Muhammad

Muhammad (570–632) is the central figure of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as the final prophet. He transmitted the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam, and established a religious and political community in 7th-century Arabia.

Muhammad (Arabic: Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh), born around 570 in Mecca and deceased in 632 in Medina, is regarded by Muslims as the last prophet in a long line of messengers including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

A member of the Quraysh tribe, he was orphaned at an early age and worked as a merchant. Around the age of 40, he began receiving what he believed to be divine revelations through the angel Gabriel. These messages were later compiled into the Qur’an. His central message emphasized strict monotheism, social justice, and moral accountability.

Facing opposition in Mecca, Muhammad and his followers migrated to Yathrib (later Medina) in 622, an event known as the Hijra, which also marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad assumed roles as a spiritual leader, political authority, and military commander. By the time of his death, most of the Arabian Peninsula had embraced Islam.

His legacy includes:

• the delivery of the Qur’anic message;
• the formation of a unified Muslim community (umma);
• the institution of religious practices;
• and the foundation of a politico-religious model with lasting influence.