Common questions about Muhammad

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was Muhammad born and what was his early family situation?

Muhammad was born in the year 570 as an orphan whose father Abdullah died six months before his birth and whose mother Amina died when he was six years old. He was subsequently placed under the guardianship of his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib and later his uncle Abu Talib.

What event occurred in the cave of Hira in the year 610?

In the year 610 at the age of forty, Muhammad experienced a transformative event in the cave of Hira where the archangel Gabriel appeared to him and commanded him to read verses that formed the opening verses of the Quran. This encounter was so intense that Gabriel reportedly choked him three times until the words were forced into his memory.

Why did Muhammad migrate to Yathrib in the year 622?

Muhammad and his followers migrated to Yathrib in the year 622 to escape an assassination plot orchestrated by the Quraysh. This migration known as the Hijra marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar and transformed Muhammad from a persecuted preacher into a political and military leader.

How did Muhammad die and when did his death occur?

Muhammad fell ill and died on the 8th of June in the year 632 a few months after returning from the Farewell Pilgrimage. He was buried in the house of his wife Aisha which later became part of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Badr in 624?

The Battle of Badr in 624 saw a small Muslim force of three hundred men defeat a Meccan army of over a thousand. Muhammad attributed this victory to divine intervention and the assistance of angels which bolstered the Muslims' morale and established their military credibility.