave Medina. They settled near Mecca, after which the city surrendered without a fight. The Prophet Muhammad entered the city in triumph, immediately went to the Kaaba and performed a ritual circuit around it seven times. Then He entered the shrine and destroyed all the idols.

It was not until March 632 that the Prophet Muhammad made His only full-fledged pilgrimage to the shrine of the Kaaba, known as Hajat al-Wida (The Last Pilgrimage). During this pilgrimage, revelations were sent to Him about the rules of Hajj, which all Muslims follow to this day. When the Prophet reached Mount Arafat to “stand before Allah,” He proclaimed His last sermon. Even then, Muhamed was seriously ill. He continued to lead prayers in the mosque as best he could. There was no improvement in the disease, and He fell ill completely. He was 63 years old. It is known that His last words were: “I am destined for a stay in Paradise among the most worthy.” His followers found it difficult to believe that the Prophet could die like a common man, but Abu Bakr reminded them of the words of revelation spoken after the Battle of Mount Uhud:
“Muhamed is only a messenger. There are no longer any messengers who once existed before him;
If he also dies or is killed, will you really turn back?" (Quran, 3:138).

He was born half orphan, for his father Abdullah died when his mother was two months pregnant.

When he was six years old, his mother, Amina bint Wahab, also died, leaving Muhammad an orphan. His guardian was Abdul-Muttalib, his paternal grandfather, who had a special position and influence in Mecca. Members of his Quraysh tribe treated him as a respectable sheikh. And in those days, the Quraish tribe occupied a dominant position among all other Arab tribes.

The Prophet Muhammad became the object of his grandfather's care, love and affection, but all this did not last long, for his grandfather passed away when Muhammad was only eight years old. After the death of his grandfather, his uncle Abu Talib became the boy's guardian.
When Muhammad was twelve years old, he and his uncle Abu Talib went on a trading journey to Bilad al-Sham (Syria). This is how Muhammad left his native place for the first time. When he was twenty-five years old, he again went to Bilad al-Sham, this time on the business of Lady Khadija bint Huaylid, a rich and noble woman. Having heard that he was a reliable and honest man, Khadija entrusted him with her money. Upon Muhammad's return from Bilad al-Sham, she invited him to marry her. At that time he was twenty-five years old and she was forty.
Even before Muhammad became a prophet at the age of forty, he was nicknamed “worthy of trust,” for he was the most highly moral and most worthy person in his midst. He was famous for such character traits as tolerance, modesty, justice, patience, chastity, generosity and courage.
Muhammad was known for his hatred of pagan idols even before he began his prophetic mission. This hatred was so great that Muhammad never attended any of the pagan rituals. In addition, the Prophet Muhammad never drank intoxicating drinks in his life.
These character traits are common to all prophets. God endows His prophets with such qualities in preparation for receiving His Revelation. For prophets must always be infallible. This means that they do not commit sins either before entering the path of prophecy or after that.
The Jews and Christians who lived at that time on the Arabian Peninsula and in neighboring lands expected the appearance of the Last of the prophets in this world, as their Holy Books - the Torah and the Gospel - spoke about this.

In 610 AD, when the Prophet Muhammad was forty years old, a revelation from God was sent down to him through the Archangel Gabriel (Jibriel in Arabic). Gabriel brought him the first five verses of Surah Al-‘Alaq (“The Clot”) of the Holy Quran1. Thus, Allah appointed Muhammad as a prophet.
From that day on, the Qur'an was gradually revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over the next twenty-three years. Each new revelation of the Koran was sent down to the Prophet by God in accordance with 1) circumstances and events that required their correct interpretation and explanation, and also 2) as necessary, specific practical instructions and instructions2. The Qur'an is the Word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel; in this case, the role of both the prophet Muhammad and Gabriel was reduced only to conveying it to the people. Gabriel recited the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad, who then memorized it and brought it to the people. The Prophet ordered everyone who was entrusted to keep the text of the Koran and write it down, for he himself was illiterate3. It is also worth mentioning that the entire text of the Koran was completely written down and preserved during the life of the Prophet Muhammad.
Before the start of the Prophet's mission, the Arabian Peninsula was under the rule of ignorance and tyranny, for the people worshiped idols. Each tribe had its own god in the form of an idol which it worshiped. At that time, the peninsula was inhabited by 360 tribes, and, accordingly, there were at least 360 idols.
In addition, the stronger treated the weaker according to the principle of “divide and conquer,” and therefore wars broke out at the slightest provocation. This was a period when theft and all kinds of robberies flourished, including the robbery of caravans on large trade routes; usury, adultery, drunkenness, gambling, and the custom of burying baby girls alive because the newborn's family feared shame or poverty. The position of women in society was reduced to nothing. Thus, a woman did not have the right to inherit the real estate of her close relatives and, on top of everything else, she herself was considered a thing to be inherited, like a piece of furniture, an animal or household utensils.

Coming with a prophetic mission, Muhammad heralded the beginning of a new era with the introduction of Islam. He called on people to worship the One God and observe a number of new principles and norms of daily life, unknown to the people of that time. These new principles and norms of behavior put an end to murder, robbery, usury, adultery, gambling, drunkenness, live burial of newborn girls, disregard for the rights of women, and all other vices that prevailed in pre-Islamic times.

The religion preached by the Prophet Muhammad profoundly changed moral principles among the Arabs, for it called for the worship of the only God, Allah, and also instilled in people the concept of life after death. This new religion preached the equality of all people, chastity, respectable family relations, respect for the rights of a neighbor, charity, and also defended the rights of women to inherit and own property.
Most of the pagans of Mecca were dissatisfied with the new way of social life, which was preached by the Prophet Muhammad, and began to fight against it. They subjected him to all kinds of persecution, causing him deep physical and mental wounds. They began calling him a “liar”, “madman”, “sorcerer” and “poet”. The nickname “poetmaker” was intended to humiliate him. Thus, the pagans sought to show that they do not recognize the Koran as a Revelation sent down to Muhammad from above. And if before the prophecy of Muhammad people called him “worthy of trust,” then later they awarded him with many bad and offensive nicknames.

The pagans also tortured the followers of the Prophet. And, in the end, Muhammad and his followers were expelled from their hometown of Mecca and were forced to move to the desert area. There they remained for three years, experiencing severe shortages of food and water, as well as many other hardships and suffering.
But despite everything, the Prophet Muhammad continued to preach Islam in Mecca for thirteen years. After this, Almighty God ordered him to move to Medina. This migration from Mecca to Medina, called the Hijra, is considered the starting point of Islamic history and marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. When the Prophet moved to Medina, the inhabitants of this city supported him, and he founded the first Islamic state there.
Medina, the prophet Muhammad was a ruler, judge and military leader. These responsibilities complemented Muhammad's vital role as prophet, messenger, father of his children, and husband of his wives. This point clearly proves the main differences between Muslim and non-Muslim cultures. Thus, Islam is a comprehensive religion that covers all aspects of human life. Therefore, Muslims do not believe in the doctrine of “separation of church and state” common in the West.
Prophet Muhammad provided strategic leadership in the defense of Medina, directing troops and military operations. He fought in many battles against the pagans and other enemies of Islam - twenty-seven military campaigns and sixty military detachments. All these military actions were taken to stop the onslaught of enemies, as well as to ensure the protection of Medina. In addition, these battles were intended to clear the way for the spread of Islam.
As time passed, people realized that they themselves were free to decide whether to choose Islam as a new way of life. After some time, they became convinced of the truth of this new religion, and Islam began to spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Prophet Muhammad sent letters to some of the monarchs of that time, as well as the rulers of neighboring states, urging them to accept Islam, because Islam is a religion without borders, i.e. for all peoples. The Prophet Muhammad sent messages to: Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor; Al-Mukaukas, an Egyptian prince; Askham ibn Al-Abjar, Negus (ruler) of Ethiopia; Khosrow, king of Persia; Al-Munzhir ibn Sawa, king of Bahrain; Jifar and 'Abd, both kings of Oman; and also to Khuza ibn Ali, king of Al-Yamam.

Prophet Muhammad concluded a peace treaty with the people of Mecca for a period of ten years. But the Meccans violated this treaty and united with the Bakr tribe, which killed many members of the Khuzaa tribe (this tribe entered into an alliance with the Prophet Muhammad). At the head of an army of ten thousand, the Prophet set out on a campaign to conquer Mecca. The Meccans realized the futility of resisting the forces of the Prophet and surrendered without a fight.
The conquest of Mecca is considered the greatest triumph among Muslims, since it has the status of a holy city where people make an annual pilgrimage. Mecca is the area where the Kaaba, the Forbidden House of Allah, built by the prophets Abraham and Ismail (peace be upon them) is located. This city was also of great political and commercial importance for all Arab tribes. The Prophet Muhammad himself was a native of Mecca, as were many of his companions. And it was here that all the tribes took up arms against Muhammad. Thus Mecca became a strategic center of resistance to Islam. That is why her conquest was so important. The Prophet was well aware that the capture of Mecca was the best way to spread Islam among the Arabs.

The Prophet Muhammad entered Mecca humbly, completely and completely surrendering to God, and not with the arrogant air of a conqueror who had conquered his worst enemies. Evidence of Muhammad's humility and submission to God was that, upon entering Mecca, he bowed his head so that his forehead almost touched the saddle of his camel. In addition, the Prophet Muhammad forgave all the inhabitants of Mecca and ordered his soldiers not to touch their property and wealth.
Thanks to the Prophet's prudent and tolerant behavior, all the citizens of Mecca converted to Islam. As for the idols surrounding the Kaaba, they had to be destroyed every single one.
Having conquered Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad returned to Medina, where hundreds of people flocked to convert to Islam. All Arab tribes sent delegations to Medina to meet with the Prophet, who would teach them Islam. All these delegations converted to Islam, each on behalf of their tribe. This year became known as the Year of Delegations.
Prophet Muhammad was able to unite all Arab tribes on the basis of Islam. Mutual enmity and contempt reigned between these tribes for a long time. They constantly fought among themselves, and no one in the entire history of the Arabian Peninsula had ever managed to unite them. By establishing an Islamic state, the Prophet Muhammad united the vast majority of the population of the Arabian Peninsula.
Before his death, the Prophet made a pilgrimage to Mecca. He walked around the Kaaba seven times. During this Last Pilgrimage, the Prophet Muhammad delivered his famous Farewell Address. Here is some of what he said then:
“...O people, listen to me, I will explain to you, for, truly, I do not know whether I will meet you in this place after this year.
O people, truly, as this month and day is holy for you, as this city of Mecca is sacred for you, in the same way the life and property of every Muslim should be holy and sacred for you, and so on until you meet your Lord. O Allah, have I brought (Your message) to the attention of people? (If so), be my Witness to this.
And the one who has a thing entrusted by someone (amana), let him return it to the one who entrusted it to him.

O people, truly, Shaitan (Satan) has lost hope that he will be worshiped in your land. However, he is content to subjugate you in all your other actions that you neglect.
O people, truly, believers are brothers, and a person is allowed the property of his brother only according to his own free will. O Allah, have I brought (Your message) to the attention of people? (If so), be my Witness to this.
O people, do not turn into infidels after me, killing and oppressing each other. Indeed, I have truly left among you something by adhering to which you will never go astray - the Book of Allah. O Allah, have I brought (Your message) to the attention of people? (If so), be my Witness to this.
O people, your Lord is one, and your father is one - you are all from Adam, and Adam is from the earth. The most noble of you before Allah is the most God-fearing.
An Arab has no superiority over a foreigner except in fear of God. O Allah, have I brought (Your message) to the attention of people? (If so), be my Witness to this.
And let the one present among you notify the one who is absent.”
In 633 AD. Prophet Muhammad died. He was then sixty-three years old according to the lunar calendar or sixty-one years old according to the solar calendar. Immediately after his death, Abu Bakr addressed the people with the words: “Truly, everyone who worshiped Muhammad knows that Muhammad is dead. But everyone who worships Allah knows that Allah lives, that He does not die.” He then recited the following verses from the Holy Quran:
“Truly, you are mortal (Muhammad), just as they are mortal.”
(Sura 39, verse 30)
“And Muhammad is no more than a messenger, many others preceded him, and if he dies or is destroyed, will you turn back? The apostates will not harm Allah in any way, but Allah will reward the grateful in full.”
(Sura 3, verse 144)
The body of the Prophet was buried in his own house, in the room of his wife ‘Aisha, that is, in the same place where he died. Her room is located near the Prophet's Mosque, which today has expanded so much that the Prophet's house is located inside it. The Prophet's Mosque is located in Medina.
Today this Mosque is visited by millions of Muslims. You can visit it during the pilgrimage to Mecca or at other times.
Less than two centuries after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims spread his Message. Islam spread throughout the world to China in the east and Spain in the west. The impetus for such an amazingly rapid spread of the Muslim faith was the teachings of Islam.
Today there are more than a billion Muslims in the world4, most of whom live in 55 Muslim countries in Asia and Africa. The largest Muslim country currently is Indonesia. In addition, millions of Muslims live in non-Muslim countries: 120 million in India, more than 100 million in China, about 20 million in Russia.

So, currently the four countries with the largest Muslim populations are: Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria. Millions of Muslims also live in non-Muslim countries such as the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, the former Yugoslavia and the United States.

This article presents the biography of the Prophet Muhammad, the most important figure in the Muslim world. It was to him that Allah handed over the Koran - the Holy Scriptures.

The biography of the Prophet Muhammad begins around 570 AD. e., when he was born. This happened in Saudi Arabia (Mecca), in the Quraish tribe (Hashim clan). Abdullah, Muhammad's father, died before he was born. And the mother of the Prophet Muhammad, Amina, passed away when he was only 6 years old. She was the daughter of the leader of the Zurkha clan from the local Quraish tribe. One day, the mother of the Prophet Muhammad decided to go to Medina with her son in order to visit the grave of Abdullah and her relatives. After staying here for about a month, they went back to Mecca. Amina became seriously ill along the way and died in the village of al-Abwa. This happened around 577. Thus, Muhammad remained an orphan.

The childhood of the future prophet

The future prophet was first raised by Abd al-Muttalib, his grandfather, a man of exceptional piety. Then the upbringing was continued by the merchant Abu Talib, Muhammad's uncle. The Arabs at that time were inveterate pagans. However, some adherents of monotheism stood out among them (for example, Abd al-Muttalib). The bulk of the Arabs lived in the territories that originally belonged to them, living a nomadic life. There were few cities. The main ones include Mecca, Taif and Yathrib.

Muhammad becomes famous

From his youth, the Prophet was distinguished by exceptional piety and piety. He, like his grandfather, believed in one God. Muhammad first tended his flocks and then began to take part in the trading affairs of Abu Talib, his uncle. Gradually Muhammad became famous. People loved him and gave him the nickname al-Amin (meaning "trustworthy"). This is what the Prophet Muhammad was called as a sign of respect for his piety, prudence, justice and honesty.

Marriage of Muhammad to Khadija, children of the prophet

Later, Muhammad conducted the trading business of a wealthy widow named Khadija. She invited him after some time to marry her. The couple lived a happy life, despite the significant age difference. They had six children. All the children of the Prophet Muhammad were from Khadija, except Ibrahim, who was born after her death. In those days, polygamy was common among the Arabs, but Muhammad remained faithful to his wife. Other wives of the Prophet Muhammad appeared to him only after the death of Khadija. This also says a lot about him as an honest person. The children of the Prophet Muhammad had the following names: his sons - Ibrahim, Abdullah, Kasim; daughters - Ummukulsum, Fatima, Ruqiya, Zainab.

Prayers in the mountains, Gabriel's first revelation

Muhammad, as usual, retired to the mountains surrounding Mecca and retired there for a long time. His seclusion sometimes lasted several days. He especially liked the cave of Mount Hira, towering majestically above Mecca. It was here that the Prophet Muhammad received his first revelation. A photo of the cave is presented below.

On one of his visits, which took place in 610, when Muhammad was about 40 years old, an amazing event happened to him that completely changed his life. In a vision that came suddenly, the angel Gabriel (Jabrail) appeared before him. He pointed to the words that appeared from outside and ordered Muhammad to pronounce them. He objected, saying that he was illiterate, so he could not read them. However, the angel insisted, and suddenly the meaning of the words was revealed to the prophet. The angel ordered him to learn them and pass them on exactly to the rest of the people.

This was the first revelation of the book known today as the Qur'an (from the Arabic word for "reading"). This night, full of events, fell on the 27th of Ramadan and became known as Laylat al-Qadr. It is the most important event for believers, which marks the history of the Prophet Muhammad. From now on, his life no longer belonged to him. She was given over to the care of God, in whose service he spent the rest of his days, proclaiming his messages everywhere.

Further revelations

The Prophet, receiving revelations, did not always see the angel Gabriel, and when this happened, he appeared in different guises. Sometimes Gabriel appeared before the prophet in human form, which darkened the horizon. Sometimes Muhammad could only catch his gaze on him. The Prophet heard at times only a voice speaking to him. Muhammad sometimes received revelations while deep in prayer. However, in other cases, words appeared completely “randomly” when, for example, the prophet was engaged in daily activities, went for a walk, or listened to a meaningful conversation. At first, Muhammad avoided public sermons. He preferred personal conversation with people.

Condemnation of Muhammad by the people

A special way of performing Muslim prayer was revealed to him, and Muhammad immediately began pious exercises. He did them daily. This caused a whole wave of criticism from those who saw it. Muhammad, having received the highest order to carry out a public sermon, was cursed and ridiculed by the people, who mocked his actions and statements. Many Quraysh, meanwhile, became seriously alarmed, realizing that the persistence with which Muhammad asserted faith in one God could undermine the prestige of polytheism, as well as lead to the decline of idolatry when people began to convert to the faith of Muhammad. Some of the prophet's relatives became his main opponents. They ridiculed and humiliated Muhammad, and also committed evil against converts. There are many examples of abuse and mockery of people who have accepted a new faith.

Migration of the first Muslims to Abyssinia

The short biography of the Prophet Muhammad continued with a move to Abyssinia. Two large groups of early Muslims moved here in search of refuge. Here the Christian negus (king), who was very impressed with their way of life and teaching, agreed to patronize them. The Quraish imposed a ban on all personal, military, business, and trade relations with the Hashim clan. It was strictly forbidden for representatives of this clan to appear in Mecca. Very difficult times came; many Muslims were doomed to severe poverty.

Death of Khadija and Abu Talib, new marriage

The biography of the Prophet Muhammad was marked at this time by other sad events. Khadija, his wife, died in 619. She was his most devoted assistant and supporter. Abu Talib, Muhammad's uncle, died that same year. Namely, he protected him from the fierce attacks of his fellow tribesmen. The Prophet, stricken with grief, left Mecca. He decided to go to Taif and find refuge here, but was rejected. Muhammad's friends betrothed the pious widow Sauda as his wife, who turned out to be a worthy woman and, moreover, a Muslim. Aisha, the young daughter of Abu Bakr, his friend, knew and loved the prophet all her life. And although she was still very young for marriage, according to the customs of that time, she nevertheless entered the family of Muhammad.

The essence of Muslim polygamy

The wives of the Prophet Muhammad are a separate topic. Some people are confused by this part of his biography. The misconception that exists among people who do not understand the reasons for polygamy in the Muslim world should be dispelled. At that time, a Muslim who took several women as wives at once did this out of a sense of compassion, providing them with shelter and his protection. Men were also encouraged to help the spouses of their friends killed in battle and to provide them with separate houses. They should have been treated as close relatives (of course, in the case of mutual love, everything could have been different).

Ascension Night

The biography of the Prophet Muhammad was marked by another important event. In 619, the Prophet had to experience the second amazing night of his life. This is Laylat al-Miraj, the Night of Ascension. It is known that Muhammad was awakened and then transported to Jerusalem on a magical animal. On Mount Zion, over the site of an ancient Jewish temple, the heavens opened. Thus the path opened that led to the throne of the Lord. However, neither he nor the angel Gabriel, who accompanied Muhammad, was allowed to enter the beyond. This is how the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad took place. That night, the rules of prayer were revealed to him, which became the focus of faith, as well as the unshakable basis of life of the entire Muslim world. Muhammad also met other prophets, including Moses, Jesus and Abraham. This wonderful event greatly strengthened and consoled him, adding confidence that Allah had not abandoned him and left him alone with his sorrows.

Preparing to move to Yathrib

The fate of Muhammad from now on changed decisively. He was still ridiculed and persecuted in Mecca, but his message had already been heard by many people outside the city. Several elders of Yathrib persuaded the prophet to leave Mecca and move to their city, where he would be received with honor as a judge and leader. Jews and Arabs lived together in Yasrib, constantly at odds with each other. They hoped that Muhammad would bring them peace. The Prophet immediately advised many of his followers to go to this city while he himself remained in Mecca in order not to arouse suspicion. After all, after Abu Talib died, the Quraish could easily attack the prophet, even kill him, and Muhammad understood perfectly well that sooner or later this was bound to happen.

Muhammad arrives in Yathrib

Some dramatic events accompany the biography of the Prophet Muhammad during his departure. Muhammad managed to miraculously avoid captivity only thanks to his excellent knowledge of the local deserts. The Quraysh almost captured it several times, but Muhammad still managed to reach the outskirts of Yathrib. He was eagerly awaited in this city. When Muhammad arrived, people flocked to him with offers to settle with them. The Prophet, embarrassed by such hospitality, gave his camel the right to choose. The camel decided to stop at a place where dates were drying. The Prophet was instantly given this place to build a house. The city received a new name - Madinat an-Nabi (translated as “city of the prophet”). It is known today in short form as Medina.

Muhammad's reign in Yathrib

Muhammad immediately began preparing a decree, according to which he was proclaimed in this city the supreme head of all clans and tribes that were at war with each other. From now on they had to obey the orders of the prophet. Muhammad established that all citizens were free to practice their religion. They must coexist peacefully without fear of the highest disfavor or persecution. Muhammad asked only for one thing - to unite in order to repel any enemy who dared to attack Medina. The tribal laws of the Jews and Arabs were replaced by the principle of “justice for all,” that is, regardless of religion, skin color and social status.

Life of the Prophet Muhammad in Yathrib

The Prophet, having become the ruler of Medina and having acquired great wealth and influence, never lived like a king. His home consisted of simple clay houses that were built for his wives. The life of the Prophet Muhammad was simple - he never even had his own room. A courtyard with a well was located not far from the houses - a place that has now become a mosque, where devout Muslims gather to this day. Almost the entire life of Muhammad was spent in constant prayer, as well as in the instruction of believers. In addition to the five obligatory prayers performed in the mosque, he devoted a lot of time to solitary prayer, sometimes devoting most of the night to pious reflections. His wives performed night prayer with him, after which they retired to their chambers. And Muhammad continued to pray for many hours, falling asleep briefly towards the end of the night, only to wake up soon for the pre-dawn prayer.

Deciding to return to Mecca

The Prophet, who dreamed of returning to Mecca, decided in March 628 to make his dream come true. He gathered 1,400 of his followers and set off with them, completely unarmed, in robes consisting of only 2 white veils. The followers of the prophet, despite this, were denied entry into the city. Even the fact that Islam was practiced by many citizens of Mecca did not help. The pilgrims, in order to avoid possible clashes, made their sacrifices near Mecca, in an area called Hudaibiya. Muhammad in 629 began plans to conquer Mecca peacefully. The truce concluded at Hudaibiya turned out to be short-lived. The Meccans again attacked a tribe allied with the Muslims in November 629.

Entry of Muhammad into Mecca

At the head of 10 thousand people, the largest army ever to leave Medina, the prophet marched towards Mecca. She settled down near the city, after which Mecca surrendered without a fight. The Prophet Muhammad entered in triumph, went straight to the Kaaba and performed a ritual circuit around it 7 times. After this, the prophet entered the shrine and destroyed all the idols.

Hajat al-Wida, death of Muhammad

Only in 632, in March, the only full-fledged pilgrimage to the Kaaba, known as the Last Pilgrimage (Hajjat ​​al-Wida), was made by the Prophet Muhammad (a photo of the Kaaba in its current form is presented below).

During this pilgrimage, revelations about the rules of the Hajj were sent to him. To this day all Muslims follow them. When, in order to appear before Allah, the prophet reached Mount Arafat, he proclaimed his last sermon. Muhammad was already seriously ill at that time. To the best of his ability, he continued to lead prayers in the mosque. There was no improvement in the illness, and the prophet finally fell ill. He was 63 years old at the time. This ends the biography of the Prophet Muhammad. His followers could hardly believe that he died as a simple man. The story of the Prophet Muhammad teaches us spirituality, faith, and devotion. Today it interests not only Muslims, but also many representatives of other faiths from different parts of the world.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is truly one of the most influential figures in the history of Islam. But few people know what kind of person the great prophet of Islam really was. The facts presented below are the most amazing about the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).

1. He was an orphan

The Prophet's father died before Muhammad was born. According to ancient Arab tradition, little Muhammad was given to be raised by the Bedouins. When Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was 6 years old, his mother died while returning from Medina, where she had gone to visit relatives. After this, his grandfather Abdulmuttalib became his guardian, and Ummu-Ayman looked after him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) later said that she was his second mother. When he was 8 years old, his beloved grandfather also died. According to his grandfather's will, his uncle Abu Talib became his trustee.

1. He married for love

The widow Khadija was 40 years old, the Prophet Muhammad was 25 years old, the Prophet Muhammad worked for Khadija and was escorting trade caravans. Khadija, noticing Muhammad's pious disposition, herself invited him to marry her. Truly, this was great love, based on respect and caused by an attraction to good character. Muhammad was young and could have chosen another young girl, but it was Khadija who gave his heart, and they were married for 24 years until her death. Muhammad yearned for Khadija for 13 years before he left the world himself. His subsequent marriages were driven by personal motivation to help and provide social protection. In addition, Muhammad only fathered children with Khadija.

1. His first reaction to receiving the prophecy is doubt and despair.

At a certain age, Muhammad developed a need for privacy. He was haunted by questions to which he could not find answers. Muhammad retired to the cave of Hira and spent time in meditation. During one of his regular solitudes, he received the first revelation from Allah. He was then 40 years old. In his own words, at that moment the pain was so severe that he thought he was dying. The meeting with the Angel of the Most High became inexplicable for him. Muhammad was gripped by fear and despair, from which he sought peace from his wife Khadija.

1. The Prophet was a reformer

The message of Muhammad, who became a prophet, having acquired the true message and revelation, went against the established norms of Arab society. Muhammad's message was against the corruption and ignorance of Meccan society. The continuing revelations coming to Muhammad demanded social and economic justice, which caused dissent among the elite.

1. Prophet Muhammad advocated peace

The Prophet was subjected to many difficulties throughout his life, including rejection of him as a prophet, the militia of polytheists, and organized oppression of him and his followers. The Prophet never responded to aggression with aggression; he always maintained a sound mind and tolerance, calling for peace. The highest point of the Prophet's love of peace is his sermon delivered on Mount Arafat, where the messenger called on his followers to respect religion and peoples, and not to harm people even with a word.

1. He died without leaving a successor

The Prophet left the world without leaving a successor, since all his children died before him. Under such conditions, many thought that the prophet would clearly define his desire for a successor, but this did not happen.

Saida Hayat

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