Early life
He ﷺ was born in Makkah in the "Year of the Elephant" into the tribe of Quraysh. His father Abdullah died before his birth and his mother Aminah when he was six, so he was raised by his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib and then his uncle Abu Talib. He worked as a shepherd and then a trader, and was so known for honesty that people called him "al-Sadiq al-Amin" — the truthful, the trustworthy. At twenty-five he married Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
Revelation and the call
He used to worship in the cave of Hira, where the angel Jibril brought him the first verses of the Quran when he was forty:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍIqra' bismi rabbika alladhī khalaq. Khalaqal-insāna min 'alaq.
Read in the name of your Lord who created — created man from a clinging clot.
He called people privately for three years, then openly. A few believed while many in Quraysh opposed him; he and his companions endured years of persecution and boycott, and he remained patient without cursing his people.
The migration to Madinah
In 622 CE he migrated with his companion Abu Bakr to Madinah — the event that begins the Hijri calendar. There he joined the emigrants and the people of Madinah in brotherhood, built his mosque, and established a society based on justice and mutual care.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Birth in Makkah | c. 570 CE |
| First revelation in Hira | c. 610 CE |
| Migration to Madinah | 1 AH / 622 CE |
| Battle of Badr | 2 AH |
| Treaty of Hudaybiyyah | 6 AH |
| Opening of Makkah and general amnesty | 8 AH / 630 CE |
| The Farewell Pilgrimage | 10 AH |
| Passing in Madinah | 11 AH / 632 CE |
His character
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍWa innaka la'alā khuluqin 'aẓīm.
And indeed, you are of a great moral character.
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَWa mā arsalnāka illā raḥmatan lil-'ālamīn.
And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds.
Mercy
He was merciful to children, the elderly and animals, and forgave the people of Makkah on the day he entered it, despite all they had done to him.
Humility
He helped at home, mended his own sandals, sat with the poor, and never set himself apart from his companions.
Truthfulness and trust
Even his opponents left their valuables in his care, and he made sure they were returned before he migrated.
Justice
He judged fairly between people, making no difference between rich and poor, relative or stranger.
Frequently asked questions
When was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ born?
In Makkah in the "Year of the Elephant", around 570 CE.
Why do Muslims say "ﷺ" after his name?
It stands for "sallallahu alayhi wa sallam" — may Allah honor him and grant him peace — a prayer Muslims say for him as Allah commanded.
Could the Prophet ﷺ read and write?
No. He was unlettered, which Muslims see as one of the signs that the Quran came from Allah.
Texts and translations are under scholarly review.