Muhammad

About

Religious, political, and social leader regarded by Muslims as the final prophet of Islam. He is believed to have received divine revelations from God (Allah), which were later compiled into the Qur'an, the central religious text of Islam. 

Before fame

He was born in Mecca into the Quraysh tribe and was orphaned at a young age, being raised by his grandfather and later his uncle Abu Talib. Before his prophetic mission, he worked as a merchant and earned a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness, gaining the nickname al-Amin ("the trustworthy").

Trivia

He began receiving revelations around the age of 40, an event that marked the start of Islam and gradually transformed Arabian society. His migration (Hijra) from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE is so significant that it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. 

Family life

He was married to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a successful businesswoman who was his first wife and most notable early supporter. He had several children, including Fatimah, who holds a significant place in Islamic history.

Associated with

He was praised by early European philosophers including Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Carlyle.