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Muhammad pbuh
was born in Makkah in the year 570. Since
his father died before his birth and his
mother died shortly thereafter, he was
raised by his uncle who was from the
respected tribe of Quraysh. He was
raised illiterate, unable to read or
write, and remained so till his death.
His people, before his mission as a
prophet, were ignorant of science and most
of them were illiterate. As he grew
up, he became known to be truthful,
honest, trustworthy, generous, and
sincere. He was so trustworthy that
they called him the Trustworthy. Muhammad pbuh
was very religious, and he had long
detested the decadence and idolatry of his
society.
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At
the age of forty, Muhammad pbuh received his
first revelation from God through the Angel
Gabriel. The revelations continued for
twenty-three years, and they are collectively
known as the Quran.
As
soon as he began to recite the Quran and to preach
the truth which God had revealed to him, he and
his small group of followers suffered persecution
from unbelievers. The persecution grew so
fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the
command to emigrate. This emigration from
Makkah to the city of Madinah, some 260 miles to
the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim
calendar.
After
several years, Muhammad pbuh and his
followers were able to return to Makkah, where
they forgave their enemies. Before Muhammad pbuh
died, at the age of sixty-three, the greater part
of the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim, and
within a century of his death, Islam had spread to
Spain in the West and as far East as China. Among
the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of
Islam was the truth and clarity of its doctrine.
Islam calls for faith in only one God, Who
is the only one worthy of worship.
The
Prophet Muhammad pbuh was a perfect example
of an honest, just, merciful, compassionate,
truthful, and brave human being. Though he
was a man, he was far removed from all evil
characteristics and strove solely for the sake of
God and His reward in the Hereafter. Moreover,
in all his actions and dealings, he was ever
mindful and fearful of God.
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