A Simple Guide to ISLAM
Muhammad – The Prophet of Islam
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MUHAMMAD – THE PROPHET OF
ISLAM
Muhammad, may peace be upon him, meaning the praised one was
born in 571 in the North Arabian city of Makkah, which was then
inhabited mainly by the tribe of Quraysh. In those times, this tribe
enjoyed throughout Arabia and the neighbouring countries great
prestige on account of the position of their city as a flourishing
trade and religious centre.
Their caravans, which journeyed to Syria and Yaman, and the most
ancient shrine of Kabah at Makkah annually drew a great number of
Arabian pilgrims. Though most of the Arabians were then idol-
worshippers, several other religions, including Christianity and
Judaism, had followers in Arabia. But none of those other religions
could claim to have been at any time the religion of more than a
negligible minority.
Muhammad’s family belonged to one of the noble clans of
Quraysh—the clan of Banu Hashim. He grew up as an orphan. His
father Abdullah died before he was born and his mother Amina
died when he was six years old. It fell first to his grandfather Abdul
Muttalib to take care of him and then to his uncle Abu Talib. As
from his early youth he impressed his countrymen as a person of
high integrity, and they called him the trustworthy (Al-Ameen).
When Muhammad, may peace be upon him, was twenty five years
old, he married Khadija, a wealthy and noble widow who had
