"Muhammad" is a common male name for Muslims. For other prominent Muhammads, see Muhammad (disambiguation)

Muhammad  ^listen (Arabic محمد (also transliterated Mohammad, Mohammed, Muhammed, and formerly Mahomet, following the Latin) was an Arab religious and political leader. Non-Muslims consider him the founder of Islam. Muslims view him as the final prophet of Islam, which is considered by Muslims to have existed prior to Muhammad, in the same tradition as Judaism and Christianity. According to traditional Muslim biographers, he was born c. 570 C.E. in Mecca (Makkah) and died June 8, 632 C.E. in Medina (Madinah); both Mecca and Medina are cities in the Arabian Peninsula. Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... It is sometimes difficult to separate concepts in Islam from concepts specific to Arab culture, from the language itself. ... The religion of Islam consists of faith (إيمان, īmān) and practice (دين, dīn). ... There is also a town called Shāhāda, which is now in Nandurbār district (formerly in Dhule district) in the northwest corner of Maharashtra state in India. ... Salah (other terms and spellings exist) (Arabic: صلاه , Old (Quran) Arabic: صلوة ) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. ... Zakât (or Zakaat or Zakah) (Arabic: زكاة, Old (Quran) Arabic: زكوة) is the third of the Five Pillars of Islam. ... Ramadan or Ramadhan (Arabic: رمضان ) is the ninth month of the Islamic year. ... The Hajj or Haj is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (or, Makkah) and is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. ... Jihad (ǧihād جهاد) is an Arabic word which comes from the Arabic root word jahada, which means exerting utmost effort or to strive. The word connotes a wide range of meanings, from an inward spiritual struggle to attain perfect faith, to holy war. ... The term Sixth pillar of Islam refers to an addition to the Five Pillars of Islam; the five pillars of Islam explain the basic tenets of the Muslim faith. ... -1... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... The Shia Imam is considered by the Shia sect of Islam to be the rightful successor to Muhammad, and is similar to the Caliph in Sunni Islam. ... The Mahdi (or Mehdi), in Islamic eschatology, is a man who will come at the end of the times. ... In the Islamic religion, the Sahaba (Asahaaba,الصحابه) are the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Jerusalem (Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yerushalayim; Arabic: القدس al-Quds; see also names of Jerusalem) is an ancient Middle Eastern city of key importance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. ... Najaf (نجف in the Arabic language) is a city in Iraq, about 160 km south of Baghdad, located at 31. ... Karbalā (كربلاء; also transliterated as Kerbala or Kerbela) is a city in Iraq, located about 100 km southwest of Baghdad at 32. ... Kufa (الكوفة al-Kufa in Arabic) is a city in Iraq, about 170 km south of Baghdad, and 10 km northeast of Najaf. ... View of the Imami Shrine Kazimain or Al-Kazimiyah is a town located in Iraq that is now a neighborhood of Baghdad, located in the northern area of the city about 5 km from the center of the city. ... Imam Reza Shrine Tomb of Nader Shah Afshar, a popular tourist attraction in Mashad. ... The two Shiite mosques in Samarra A soldier descends a Minaret in Samarra, Iraq. ... For other uses see Hijra. ... The Islamic calendar or Muslim calendar (also called Hegiran calendar) is the calendar used to date events in predominately Muslim countries, and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Muslim holy days. ... The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of Ramadan. ... Eid ul-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى) is second in the series of Eid festivals that Muslims celebrate. ... For the Canaanite and Ugaritic mother-goddess, please see Asherah. ... Arbaeen (اربعين, Arabic forty) is a Shia religious holiday that occurs forty days after Aashura, the commemoration of the martyrdom by beheading of Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. ... A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... Mosque in Aswan, Egypt, with minarets. ... Mihrab (in Persian مهراب or محراب, in Arabic ألمحراب pl. ... The Kaaba or Kaaba, in the mosque known as Masjid al Haram in Mecca (Makkah), is the holiest place in Islam. ... Islamic architecture is the entire range of architecture that has evolved from Islam as a social, cultural, political and religious phenomenon. ... The müezzin (the word is pronounced this way Turkish, Urdu, etc. ... A Mufti (Arabic: مفتى) is an Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law (Sharia), capable of issuing fataawa (fatwas). See also Grand Mufti Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mufti also refers to ordinary clothes, especially when worn by one who normally wears, or has long worn, a... Mullahs are Islamic clergy who have studied the Quran and the Hadith and are considered experts on related religious matters in this religion. ... Imam is an Arabic word meaning Leader. The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. ... Ayatollah (Arabic: آية الله; Persian: آیت‌الله) is a high title given to major Shia clergymen. ... A marja is the second highest authority on religion and law in Shia Islam after the (Shia) Imam. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; its literal meaning is the recitation and is often called Al Quran Al Karim: The Noble Quran, also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... The Hadith (الحديث, pl. ... The Arabic word Sunnah (سنة) means “way” or “custom”, and therefore, the sunnah of the prophet means “the way of the prophet”, or what is commonly known as Prophet’s traditions. ... Islamic jurisprudence, Fiqh (in Arabic and Persian: فقه) is made up of the rulings of Islamic scholars to direct the lives of the Muslim faithful. ... A fatwa (Arabic: فتوى) plural fataawa, is a legal pronouncement in Islam, issued by a religious law specialist on a specific issue. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ... Madhhab(مذهب) (Madhahib, pl) is an Islamic term that refers to a school of thought or religious jurisprudence (fiqh) within Sunni Islam. ... The term Kalam can refer to: A President of India, Abdul Kalam Islamic theology This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Hanafi is one of the four schools (madhabs) of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. ... Hanbali is one of the four schools (Maddhabs) of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. ... Twelvers or the Ithna Asharia are members of the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. ... It differs from the 3 other schools of law mainly on the sources it uses for derivation of rulings. ... Shafii is one of the four schools of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. ... The Asharite school of early Muslim philosophy were instrumental in drastically changing the direction of Islamic philosophy, separating its development drastically from that of philosophy in the Christian world. ... In Islam, one who follows Abu Mansur Al Maturidis theology, which is a close variant of Ashari school of thought. ... During the early centuries of Islam, Muslim thought encountered a multitude of infuences from various ethnic and philosophical groups that it absorbed. ... Mutazili (Arabic المعتزلة) is an extinct theological school of thought within Islam. ... Shia Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite or Shiite) is the second largest Islamic denomination; some 10-15% of all Muslims are said to follow a Shia tradition. ... Kharijites were members of an Islamic sect in late 7th and early 8th century AD, concentrated in todays southern Iraq. ... Twelvers or the Ithna Asharia are members of the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. ... Introduction The Ismaili (Persian: اسماعیلیان Esmâiliyân) branch of Islam is the second largest Shia community, after the Twelvers who are dominant in Iran. ... Zaidiyah (also: Zaidi, Zaydi, or in the West Fivers) refers to a sect within Shia Islam. ... The Alawites form a Middle Eastern religious group prominent in Syria. ... Alevis are a branch of Islam, related to Shia Islam and practised mainly in (majority Sunni) Turkey, among both Turks and Kurds. ... Al-Ibadhiyah is a form of Islam distinct from the Shiite and Sunni sects. ... In Judaism, the Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ Anointed one, Standard Hebrew Mašíaḥ, Tiberian Hebrew Māšîªḥ) is a human descendant of King David who will rebuild the nation of Israel and bring world peace by restoring the Davidic Kingdom. ... Ahmadi Muslims, or Ahmadiyya, are followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. ... Zikri is a small Islamic sect that is concentrated in Balochistan. ... Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ... Wahhabism (sometimes spelled Wahabbism or Wahabism) is a movement of Islam named after Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab (1703–1792). ... A Salafi (Arabic سلفي lit. ... In modern times there have been a number of liberal movements within Islam (sometimes called in Arabic: الإسلام الإجتهادية or interpretation-based Islam, also الإسلام المتقدمة or Progressive Islam). These generally denote religious outlooks which depend mainly on ijtihad or re-interpretations of scriptures. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with a declared aim of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social and economic condition of the Black man and woman of America and the world. ... The Nation of Gods and Earths, commonly known as the Five Percent Nation or the Five Percenters are an African-American social/ religious movement founded in Harlem in the late 1960s by Clarence 13X. Spawned from a combination of teachings of by Malcolm X and The Nation of Islam, the... The Druze (Arabic: duruzī درزي, pl. ... The room where The Báb declared His mission on May 23, 1844 in His house in Shiraz. ... Known in India as the Lotus Temple, the Baháí House of Worship attracts an average of three and a half million visitors a year. ... The Yezidi or Yazidi (Kurdish; Êzidî) are adherents of a small Middle Eastern religion with ancient origins. ... The Golden Temple is the most important sacred shrine for Sikhs Sikhism is a religion that developed in an environment heavily influenced by conflict between the Hindu and Muslim religions. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... To play the audio file do not click on the -image. ... The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing the Arabic language, which is the language of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. ... There are three factors which may assist to varying degrees in determining whether someone is considered Arab or not: Political: whether they live in a country which is a member of the Arab League (or, more vaguely, the Arab world); this definition covers more than 300 million people. ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... In numerous religions, including Abrahamic religions, Jah religions, Sikhism, and many forms of Paganism, a prophet is an intermediary with a deity, particularly someone who speaks for the deity or interprets the deitys will or mind. ... The Star of David, a common symbol of Jews and Judaism Judaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths. ... Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Arabia redirects here. ...

Summary

Muhammad is said to have been a merchant who travelled widely. Early Muslim sources report that in 611, at about the age of 40, he experienced a vision. He described it to those close to him as a visit from the Angel Gabriel, while he was meditating in a cave near Medina Saudi Arabia, who commanded him to memorize and recite the verses later collected as the Qur'an. He eventually expanded his mission, publicly preaching a strict monotheism and predicting a Day of Judgement for sinners and idol-worshippers — such as his tribesmen and neighbors in Mecca. He did not completely reject Judaism and Christianity, two other monotheistic faiths known to the Arabs; he only claimed to complete and perfect their teachings. He soon acquired both a following and the hatred of his neighbors. In 622 he was forced to flee Mecca and settle in Medina with his followers, where he established legal authority as leader of the first avowedly Muslim community. War between Mecca and Medina followed, in which Muhammad and his followers were eventually victorious. The military organization honed in this struggle was then set to conquering the other pagan tribes of Arabia. By the time of Muhammad's death, he had unified Arabia and launched a few expeditions to the north, towards Syria and Palestine. Alternate meaning: phone number 6-1-1 Events Kalakmul defeats Palenque Cynegils becomes King of Wessex Births Deaths Ceolwulf of Wessex Categories: 611 ... The Annunciation - the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear Jesus (El Greco, 1575) In various human mythologies an angel is believed to be an ethereal creature whose duties are to assist and serve the God or gods of many religious traditions. ... Gabriel delivering the Annunciation. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; its literal meaning is the recitation and is often called Al Quran Al Karim: The Noble Quran, also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... Monotheism (in Greek monon = single and Theos = God) is the belief in a single, universal, all-encompassing deity. ... This article or section should be merged with End times and Last judgment The Last Judgement - Tympanum sculpture at the Abbey Church of Ste-Foy, Conques-en-Rouergue, France In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgement is the ethical-judicial trial, judgement, and punishment/reward of individual humans (assignment to heaven... This page is about sin in the context of religion. ... Idolatry is a term used by many religions to describe the worship of a false deity, which is an affront to their understanding of divinity. ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... The Star of David, a common symbol of Jews and Judaism Judaism is the religion and culture of the Jewish people and one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths. ... Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ... There are three factors which may assist to varying degrees in determining whether someone is considered Arab or not: Political: whether they live in a country which is a member of the Arab League (or, more vaguely, the Arab world); this definition covers more than 300 million people. ... Events Hegira - Muhammad and his followers withdraw from Mecca to Medina - starting year of the Islamic calendar. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Within a European Christian context, paganism is a catch-all term which has come to connote a broad set of not necessarily compatible religious beliefs and practices (see Cult (religion)) of a natural religion (as opposed to a revealed religion of a text), which are usually, but not necessarily, characterized... The term the Middle East sometimes applies to the peninsula alone, but usually refers to the Arabian Peninsula plus the Levant, Mesopotamia, and Iran. ... The term Palestine may refer to: Palestine: A geographical region in the Middle East, centered on Jerusalem. ...

Under Muhammad's immediate successors the Islamic empire expanded into Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain. Later conquests, commercial contact between Muslims and non-Muslims, and missionary activity spread his faith over much of the globe. Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... Mesopotamia ( Greek: Μεσοποταμία, translated from Old Persian Miyanrudan the Land between the Rivers or the Aramaic name Beth-Nahrin two rivers) is a region of Southwest Asia. ... Iran (Persian: ایران) is a Middle Eastern country located in Southwest Asia. ... (see also North Africa, Tamazgha, Arab Maghreb Union, Mashreq) The Maghreb (or Moghreb), meaning west in Arabic, is the region of the continent of Africa north of the Sahara desert and west of the Nile - specifically, the modern countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and to a lesser extent Libya and...

How do we know about Muhammad?

The sources available to us for information about Muhammad are the Qur'an, the sira biographies, and the hadith collections. While the Qur'an is not a biography of Muhammad, it does provide some information about his life. The earliest surviving biographies are the Life of the Apostle of God, by Ibn Ishaq (d. 768), edited by Ibn Hisham (d. 833); and al-Waqidi's (d. 822) biography of Muhammad. Ibn Ishaq wrote his biography some 120 to 130 years after Muhammad's death. The third source, the hadith collections, like the Qur'an, are not a biography per se. They are stories of the words and actions of Muhammad and his companions. The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; its literal meaning is the recitation and is often called Al Quran Al Karim: The Noble Quran, also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... This article is not about the group of British engineering companies called Sira; see Sira (group of British companies). ... The Hadith (الحديث, pl. ... Ibn Ishaq (or ibn Ishaq), (d. ... Events Charles (Charlemagne) and Carloman divide the Frankish kingdom after the death of their father Pippin the Short. ... Ibn Hisham, Abu Muhammad Abd al-Malik (d. ... Events End of the reign of caliph Al-Mamun Nimmyo succeeds Junna as emperor of Japan Creation of Great Moravia Births Deaths Categories: 833 ... al-Waqidi الواقدي (d. ... Events Abd-ar-rahman II becomes ruler of Umayyad Spain. ...

Some skeptical scholars (Goldziher, Schacht, Wansbrough, Cook, Crone, Rippin, Berg, and others) have raised doubts about the reliability of these sources, especially the hadith collections. They argue that by the time the oral traditions were being collected, the Muslim community had fractured into rival sects and schools of thought. Each sect and school had its own sometimes conflicting traditions of what Muhammad and his companions had done and said. Traditions multiplied, and Muslim scholars made a strenuous effort to weed out what they felt were spurious stories. Traditionalists rely on their efforts; the skeptics feel that the question must be revisited, using modern methods. Ignaz Goldziher (June 22, 1850 - 1921), was a Jewish Hungarian orientalist. ... John Wansbrough was an Illinois-born historian (d. ...

Muslim and non-Muslim scholars alike agree that there are many inauthentic traditions concerning the life of Muhammad in the hadith collections. (Indeed, most of these traditions are acknowledged by Muslim clerical authorities to be weak; only a few hadith collections are considered sahih, or reliable.)

However, even a skeptic would be likely to accept the historicity of the biographical material about Muhammad presented in the Summary above. Traditionalists, both Muslim and non-Muslim, paint a much more detailed picture of Muhammad's life, as described below.

Muhammad's life according to Sira

Muhammad's genealogy

According to tradition, Muhammad traced his genealogy back as far as Adnan, whom the northern Arabs believed to be their common ancestor. Adnan in turn is said to be a descendant of Ismaeel (Ishmael), son of Ibrahim (Abraham) though the exact genealogy is disputed. The Prophet's genealogy up to Adnan is as follows: Genealogy is the study and tracing of family pedigrees. ... Adnan is the traditional ancestor of the northern (or musta`ribah) Arabs, said to be a descendant of Ishmael through his son Kedar. ... There are three factors which may assist to varying degrees in determining whether someone is considered Arab or not: Political: whether they live in a country which is a member of the Arab League (or, more vaguely, the Arab world); this definition covers more than 300 million people. ... For Daniel Quinns book Ishmael, see Ishmael (novel) Ishmael in Islam Arabic إسماعيل , In the Quran, Ishmael is known as the first-born son of Abraham from Hagar and an appointed Prophet of God (also mentioned in the Bible). ... Abraham (אַבְרָהָם Father/Leader of many, Standard Hebrew Avraham, Tiberian Hebrew ʾAḇrāhām; Arabic ابراهيم Ibrāhīm) is the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. ...

Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib (Shaiba) ibn Hashim (Amr) ibn Abd Manaf (al-Mughira) ibn Qusai (Zaid) ibn Kilab ibn Murra ibn Ka`b ibn Lu'ay ibn Ghalib ibn Fahr (Quraish) ibn Malik ibn an-Nadr (Qais) ibn Kinana ibn Khuzaimah ibn Mudrikah (Amir) ibn Ilyas ibn Mudar ibn Nizar ibn Ma`ad ibn Adnan. (ibn = "son of" in Arabic; alternate names of people with two names are given in brackets.) Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib was the father of Muhammad. ... Hashim (died ca. ... Quraish (sura) is also the name of a Surah in the Quran. ... Adnan is the traditional ancestor of the northern (or musta`ribah) Arabs, said to be a descendant of Ishmael through his son Kedar. ...

Childhood

Muhammad was born into a well-to-do family settled in the northern Arabian town of Mecca. Some calculate his birthdate as April 20, 570 (Shia muslims believe it to be April 26) , and some as 571; tradition places it in the Year of the Elephant. Muhammad's father, Abdullah, had died before he was born and the young boy was brought up by his paternal grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, of the tribe of Quraysh. Tradition says that as an infant, he was placed with a Bedouin wetnurse, Halima, as desert life was believed to be safer and healthier for children. At the age of six Muhammad lost his mother Amina, and at the age of eight his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib. Muhammad now came under care of his uncle Abu Talib, the new leader of the Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe, the most powerful in Mecca. This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... Events First mention of the Spear of Destiny (approximate date). ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... April 26 is the 116th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (117th in leap years). ... Events The Monophysites again reject the Council of Chalcedon, causing another schism. ... The Year of the Elephant (عام الفيل `Âm al-Fîl) is estimated at 570 AD. According to early Islamic historians such as Ibn Ishaq, the Ethiopian governor of Yemen, Abraha, had built a great church in Sanaa intended to lure the Arabs away from the Kaaba; a man of Quraysh... Quraish (sura) is also the name of a Surah in the Quran. ... A dune in the Egyptian desert Desert in California In geography, a desert is a landscape form or region that receives little precipitation. ... Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib (d. ... Hashim (died ca. ...

Mecca was a thriving commercial center, due in great part to a stone temple called the Ka'aba that housed many different idols. Merchants from different tribes would visit Mecca during the pilgrimage season, when all inter-tribal warfare was forbidden and they could trade in safety. The Kaaba or Kaaba, in the mosque known as Masjid al Haram in Mecca (Makkah), is the holiest place in Islam. ...

As a teenager Muhammad began accompanying his uncle on trading journeys to Syria. He thus became well-travelled and knowledgeable as to foreign ways.

Middle years

One of Muhammad's employers was Khadijah, a rich widow then 40 years old. The young 25-year old Muhammad so impressed Khadijah that she offered him marriage about 595. He became a wealthy man by this marriage. By Arab custom minors did not inherit, so Muhammad had received no inheritance from either his father or his grandfather. Khadija (Arabic: خديجه ) was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad and the first female convert to Islam, the new religion he had begun to preach. ... Events The first mention of the state of Karantania on monuments. ... There are three factors which may assist to varying degrees in determining whether someone is considered Arab or not: Political: whether they live in a country which is a member of the Arab League (or, more vaguely, the Arab world); this definition covers more than 300 million people. ...

The sira records that Khadijah bore Muhammad five children, one son and four daughters. Some historians argue that some of the daughters were by her first husband, whereas others insist that all were her daughters by Muhammad. All five children were born before Muhammad started preaching about Islam. His son Qasim died at the age of two. Muhammad was nicknamed Abul Qasim, meaning the father of Qasim. The four daughters were Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah. This article is not about the group of British engineering companies called Sira; see Sira (group of British companies). ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

Events First mention of the Spear of Destiny (approximate date). ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... Events First mention of the Spear of Destiny (approximate date). ... Events First mention of the Spear of Destiny (approximate date). ... Events Births Deaths Categories: 576 ... Events Tiberius II Constantine succeeds Justin II as Byzantine Emperor Births Deaths July 30 - Jacob Baradaeus, bishop of Edessa October 5 - Justin II, Roman emperor Northern Zhou Wu Di, Chinese ruler John Malalas, Byzantine chronicler Categories: 578 ... Categories: 583 ... Events The first mention of the state of Karantania on monuments. ... Khadija (Arabic: خديجه ) was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad and the first female convert to Islam, the new religion he had begun to preach. ... Events October 4 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas and becomes Emperor. ... Events October 4 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas and becomes Emperor. ... The Quran identifies a number of men as prophets of Islam. ... For alternate meanings, see Number 613. ... Events The Persian Empire under general Shahrbaraz captures and sacks Jerusalem; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is damaged by fire and the True Cross is captured. ... Events The Edict of Paris grants extensive rights to the Frankish nobility. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Events The Persians capture Alexandria. ... Banu Hashim is a clan in the Quraish tribe. ... Events End of the Sui Dynasty and beginning of the Tang Dynasty in China. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Events December 23 - Boniface V becomes Pope. ... Events Medina is converted to Islam. ... Events Hegira - Muhammad and his followers withdraw from Mecca to Medina - starting year of the Islamic calendar. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Events Hegira - Muhammad and his followers withdraw from Mecca to Medina - starting year of the Islamic calendar. ... Events Hegira - Muhammad and his followers withdraw from Mecca to Medina - starting year of the Islamic calendar. ... For other uses see Hijra. ... Events Hegira - Muhammad and his followers withdraw from Mecca to Medina - starting year of the Islamic calendar. ... Events Clotaire II, king of the Franks, makes his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia Samo, reputedly a Frankish merchant, governs in Moravia, Slovakia and Lower Austria. ... The Constitution of Medina is the earliest known written constitution. ... Events Justus becomes Archbishop of Canterbury. ... The Battle of Badr was a seminal event in the formative days of Islam. ... Events Pope Boniface V succeeded by Pope Honorius I Births Adamnan, abbot of Iona Empress Wu Zetian of China Deaths Pope Boniface V Categories: 625 ... The victory of Badr alerted to Islam all the hostile forces in Arabia. ... Events Pope Boniface V succeeded by Pope Honorius I Births Adamnan, abbot of Iona Empress Wu Zetian of China Deaths Pope Boniface V Categories: 625 ... Events July 2 - In the early morning, Li Shimin, the future Emperor Tang Taizong of China, eliminated two of his brothers, Li Yuanji and the crown prince Li Jiancheng in a coup détat at the Xuanwu Gate in Changan. ... Events April 11 - Paulinus, a Roman missionary, baptizes King Edwin of Deira December 12 - Battle of Nineveh: Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians Births Deaths November 10 - Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury Categories: 627 ... Events April 11 - Paulinus, a Roman missionary, baptizes King Edwin of Deira December 12 - Battle of Nineveh: Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians Births Deaths November 10 - Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury Categories: 627 ... The Battle of the Ditch was a battle in which Muslim forces successfully defended Medina in 627 AD against the Quraysh . ... Events April 11 - Paulinus, a Roman missionary, baptizes King Edwin of Deira December 12 - Battle of Nineveh: Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians Births Deaths November 10 - Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury Categories: 627 ... Events April 11 - Paulinus, a Roman missionary, baptizes King Edwin of Deira December 12 - Battle of Nineveh: Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians Births Deaths November 10 - Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury Categories: 627 ... Events April 11 - Paulinus, a Roman missionary, baptizes King Edwin of Deira December 12 - Battle of Nineveh: Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians Births Deaths November 10 - Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury Categories: 627 ... Events Khusro II of Persia overthrown Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace Brahmagupta writes the Brahmasphutasiddhanta Births Deaths Empress Suiko of Japan Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards Categories: 628 ... Treaty of Hudaybiyya In the name of Allah. ... Events Khusro II of Persia overthrown Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace Brahmagupta writes the Brahmasphutasiddhanta Births Deaths Empress Suiko of Japan Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards Categories: 628 ... Kaba is: a different orthography for a holy place of Islam, see Kaaba; a town in Hungary, see Kaba (Hungary); a genre of instrumental music from Albania, see Kaba (music). ... Events Khusro II of Persia overthrown Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace Brahmagupta writes the Brahmasphutasiddhanta Births Deaths Empress Suiko of Japan Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards Categories: 628 ... Events Jerusalem reconquered by Byzantine Empire from the Persian Empire (September). ... The Hajj or Haj is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (or, Makkah) and is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. ... Events Jerusalem reconquered by Byzantine Empire from the Persian Empire (September). ... The Byzantine Empire is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Events Muhammad captures Mecca (January). ... Events Muhammad captures Mecca (January). ... Events Muhammad captures Mecca (January). ... Events Muhammad captures Mecca (January). ... Events Battle of Wogastisburg between king Samo of Karantania and Dagobert I of Austrasia Births Deaths Categories: 631 ... Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ... The Ghassanid kingdom was a Christian Arab kingdom who immigrated from Yemen to the north of Arabia. ... Tabuk (also spelled Tabouk) is the capital city of the Tabuk province in north western Saudi Arabia. ... Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ... The Hajj or Haj is the Pilgrimage to Mecca (or, Makkah) and is the fifth of the Five Pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. ... Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ... Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ... Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ...

Beginning of his prophetic career

Muhammad had a reflective turn of mind and routinely spent nights in a cave near Mecca in meditation and thought. Around the year 610, while meditating, Muhammad had a vision of the angel Gabriel and heard a voice saying to him in rough translation "Read in the name of your Lord the Creator. He created man from something which clings. Read and your Lord is the Most Honored. He taught man with the pen; taught him all that he knew not." (See surat Al-Alaq for a fuller account.) Events October 4 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas and becomes Emperor. ... Gabriel delivering the Annunciation. ... Surat al-Alaq, Iqra, or al-Qalam (The Clot, Read, or The Pen) is the 96th sura of the Quran. ...

The first vision of Gabriel disturbed Muhammad, but his wife Khadijah reassured him that it was a true vision and became his first follower. She was soon followed by his ten-year-old cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib and his closest friend Abu Bakr. Imaginary portrait of Ali ibn Abi Talib, by Iranian artist. ... Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ...

Until his death, Muhammad received frequent revelations, although there was a relatively long gap after the first revelation. This silence worried him, until he received surat ad-Dhuha, whose words provided comfort and reassurance. See also: Sura (disambiguation). ... Surat Ad-Dhuha (The Morning Hours, Morning Bright) is the 93rd sura of the Quran with 11 ayat. ...

Around 613, Muhammad began preaching in public. Most of those who heard his message ignored it. A few mocked him. Some, however, believed and joined his small flock. For alternate meanings, see Number 613. ... In the Islamic religion, the Sahaba (Asahaaba,الصحابه) are the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. ...

Rejection

After Muhammad gained increasing criticism and scorn from the Jewish tribes, a friendship that he cherished highly, suddenly he decided on shifting the qibla (direction for prayer) from Jerusalem to a site more close to home for the Arab people. As the ranks of Muhammad's followers swelled, he became a threat to the local tribes and the rulers of the city. Their wealth, after all, rested on the Ka'aba, a sacred house of idols. If they threw out their idols, as Muhammad preached, there would be no more pilgrims, no more trade, and no more wealth. Muhammad's own tribe, the Quraysh, was the most incensed, as they were the guardians of the Ka'aba. Muhammad and his followers were persecuted. Some of them fled to Abyssinia and founded a small colony there. At prayer in Damascus Qibla is an Arabic word referring to the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays. ... Jerusalem (Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yerushalayim; Arabic: القدس al-Quds; see also names of Jerusalem) is an ancient Middle Eastern city of key importance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. ... Quraish (sura) is also the name of a Surah in the Quran. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

Several suras and parts of suras are said to date from this time, and reflect its circumstances: see eg al-Masadd, al-Humaza, parts of Maryam and al-Anbiya, al-Kafirun, and Abasa. It was during this period that the episode known as The Satanic Verses may have occurred. It is said that Muhammad was briefly tempted to relax his condemnation of Meccan polytheism and buy peace with his neighbors, but later recanted his words and repented (see the article on The Satanic Verses). The incident is reported in only a few sources, and Muslims disagree as to its authenticity. See also: Sura (disambiguation). ... The 111th Sura of the Quran. ... Surat Al-Humaza (The Traducer, The Gossipmonger) is the 4th sura of the Quran, with 9 ayat. ... Sura Maryam (Mary) is the 19th sura of the Quran. ... Surat al-Anbiya (The Prophets) is the 21st sura of the Quran. ... The 109th Sura of the Quran. ... Surat Abasa (He Frowned) is the 80th sura of the Quran with 42 ayat. ... The Satanic Verses is also a novel by Salman Rushdie; see: The Satanic Verses (novel) The term Satanic Verses was coined by the historian Sir William Muir to refer to several verses alleged to have been part of an early version of the Quran and later expunged. ... The Satanic Verses is also a novel by Salman Rushdie; see: The Satanic Verses (novel) The term Satanic Verses was coined by the historian Sir William Muir to refer to several verses alleged to have been part of an early version of the Quran and later expunged. ...

In 619, both Muhammad's wife Khadijah and his uncle Abu Talib died; it was known as "the year of mourning." Muhammad's own clan withdrew their protection of him. Muslims patiently endured hunger and persecution. It was a bleak time. Events December 23 - Boniface V becomes Pope. ...

About 620, he announced that he had gone on a heavenly journey - the Isra and Miraj - further alienating his enemies. Events Medina is converted to Islam. ... Isra is an Arabic word referring to what Muslims regard as Muhammads miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem - specifically, to the site of Masjid al-Aqsa - alluded to in Surat Al-Isra 1: سبحان الذي أسرى بعبده ليلاً من المسجد الحرام إلى المسجد الأقصى الذي باركنا حوله Glory...

Hijra

In 622, facing renewed persecution and death threats, Muhammad and his Meccan followers left Mecca for Medina, where he had gained many converts. By breaking the link with his own tribe Muhammad demonstrated that tribal and family loyalties were insignificant compared to the bonds of Islam, a revolutionary idea in the tribal society of Arabia. This Hijra or emigration (traditionally translated into English as "flight") marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. The Muslim calendar counts dates from the Hijra, which is why Muslim dates have the suffix AH (After Hijra). Events Hegira - Muhammad and his followers withdraw from Mecca to Medina - starting year of the Islamic calendar. ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... For other uses see Hijra. ... The Islamic calendar or Muslim calendar (also called Hegiran calendar) is the calendar used to date events in predominately Muslim countries, and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Muslim holy days. ...

People in Medina hoped that Muhammad would unite their faction-ridden city. Muhammad is said to have drafted a document now known as the Constitution of Medina (circa 622-623), which laid out the terms on which the different factions could co-exist. This early tradition of toleration was one reason for the stability of the later Muslim empire. The Constitution of Medina is the earliest known written constitution. ... Events Hegira - Muhammad and his followers withdraw from Mecca to Medina - starting year of the Islamic calendar. ... Events Clotaire II, king of the Franks, makes his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia Samo, reputedly a Frankish merchant, governs in Moravia, Slovakia and Lower Austria. ...

War

Relations between Mecca and Medina rapidly worsened (see surat al-Baqara.) Meccans confiscated all the property that the Muslims had left in Mecca. In Medina, Muhammad signed treaties of alliance and mutual help with neighboring tribes. This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Surat al-Baqarah (the Cow) is the second, and the longest, sura of the Quran, with 286 ayat. ...

In March of 624, Muhammad led some 300 warriors in a raid (http://www.geocities.com/sunrisinginwest/caravans.html) on a Meccan merchant caravan. The Meccans successfully defended the caravan and then decided to teach the Medinans a lesson. They sent a small army against Medina. Events Justus becomes Archbishop of Canterbury. ...

On March 15, 624 near a place called Badr, the Meccans and the Muslims clashed. Though outnumbered 800 to 300 in the battle, the Muslims met with success, killing at least 45 Meccans and taking 70 prisoners for ransom; only 14 Muslims died. March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ... Events Justus becomes Archbishop of Canterbury. ... The Battle of Badr was a seminal event in the formative days of Islam. ...

Muhammad's rule consolidated

To the Muslims, the victory in Badr appeared as a divine vindication of Muhammad's prophethood, and he and all the Muslims rejoiced greatly. Following this victory, after minor skirmishes, the victors expelled a local Jewish clan, the Banu Qainuqa. Virtually all the remaining Medinans converted and Muhammad became de facto ruler of the city. The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without...

After Khadija's death, Muhammad had married again, to Aisha daughter of his friend Abu Bakr (who would later emerge as the first leader of the Muslims after Muhammad's death). In Medina, he married Hafsah, daughter of Umar (who would eventually become Abu Bakr's successor). These marriages sealed relations between the prophet and his top-ranking followers. Ayesha is sometimes used as a womans name. ... Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ... Umar ibn al-Khattab, al-Farooq (in Arabic, عمر بن الخطاب) (c. ...

Muhammad's two surviving daughters also married: Fatima married Ali and Umm Kulthum married Uthman. Each of these men, in later years, would emerge as successors to Muhammad as political leader of the Muslims. Thus all four of the so-called "rightly-guided" caliphs, or successors to the Prophet, were linked to Muhammad by blood, marriage, or both. (But see Caliph for more information on the controversy regarding the question of who the first Caliph was.) This article needs cleanup. ... Ali ibn Abi Talib (علي بن أبي طالب) (c. ... Uthman ibn Affan (Arabic: عثمان بن عفان) (c. ... Anglicized/Latinized version of the Arabic word خليفة or Khalifah, is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ...

Continued warfare

In 625 the Meccan general Abu Sufyan marched on Medina with 3,000 men. The ensuing Battle of Uhud took place on March 23, ending in a stalemate. The Meccans claimed victory, but they had lost too many men to pursue the Muslims into Medina. Events Pope Boniface V succeeded by Pope Honorius I Births Adamnan, abbot of Iona Empress Wu Zetian of China Deaths Pope Boniface V Categories: 625 ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... Abu Sufiyan ibn Harb was the leader of the Banu Abd Shams clan of the Quraish tribe, and was the chieftain of the entire Quraish tribe, making him one of, if not the most powerful men in Mecca during the lifetime of Muhammad. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... The victory of Badr alerted to Islam all the hostile forces in Arabia. ... March 23 is the 82nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (83rd in Leap years). ...

In April 627 Abu Sufyan led another strong force against Medina. He was aided by sympathizers among the Medinans, the Jewish tribe of the Banu Qurayza. But Muhammad had dug a trench around Medina and successfully defended the city. This was the Battle of the Trench. April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... Events April 11 - Paulinus, a Roman missionary, baptizes King Edwin of Deira December 12 - Battle of Nineveh: Byzantine Emperor Heraclius defeats the Persians Births Deaths November 10 - Justus, Archbishop of Canterbury Categories: 627 ... The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... The Battle of the Ditch was a battle in which Muslim forces successfully defended Medina in 627 AD against the Quraysh . ...

After the battle, all the Banu Qurayza adult males (including boys who had reached puberty), as well as one woman, were beheaded by the order of Saad ibn Muadh, an arbiter chosen by Banu Qurayza. The remaining women and children were taken as slaves or for ransom. All the property from the tribe was then divided among the Muslims. Beheading. ...

Following the Battle of the Trench, the Muslims were able, through conquest and conversion, to extend their rule to many of the neighboring cities and tribes.

The conquest of Mecca

By 628, the Muslim position was strong enough that Muhammad dared to return to Mecca, this time as a peaceful pilgrim. In March 628 he set out for Mecca, followed by 1,600 men. After some negotiation, a treaty was signed at the border town of al-Hudaybiyah. Muhammad would not be allowed to finish his pilgrimage that year. Hostilities would cease and the Muslims would have permission to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in the following year. Events Khusro II of Persia overthrown Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace Brahmagupta writes the Brahmasphutasiddhanta Births Deaths Empress Suiko of Japan Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards Categories: 628 ... This article is about the holy city in Saudi Arabia. ... Events Khusro II of Persia overthrown Pippin of Landen becomes Mayor of the Palace Brahmagupta writes the Brahmasphutasiddhanta Births Deaths Empress Suiko of Japan Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards Categories: 628 ...

The agreement broke down; war broke out again. In 630, Muhammad marched on Mecca with an enormous force, said to number 10,000 men. Faced with inevitable disaster, the Meccans submitted without a fight. Muhammad in turn promised a general amnesty (from which some people were specifically excluded). Most Meccans converted to Islam and Muhammad destroyed the idols in the Kaaba. Henceforth the pilgrimage would be a Muslim pilgrimage and the shrine a Muslim shrine. Events Muhammad captures Mecca (January). ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... The Kaaba or Kaaba, in the mosque known as Masjid al Haram in Mecca (Makkah), is the holiest place in Islam. ...

Thus eight years after he had fled Mecca, Muhammad entered the city as a conqueror.

Unification of Arabia

After the return to Mecca, Muhammad defeated an alliance of enemy tribes at Hunayn. The Muslims were clearly the dominant force in Arabia, and most of the remaining tribes and states hastened to submit to Muhammad.

Muhammad as warrior

For most of the 63 years of his life, Muhammad was a merchant, then a preacher. He took up the sword late in his life. He was a warrior for only ten years.

Much criticism has been leveled at Muhammad for engaging in caravan raids and wars of conquest. Critics say that his wars went well beyond self-defense. Muslim commentators, however, argue that he fought only to defend his community against the Meccans, and that he insisted on humane rules of warfare. For further discussion, see Muhammad as warrior. Muhammad (570-632 C.E.) the Arabian merchant believed by Muslims to be the final prophet of Islam, was a warrior only during the last ten years of his life. ...

Muhammad's family life

From 595 to 619, Muhammad had only the one wife, Khadijah. After her death he married Aisha, then Hafsa. Later he was to marry more wives, for a total of eleven wives (nine or ten living at the time of his death). Some say that he also married Maria al-Qibtiyya, but other sources deny it. Events The first mention of the state of Karantania on monuments. ... Events December 23 - Boniface V becomes Pope. ... Khadija (Arabic: خديجه ) was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad and the first female convert to Islam, the new religion he had begun to preach. ...

• Khadija
• Sawada bint Zama
• Aisha
• Hafsa bint Umar
• Zaynab bint Khuzayma
• Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya
• Zaynab bint Jahsh
• Juwayriya bint al-Harith
• Umm Habibah Ramla
• Safiyya bint Huyayy
• Maymuna bint al-Harith
• Maria al-Qibtiyya

Khadija was Muhammad's first wife and the mother of the only child to survive him, his daughter Fatima. He married his other wives after the death of Khadija. Some of these women were recent widows of battles. Others were daughters of his close allies or tribal leaders. One of the later unions resulted in a son, but the child died when he was ten months old. Khadija (Arabic: خديجه ) was the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad and the first female convert to Islam, the new religion he had begun to preach. ... Sawda bint Zama was the wife of prophet Muhammad. ... Ayesha is sometimes used as a womans name. ... Hafsa bint Umar was the daughter of Umar ibn al-Khattab and wife of Muhammad. ... Zaynab bint Khuzayma (Arabic: زينب ) was married to prophet Muhammad soon after she had been made a widow when her husband was killed at the battle of Badr. ... Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya was a wife of prophet Muhammad. ... Zaynab bint Jahsh (Arabic: زينب بنت جحش ) was a wife of prophet Muhammad. ... Juwayriyya bint Harith was married to prophet Muhammad when he was fifty-eight years old and she was twenty. ... Umm Habiba Ramla was married to prophet Muhammad one year after the Hijra. ... Safiyya bint Huyayy was married to the Prophet Muhammad when Muhammad was sixty years old and she was seventeen. ... Maymuna bint al-Harith married the Prophet Muhammad when Muhammad was sixty years old and she was thirty six. ... Maria al-Qibtiyya (alternatively, especially in non-Arabic traditions, Maria Qupthiya), or Maria the Copt, was a Coptic slave girl sent to the Prophet Muhammad by the king of Egypt. ... Fatima was originally an Arabic name, but is sometimes used by Catholics in connection with a Portuguese apparition of the Virgin Mary. ...

His marriage to Aisha is often criticized today citing traditional sources that state she was only nine years old when he consummated the marriage. (See Aisha for a discussion of other, conflicting, traditions). Critics also question his marriage to his adopted son's ex-wife, Zaynab bint Jahsh, and his alleged violation of the Qur'anic injunction against marrying more than four wives. For further information on Muhammad's family life and consideration of these criticisms, see Muhammad's marriages. Ayesha is sometimes used as a womans name. ... Ayesha is sometimes used as a womans name. ... Zaynab bint Jahsh (Arabic: زينب بنت جحش ) was a wife of prophet Muhammad. ... Muhammad (570-632 C.E.) was the founder of the religion of Islam; he unified the tribes and city states of Arabia. ...

Companions of Muhammad

See main article Sahaba

The term companions refers to anyone who met three criteria. First, he must have been a contemporary of Muhammad. Second, he must have seen or heard Muhammad speak on at least one occasion. Third, he must have converted to Islam. Companions are responsible for the transmission of Hadith, as each Hadith must have as its first transmitter a companion. The first four companions listed below were also the first four leaders (caliph) of the Muslim community after Muhammad's death. There were many other companions in addition to the ones listed here. In the Islamic religion, the Sahaba (Asahaaba,الصحابه) are the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. ... The Hadith (الحديث, pl. ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ...

• Abu Bakr
• Umar
• Uthman
• Ali
• Abdullah ibn Abbas
• Zubair
• Sa'eed
• Talha
• Aamir
• Abdulrahman
• Sa'd
• Sad Ibn Abi Waqqas
• Salman the Persian
• Hamza

Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ... Umar ibn al-Khattab, al-Farooq (in Arabic, عمر بن الخطاب) (c. ... Uthman ibn Affan (Arabic: عثمان بن عفان) (c. ... Imaginary portrait of Ali ibn Abi Talib, by Iranian artist. ... Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf, the companion of Prophet Muhammad. ... Salman the Persian (Salman e Farsi) was one of Muhammads companions. ... The glottal stop or voiceless glottal plosive is a type of consonantal sound, used in many spoken languages. ...

The death of Muhammad

After a short illness (possibly malaria), Muhammad died on a Monday around noon of 8 June 632, in the city of Medina at the age of 63. Malaria - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ...

Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina. The mosque now contains the tombs of Muhammad and the first two caliphs, Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab

According to Shi'a Islam, the prophet had introduced his son-in-law Ali as his successor, in a public sermon at Ghadir Khom. But Abu Bakr and Umar intrigued to oust Ali and make Abu Bakr the leader or caliph. The majority Sunni sect dispute this, and say that the leaders of the community conferred and freely chose Abu Bakr, who was pre-eminent among the followers of Muhammad. However it happened, Abu Bakr became the new leader. He spent much of his short reign suppressing rebellious tribes in the Ridda Wars. The mosque also has a tomb where Muhammad is buried The copyright status of this work is difficult or impossible to determine. ... The mosque also has a tomb where Muhammad is buried The copyright status of this work is difficult or impossible to determine. ... Masjid al-Nabawi or Mosque of the Prophet is the second holiest mosque in the Islamic world. ... This article is about the Saudi city of Medina. ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ... Umar ibn al-Khattab, al-Farooq (in Arabic, عمر بن الخطاب) (c. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... Ghadir Khum is the famous incident which the Shias cite as the proof of Ali’s right to succeed the Prophet Muhammad after his demise. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ...

With unity restored in Arabia, the Muslims looked outward and commenced the conquests that would eventually unite the Middle East under the caliphs.

Muhammad's descendants

Muhammad was survived only by his daughter Fatima and her children. (Some say that his daughter Zainab had a daughter, Amma or Umama, who survived him as well.) This article needs cleanup. ...

In Shi'a Islam, it is believed that Fatima's husband 'Ali and his descendants are the rightful leaders of the faithful. The Sunni do not accept this view, but they still honor the descendents of the prophet. Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ...

Descendents of Muhammad are known by many names, such as sayyids, syeds سيد, and sharifs شريف (plural: ِأشراف Ashraaf). Many rulers and notables in Muslim countries, past and present, claim such descent, with various degrees of credibility, such as the Fatimid dynasty of North Africa, the Idrisis, the current royal families of Jordan and Morocco, and the Agha Khan Imams of the Ismaili branch of Islam. In various Muslim countries, there are societies that authenticate claims of descent; some societies are more credible than others. Sayyid (also rendered as Sayid, Said or, in Malaysia and The Subcontinent, as Syed) is an honorific title often given to descendants of The Prophet through his grandson, Husain and Hasan (Descendants of Hasan were known as Sharif in the Arab world. ... Sayyid (also rendered as Sayid, Said or, in Malaysia and The Subcontinent, as Syed) is an honorific title often given to descendants of The Prophet through his grandson, Husain and Hasan (Descendants of Hasan were known as Sharif in the Arab world. ... Sharif is also a traditional Arab tribal title given to those to serve as the protector of the tribe and all tribal assets, property, land, wells etc. ... The Fatimid or Fatimid Caliphate is the Ismaili Shiite dynasty that ruled North Africa from A.D. 909 to 1171. ... North Africa is a region generally considered to include: Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Sahara The Canary Islands, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Madeira are sometimes considered to be a part of North Africa. ... Al-Idrisis world map from 1154. ... Aga Khan is the title of the spiritual leader of a sect within the Ismaili branch of Islam (Nizari Ismaili). ... Imam is an Arabic word meaning Leader. The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. ... Introduction The Ismaili (Persian: اسماعیلیان Esmâiliyân) branch of Islam is the second largest Shia community, after the Twelvers who are dominant in Iran. ...

Muhammad's historical significance

Before his death in 632, Muhammad had established Islam as a social and political force and had unified most of Arabia. A few decades after his death, his successors had united all of Arabia, and conquered Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Armenia, and much of North Africa. By 750 C.E., the rest of north Africa came under Muslim rule, as did the southern part of Spain and much of central Asia (including Sind, in the Indus Valley). Under the Ghaznavids, in the tenth century C.E., Islam expanded into the Hindu principalities east of the Indus, in what is now northern India. Even later, Islam expanded peacefully into much of Africa and Southeast Asia. Islam is now the faith of well over a billion people all over the globe, and believed to be the second largest religion of the present day. Events Abu Bakr becomes first caliph or Successor of the Prophet, leader of Islam Abu Bakr defeats Mosailima in the Battle of Akraba. ...

See also

• For Muhammad as viewed by the Muslims - see Islam especially sira.
• For Muhammad's teachings - see Islam especially hadith.
• List of Islamic terms in Arabic reflects Muhammad's overall influence.
• List of founders of major religions.

Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... This article is not about the group of British engineering companies called Sira; see Sira (group of British companies). ... Islam (Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... The Hadith (الحديث, pl. ... It is sometimes difficult to separate concepts in Islam from concepts specific to Arab culture, from the language itself. ... The following figures are believed to have founded major religions or to have been the first codifiers of older traditions. ...

References

• Ibn Warraq, The Quest for the Historical Muhammad, Prometheus Books, March 2000, hardback, 554 pages, ISBN 1573927872
• Martin Lings, Muhammad: His Life Based on Earliest Sources, Inner Traditions International, Limited, 1987, paperback, 368 pages, ISBN 0892811706
• Karen Armstrong, Muhammad, ISBN 1842126083
• Muhammad Husayn Haykal, The Life of Muhammad, Islamic Book Service, 1995, paperback, ISBN 1577311957, translation of an Arabic original
• Maxime Rodinson, Muhammad, ISBN 1565847520

Ibn Warraq, a name meaning son of a scribe, a reference to the medieval Islamic scholar Mohammad al Warraq, and with strong schismatic connotations from early Islamic history, is the pseudonym of a Muslim apostate writer and teacher currently living in Ohio. ... Karen Armstrong is an author and expert on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. ... Maxime Rodinson (26 January 1915–23 May 2004) was a french marxist historian, sociologist and orientalist. ...

External links

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• Public Broadcasting System program on Muhammad (http://www.pbs.org/muhammad)
• Encarta Encyclopedia (http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761553918/Muhammad_(prophet).html/)
• 1911 Encyclopedia article of Muhammad (http://31.1911encyclopedia.org/M/MA/MAHOMET.htm)

Sunni biography:

• The Life of Muhammad (http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MH_LM/default.htm) Muhammad Husayn Haykal Translated by Isma'il Razi A. al-Faruqi

• Islamonline (http://www.islamonline.net/English/In_Depth/mohamed/1424/index.shtml)
• About the Prophet Muhammad (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/prophet/)

Shia biography:

• A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims by Sayed Ali Asgher Razwy (http://www.al-islam.org/restatement/)
• The Life of Muhammad The Prophet by Syed Saeed Akhtar Rizvi (http://al-islam.org/lifeprophet/)

Critical perspectives:

• The Quest for the Historical Mohammed (http://www.answering-islam.org.uk/Books/Jeffery/historical_mhd.htm)
• Trends in Biographies of Muhammad (http://debate.org.uk/topics/theo/muhbiog.htm)

Miscellaneous:

• Swords of the Prophet Muhammad (http://faculty.washington.edu/wheelerb/swords/swords_index.html)