Bio of the prophet Muhammad. Info about his life, before and after the rev. in chrono. order

MUHAMMAD AS A NORMAL MAN (570-610)

Muhammad's birth is said to have been in the "year of the Elephant." Which is around the time of the invasion from Yemen, where an elephant was brought along in order to smash the Kaaba. This event happened in 570 AD.

Muhammad's family belonged to the clan of Hashim, a branch of the Quraysh tribe. While the Quraysh were ruling Mecca, the Hashimis had little but religious status connected to the Kaaba. Muhammad's father, Abdallah, died before Muhammad's birth, and his mother, Amina, died when he was 6. Muhammad was put in the care of his grandfather Abd Al-Muttalib for 2 years, and after that with his uncle Abu Talib, until he was older.

Muhammad is not believed to have had any education, and at a young age he started to work with the caravans. While working as a trader, Muhammad came to know Khadija, who was the owner of a caravan company where Muhammad was employed.

English: A green version of http://commons.wikimed...

Miniature of Muhammad re-dedicating the Black Ston...

Cave Hira, Mecca

When Muhammad was 25, Khadija was 40, and they became married. Khadija had children from both of her other marriages, and she had 7 children with Muhammad.

Khadija died in 619, and soon Muhammad remarried. Unlike usually having one wife at a time with his marriage with Khadija, he now chose to have several wives, up to 9. He married some of these wives for political reasons, in order to become closer in relations with powerful people in the society.

THE FIRST REVELATION (610)

Muhammad received his first revelation in 610. He was on the mountain of Hira, which is outside the holy city of Mecca. There, Muhammad received the first part of the Holy Quran from the angel Gabriel. Muhammad was ordered to recite some words. The first part Muhammad received is found at the beginning...