The Man Who Changed Our World
When Muhammad was visited by the Archangel Gabriel in 610 C.E., this event would set in motion an idea which would grow to have a dominating affect on nearly one-third of the world's future population, affecting how they live, marry, eat, and their proclivity for war. It is very rare that a single individual would put forth an idea so foundational to the very life of the world that grew in its and his wake, and an idea whose impact would be felt in world affairs for centuries to follow. Arguably, it has happened only once before, and that was 600 years before the time of Muhammad, which is the time of the preachings of a man called Jesus Christ.
Muhammad was born around 570 C.E. His father died before Muhammad was born. His mother died when he was six years old, so the young orphan was raised by an uncle who was the influential leader of one of the powerful clans in the city of Mecca (Wilkinson 8).
Miniature of Muhammad re-dedicating the Black Ston...
Age of the Caliphs
Muhammad advancing on Mecca, with the angels Gabri...Muhammad accompanied his uncle on trading journeys which took him to Syria, where he had his first experience with his future career, commercial trading. On one journey, Muhammad encountered a Christian monk who, according to legend, foretold that Muhammad would become a prophet of God. Muhammad later married a 40-year-old widow, while he himself was only 25 ("Muhammad").
Muhammad did not belong to any established religion, but he would regularly go to a cave in the mountains for several days and nights to pray and be alone. It is here where Muhammad reported receiving his first revelation from the Archangel Gabriel, who came to him as a messenger form God when Muhammad was 40 years old. Muhammad began his preachings about what God had...