Muhammad — Prophet of Islam
Learn about Muhammad — the Prophet of Islam whose revelations, leadership, and legacy created one of the world's great civilizations and reshaped three continents.
Muhammad ibn Abdullah (c. 570–632 CE) is the founder of Islam and, by any measure, one of the most influential individuals in human history. Born in Mecca to the Quraysh tribe, he was orphaned early and raised by his uncle. His early reputation for honesty and reliability earned him the nickname al-Amin ("the trustworthy") and a successful career in the caravan trade.
Around 610 CE, at the age of forty, Muhammad began receiving what he believed were divine revelations from God (Allah) through the angel Gabriel. These revelations, later compiled as the Quran, proclaimed strict monotheism, social justice, and accountability before God. The message challenged Meccan polytheism and the commercial interests tied to it, provoking fierce opposition. In 622, Muhammad and his followers emigrated to Medina — the hijra — where he became both spiritual leader and political ruler of a growing community.
Muhammad's genius lay in creating a community (ummah) bound by shared faith rather than tribal kinship — a revolutionary concept in Arabian society. By the time of his death in 632, he had unified the Arabian Peninsula under Islam. Within a century, his followers had built an empire stretching from Spain to Central Asia. Whether viewed as a prophet, a political leader, or a historical figure, Muhammad's impact on world history is beyond dispute.