Life of Muhammed

Pre-Hijra

c. 570 Muhammad is born in Mecca.

Father (Abdullah) died 6 months before his birth;

c.576 Mother (Amina) died 6 years after his birth – lived with grandfather for 2 years

c.578 Brought up by uncle Abu Talib.

594 Employed by a wealthy widow Khadijah (a distant relative)

c.595 Married Khadijah – she was about 15 years older than Muhammed and twice widowed.

Before 610 Begins meditating for long periods in a cave on Mount Hira near Mecca.

Appalled by the apostasy in Mecca

c. 610 Receives his first vision. Angel Gabriel told him to make recitations. (Koran 96:1-5)

Receives more revelations.

Khadijah believes Muhammed but he keeps revelations secret from those outside his family.

c. 613 Begins preaching the revelations in Mecca.

Preaches monotheism.

Muhammed persecuted and attacked

c.619 Khadijah dies.

Post Hijra

622 Muhammed and his followers flee to Medina (Yathrib). - Hijra.

Beginning of the Islamic Calendar (AH, Anno Hegirae)

624 Battle of Badr - Muslims overcome Meccans.

625 Battle of Uhud – Muslims defeated by Meccans.

627 Battle of the Trench and the Siege of Medina.

628 Treaty of Hudaybiyya made between Muslims and Meccans. Gives Muslims access to Holy site - the Kaaba at Mecca.

630 Muslims march on Mecca. City is taken without fighting..

Kaaba and pilgrimage rites become Islamic.

Arabian tribes ally with Muhammad

Muhammed returns to Medina.

632 Makes pilgrimage to Mecca. The first Muslim Hajj. Joined by tens of thousands.

632 June 8, Muhammad dies in Medina.

Buried in the mosque in Medina.