Historical Outline:

Life of Muhammad

• 570--Birth of Muhammad into Quraysh, the ruling tribe of Mecca. Islamic tradition relates miraculous signs foretelling Muhammad's future greatness.

  Orphaned and raised by an uncle Abu Talib to be a trader.

• 595-Muhammad marries Khadijah a rich widow several years his senior.
  Earns reputation of "Al-Amin"--the faithful, for his virtue and wisdom.
• 610-"The Night of Power" (believed to be the 26th of Ramadan)--First revelation while meditating in a cave on Mt. Hira outside Mecca.

  Muhammad at Mount Hira

  Voices and visions eventually convince Muhammad and Khadija that they come from a monotheistic God and are collected in the "Qur'an" (="recitations").
• 613-First public preaching. Muhammad wins converts from younger members of less powerful clans, slaves, tribeless persons.

  Early converts include Ali his nephew, Abu-Bakr a wealthy merchant, and Uthman b. Affan who became a caliph. Muhammad soon demands that all people in Mecca join his movement.

  Arouses hostility and persecutions from the Meccans, since he challenged their gods, loose morals, and social inequalities, and condemned their pagan ancestors to hell.

  His condemnation of the Ka'ba cult threatened the lucrative pilgrimage trade.

  Attempts to silence him by theats, bribes and ostracism.

• 619-Death of Khadija and Abu-Talib, Muhammad's protector in his clan.
• 622-Converts from Yathrib offer Muhammad protection and he and about 70 Meccans move there [the 'Hijrah']. Muhammad is invited to unite pagan Arab tribes in Yathrib in conflict with tribes converted to Judaism.

  Muhammad forms the Ummah or tribe of people who accept him as prophet. He becomes the official judge-arbiter of all tribes in Yathrib (Medina).

  Classes of Muslims who made up the community in al-Medinah:

  • Emigrants (Muharijun) -- those who came from Mecca.
  • Helpers (Ansar) -- those who received them in Medinah.
  • Hypocrites -- Medinans who accepted Islam only superficially.
• 624-Ummah begin raids to gain independent economic standing. Ummah defeat large Quraysh force from Mecca.

• Muhammad praying at the Ka'bah

  628-Muhammad marches with 1000 men to take part in hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Signs treaty with Quraysh and withdraws. All pagan idols and shrines in Mecca destroyed.
• 631-Year of deputations. Tribes from Hijaz and Najd come to offer submission and adopt Islam. Expedition of 30,000 men against Banu Ghassan indecisive.

• 632- Muhammad dies after "farewell pilgrimage" to Mecca and "farewell sermon."