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Where did Muhammad live? The birth of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the greatest event in the entire history of the Universe. What is an Angel

Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) around 570 AD. e., in the Hashim clan of the Quraish tribe. Muhamed's father, Abdallah, died before the birth of his Son, and Muhamed's mother, Amina, died when He was only six years old, leaving the Son an orphan. Muhammad was raised first by His grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, a man of exceptional piety, and then by His uncle, the merchant Abu Talib.

At that time, the Arabs were inveterate pagans, among whom, however, a few adherents of Monotheism stood out, such as, for example, Abd al-Muttalib. Most Arabs lived a nomadic life in their ancestral territories. There were few cities. The main ones among them are Mecca, Yathrib and Taif.

From his youth, the Prophet was distinguished by exceptional piety and piety, believing, like His grandfather, in One God. First He tended the flocks, and then He began to participate in the trading affairs of His uncle Abu Talib. He became famous, people loved Him and, as a sign of respect for his piety, honesty, justice and prudence, they bestowed the honorary nickname al-Amin (Trustworthy).

Later, He conducted the trading affairs of a wealthy widow named Khadija, who, some time later, proposed to Muhammad to marry her. Despite the age difference, they lived a happy life married life, having six children. And although in those days polygamy among Arabs was common. The Prophet did not take other wives while Khadija was alive.

This newfound position freed up much more time for prayer and reflection. As was his custom, Muhammad retired to the mountains surrounding Mecca and secluded himself there for a long time. Sometimes His seclusion lasted several days. He especially fell in love with the cave of Mount Hira (Jabal Nyr - Mountains of Light), majestically rising above Mecca. On one of these visits, which occurred in the year 610, something happened to Muhammad, who was about forty years old at that time, that completely changed His entire life.

In a sudden vision, the angel Gabriel (Gabriel) appeared before Him and, pointing to the words that appeared from outside, ordered Him to pronounce them. Muhammad objected, declaring that he was illiterate and therefore would not be able to read them, but the angel continued to insist, and the meaning of these words was suddenly revealed to the Prophet. He was ordered to learn them and accurately pass them on to the rest of the people. This is how the first revelation of the sayings of the Book, now known as the Koran (from Arabic “reading”), was marked.

This eventful night fell on the 27th of the month of Ramadan, and was called Laylat al-Qadr. From now on, the life of the Prophet no longer belonged to him, but was given to the care of the One who called him to the prophetic mission, and he spent the rest of his days in the service of God, proclaiming His messages everywhere.

When receiving revelations, the Prophet did not always see the angel Gabriel, and when he did, the angel did not always appear in the same guise. Sometimes an angel appeared before Him in human form eclipsing the horizon, and sometimes the Prophet only managed to catch his gaze on Himself. At times He heard only a voice speaking to Him. Sometimes He received revelations while deeply immersed in prayer, but in other cases they appeared completely “voluntarily”, when Muhammad, for example, was busy worrying about business. Everyday life, either went for a walk or simply enthusiastically listened to a meaningful conversation.

At first, the Prophet avoided public sermons, preferring personal conversations with interested people and with those who noticed extraordinary changes in Him. A special path opened up for him Muslim prayer, and He immediately began daily pious exercises, which invariably caused a wave of criticism from those who saw him. Having received the highest order to begin a public sermon, Muhammad was ridiculed and cursed by the people, who thoroughly mocked His statements and actions. Meanwhile, many Quraysh became seriously alarmed, realizing that Muhammad's insistence on establishing faith in the One True God could not only undermine the prestige of polytheism, but also lead to the complete decline of idolatry if people suddenly began to convert to the faith of the Prophet. Some relatives of Muhammad turned into His main opponents: humiliating and ridiculing the Prophet himself, they did not forget to do evil against converts. There are many examples of mockery and abuse of those who accepted a new faith. Two large groups The first Muslims, in search of refuge, moved to Abyssinia, where the Christian Negus (king), very impressed by their teaching and way of life, agreed to provide them with protection. The Quraysh decided to ban all trade, business, military and personal connections with the Hashim clan. Representatives of this clan were strictly forbidden to appear in Mecca. We've arrived very much hard times, and many Muslims were doomed to severe poverty.

In 619, the Prophet's wife Khadija died. She was His most devoted supporter and helper. In the same year, Muhammad’s uncle, Abu Talib, who defended Him from the most violent attacks from his fellow tribesmen, also died. Stricken with grief, the Prophet left Mecca and went to Taif, where he tried to find refuge, but was rejected there too.

The Prophet's friends betrothed a pious widow named Sauda as his wife, who turned out to be a very worthy woman, and also a Muslim. Aisha, the young daughter of his friend Abu Bakr, knew and loved the Prophet all her life. And although she was too young for marriage, however, according to the customs of that time, she nevertheless entered the Muhamed family as a sister-in-law. It is necessary, however, to dispel the misconception that exists among people who completely do not understand the reasons for Muslim polygamy. In those days, a Muslim who took several women as wives did so out of compassion, graciously providing them with his protection and shelter. Muslim men were encouraged to help the wives of their friends killed in battle, to provide them with separate houses and treat them as if they were their closest relatives (of course, everything could be different in the case of mutual love).

In 619, Muhammad had the opportunity to experience the second most important night of his life - the Night of Ascension (Laylat al-Miraj). It is known that the Prophet was awakened and carried on a magical animal to Jerusalem. Over the location of the ancient Jewish Temple on Mount Zion, the heavens opened and a path opened that led Muhammad to the throne of God, but neither he nor the angel Gabriel accompanying him was allowed to enter the beyond. That night the rules of Muslim prayer were revealed to the Prophet. They became the center of faith and unshakable basis life of Muslims. Muhammad also met and talked with other prophets, including Jesus (Isa), Moses (Musa) and Abraham (Ibrahim). This miraculous event greatly consoled and strengthened the Prophet, adding confidence that Allah did not abandon Him and did not leave Him alone with his sorrows.

From now on, the fate of the Prophet changed in the most decisive way. He was still persecuted and ridiculed in Mecca, but the Prophet's message had already been heard by people far beyond the city's borders. Some of the elders of Yathrib persuaded Him to leave Mecca and move to their city, where He would be received with honor as a leader and judge. Arabs and Jews lived together in this city, constantly at war with each other. They hoped that Muhammad would bring them peace. The Prophet immediately advised many of His Muslim followers to migrate to Yathrib while He remained in Mecca, so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicion. After the death of Abu Talib, the emboldened Quraish could calmly attack Muhammad, even kill him, and he understood perfectly well that this would sooner or later happen.

The Prophet's departure was accompanied by some dramatic events. Muhammad himself miraculously escaped captivity thanks to his exceptional knowledge of the local deserts. Several times the Quraysh almost captured Him, but the Prophet still managed to reach the outskirts of Yathrib. The city was eagerly awaiting him, and when Muhammad arrived in Yasrib, people rushed to meet him with offers of shelter. Confused by their hospitality, Muhammad gave the choice to his camel. The camel stopped at a place where dates were drying, and it was instantly presented to the Prophet for building a house. The city received a new name - Madinat an-Nabi (City of the Prophet), now abbreviated as Medina.

The Prophet immediately began preparing a decree according to which He was proclaimed the supreme head of all the warring tribes and clans of Medina, who were henceforth forced to obey His orders. It established that all citizens were free to practice their religion in peaceful coexistence without fear of persecution or disgrace. He asked them only for one thing - to unite and repel any enemy who dared to attack the city. The former tribal laws of the Arabs and Jews were replaced by the basic principle of "justice for all", regardless of social status, skin color and religion.

Becoming the ruler of a city-state and gaining untold wealth and influence. The prophet, however, never lived like a king. His dwelling consisted of simple mud houses built for His wives; He never even had his own room. Not far from the houses there was a courtyard with a well - a place that from now on became a mosque where devout Muslims gather.

Almost the entire life of the Prophet Muhammad was spent in constant prayer and in the instruction of believers. Except five obligatory prayers, which He spent in the mosque, the Prophet devoted a lot of time to solitary prayer, and sometimes most He devoted his nights to pious reflections. His wives performed night prayer with Him, after which they retired to their chambers, and He continued to pray for many hours, falling asleep briefly towards the end of the night, only to wake up soon for the pre-dawn prayer.

In March 628, the Prophet, who dreamed of returning to Mecca, decided to make His dream come true. He set out with 1,400 followers, completely unarmed, wearing pilgrim attire consisting of two simple white veils. However, the followers of the Prophet were denied entry into the city, despite the fact that many citizens of Mecca practiced Islam. To avoid clashes, the pilgrims made their sacrifices near Mecca, in an area called Hudaibiya.

In 629, the Prophet Muhammad began plans for the peaceful capture of Mecca. The truce concluded in the town of Hudaibiya turned out to be short-lived, and in November 629 the Meccans attacked one of the tribes that was in a friendly alliance with the Muslims. The Prophet marched on Mecca at the head of 10,000 men, the largest army to ever leave Medina. They settled near Mecca, after which the city surrendered without a fight. The Prophet Muhammad entered the city in triumph, immediately went to the Kaaba and performed a ritual circuit around it seven times. Then He entered the shrine and destroyed all the idols.

It was not until March 632 that the Prophet Muhammad made His only full-fledged pilgrimage to the shrine of the Kaaba, known as Hajat al-Wida (The Last Pilgrimage). During this pilgrimage, revelations were sent to Him about the rules of Hajj, which all Muslims follow to this day. When the Prophet reached Mount Arafat to “stand before Allah,” He proclaimed His last sermon. Even then, Muhamed was seriously ill. He continued to lead prayers in the mosque as best he could. There was no improvement in the disease, and He fell ill completely. He was 63 years old. It is known that His last words were: “I am destined for a stay in Paradise among the most worthy.” His followers found it difficult to believe that the Prophet could die like a common man, but Abu Bakr reminded them of the words of revelation spoken after the Battle of Mount Uhud:
“Muhamed is only a messenger. There are no longer any messengers who once existed before him;
If he also dies or is killed, will you really turn back?" (Quran, 3:138).

Introduction

Islam is the third and last of the developed monotheistic religions. It originated in the Middle East, had its roots in the same soil, was nourished by the same ideas, and was based on the same cultural traditions as Christianity and Judaism.

This religious system, with its most strict and complete monotheism taken to the limit, developed on the basis of its two predecessors, so borrowings in terms of not only general cultural, but also purely theological, religious-cultural, are noticeable here at every step.

So, Islam arose in Western Arabia (Hejaz region) at the beginning of the 7th century. The founder of this religion is considered to be a resident of Mecca, Muhammad (570-632). At the age of 40 (about 610), Muhammad declared himself the messenger of the one God and Allah, who revealed his will to him through revelations, which, together with the sayings of Muhammad himself, were later written down in the Koran, the main holy book of Muslims. The basis of Islam is the restoration of the faith of Abraham, which Muhammad believed had been corrupted by the Jews. Many questions concerning the life and work of the Prophet Muhammad still remain controversial, and the authors did not consider themselves obliged to strictly follow any of the schools of Islamic studies when covering them. At the same time, in the traditions of Russian culture (V.S. Solovyov, V.V. Bartold), the authors considered Islam as an independent monotheistic religion, no less developed than, say, Christianity.

The purpose of the work is to characterize the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

1. Life and work of the Prophet Muhammad

Later, He conducted the trading affairs of a wealthy widow named Khadija, who, some time later, proposed to Muhammad to marry her. Despite the age difference, they lived a happy married life with six children. And although in those days polygamy among Arabs was common. The Prophet did not take other wives while Khadija was alive.

When receiving revelations, the Prophet did not always see the angel Gabriel, and when he did, the angel did not always appear in the same guise. Sometimes the angel appeared before Him in human form, eclipsing the horizon, and sometimes the Prophet only managed to catch his gaze on Himself. At times He heard only a voice speaking to Him. Sometimes He received revelations while deeply immersed in prayer, but at other times they appeared completely “at random”, when Muhammad, for example, was busy worrying about the affairs of everyday life, or went for a walk, or simply enthusiastically listened to a meaningful conversation.

The Quraysh decided to ban all trade, business, military and personal connections with the Hashim clan. Representatives of this clan were strictly forbidden to appear in Mecca. Very difficult times came, and many Muslims were doomed to severe poverty.

The Prophet's friends betrothed a pious widow named Sauda as his wife, who turned out to be a very worthy woman, and also a Muslim.

In 619, Muhammad had the opportunity to experience the second most important night of his life - the Night of Ascension (Laylat al-Miraj). It is known that the Prophet was awakened and carried on a magical animal to Jerusalem. Over the location of the ancient Jewish Temple on Mount Zion, the heavens opened and a path opened that led Muhammad to the throne of God, but neither he nor the angel Gabriel accompanying him was allowed to enter the beyond. That night the rules of Muslim prayer were revealed to the Prophet. They became the focus of faith and the unshakable basis of Muslim life. Muhammad also met and talked with other prophets, including Jesus (Isa), Moses (Musa) and Abraham (Ibrahim). This miraculous event greatly consoled and strengthened the Prophet, adding confidence that Allah did not abandon Him and did not leave Him alone with his sorrows.

The Prophet Muhammad was born in 570, five centuries after Christ. This is the last “generally recognized” messiah who brought a new religion to the world. Mormon on similar status still cannot claim.

Muhammad and the birth of Islam

IN Saudi Arabia, where the prophet Muhammad was born, everyone knows this name. And not only there. Now the teachings of the prophet are known throughout the world.

Every Muslim and many representatives of other religions know in which city the Prophet Muhammad was born. Mecca serves as a place of pilgrimage annually for millions of devout Mohammedans.

Not everyone shares this belief, but it is difficult to find a person who has never heard of Muhammad and Islam.

The great teacher who brought new news to the world occupies the same place in the hearts of Muslims as Jesus occupies the same place in the hearts of Christians. Here lie the origins of the eternal conflict between the Muslim and Christian religions. Those who believed in Christ condemned the Judaizers who did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah and who remained faithful to their ancestors. Muslims, in turn, accepted the teachings of the Messiah Muhammad and do not approve of the views of orthodox Christians, in their opinion, who did not listen to the good news.

Spelling options for the prophet's name

Every Muslim knows in which city (Mohammed, Muhamad).

This a large number of variants of reading the same name is explained by the fact that the pronunciation of the Arabs is somewhat different from that familiar to the Slavic ear, and the sound of the word can only be conveyed approximately, with errors. The “Mohammed” version is generally a classic Gallicism borrowed from European literature, that is, there was a double distortion.

However, one way or another, this name is recognizable in any version of the spelling. But “Muhammad” remains the classic, generally accepted option.

Islam, Christianity and Judaism

It should be noted that Muslims do not dispute the teachings of Christ. They revere him as one of the prophets, but believe that the coming of Muhammad changed the world just as Christ himself changed it 500 years ago. Moreover, Muslims consider not only the Koran, but also the Bible and the Torah as sacred books. It’s just that the Koran occupies a central place in this creed.

Muslims claim that even those who spoke about the coming of the Messiah did not mean Jesus, but Mohammed. They refer to the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 18, verses 18-22. It says that the messiah sent by God will be the same as Moses. Muslims point out the obvious inconsistencies between Jesus and Moses, even though the biographies of Moses and Muhammad are similar in certain ways. Moses was not just religious figure. He was a patriarch, a prominent politician and a ruler in the literal sense. Moses was rich and successful, he had big family, wives and children. Indeed, in this respect Mohammed is much more like him than Jesus. In addition, Jesus was conceived immaculately, which cannot be said about Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca, and everyone there knew that his birth was absolutely traditional - the same as that of Moses.

However, opponents of this theory note that it also says that the Messiah will come “from brothers,” and so the ancient Jews could only talk about fellow tribesmen. In Arabia, where the Prophet Muhammad was born, there were and could not be any Jews. Muhammad came from a worthy, respected Arab family, but he could not be a brother to the ancient Jews, as is directly stated in the same

Birth of a Prophet

In the 6th century in Saudi Arabia, where the Prophet Muhammad was born, the majority of the population was pagan. They worshiped numerous ancient gods, and only certain clans were convinced monotheists. It was in such a monotheistic Hochim clan, belonging to the Quraish tribe, that the Prophet Muhammad was born. His father died before the child was born, his mother died when the boy was only six. Little Muhammad was raised by his grandfather, Abd al-Mutallib, a respected patriarch, famous for his wisdom and piety. As a child, Muhammad was a shepherd, then he was taken in by his uncle, a wealthy merchant. Muhammad helped him conduct business, and one day, while making a deal, he met a rich widow named Khadija.

Annunciation

The young merchant turned out to be not only attractive in appearance. He was smart, honest, truthful, pious and benevolent. The woman liked Muhammad and she proposed marriage to him. The young man agreed. They lived for many years in happiness and harmony. Khadija bore six children to Muhammad, and he, despite polygamy traditional in those places, did not take other wives.

This marriage brought prosperity to Muhammad. He was able to devote more time to pious thoughts and often retired to think about God. To do this, he often left the city. One day he went to the mountain, where he especially loved to meditate, and there an angel appeared to the amazed man, bringing the revelation of God. This is how the world first learned about the Koran.

After this, Muhammad devoted his life to serving God. At first he did not dare to preach publicly, he simply talked with those people who showed interest in this topic. But later, Muhammad's statements became more and more bold, he spoke to people, telling them about the new good news. Where the Prophet Muhammad was born, he was known as an undoubtedly religious and honest person, but such statements did not find support. The words of the new prophet and unusual rituals seemed strange and funny to the Arabs.

Medina

Prophet Muhammad was born in the city of Mecca, but his homeland did not accept him. In 619, Khadizhda, Muhammad's beloved wife and loyal supporter, died. Nothing kept him in Mecca anymore. He left the city and headed to Yathrib, where convinced Muslims already lived. On the way, an attempt was made on the prophet's life, but he, being an experienced traveler and fighter, escaped.

When Muhammad arrived in Yathrib, he was greeted by admiring citizens and handed over supreme power to him. Muhammad became the ruler of the city, which he soon renamed Medina - the City of the Prophet.

Return to Mecca

Despite his title, Muhammad never lived in luxury. He and his new wives settled in modest huts, where the prophet spoke to people simply by sitting in the shade of a well.

For almost ten years, Muhammad tried to restore peaceful relations with his hometown, Mecca. But all negotiations ended in failure, despite the fact that there were already quite a few Muslims in Mecca. The city did not accept the new prophet.

In 629, the troops of Mecca destroyed the settlement of a tribe that was on friendly terms with the Muslims of Medina. Then Muhammad, at the head of a huge army of ten thousand at that time, approached the gates of Mecca. And the city, impressed by the power of the army, surrendered without a fight.

So Muhammad was able to return to his native place.

To this day, every Muslim knows where the Prophet Muhammad was born and where he is buried great person. The pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina is considered the highest duty of every follower of Mohammed.

Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 or 571. Muhammad's father died shortly before his birth, and when the boy was 6 years old, he lost his mother. Two years later, Muhammad's grandfather, who cared for him like a father, died. Young Muhammad was raised by his uncle Abu Talib.

At the age of 12, Muhammad and his uncle went to Syria on trade business, and plunged into the atmosphere of spiritual quest associated with Judaism, Christianity, and other religions. Muhammad was a camel driver and then a merchant.

When he turned 21, he received a position as a clerk for the wealthy widow Khadija. While studying commercial affairs Khadija, he visited many places and everywhere showed interest in local customs and beliefs. At the age of 25 he married his mistress. The marriage was happy. But Muhammad was drawn to spiritual quests. He went into deserted gorges and, alone, plunged into deep contemplation.

In 610, in the cave of Mount Hira, the angel Gabriel, sent by Allah, appeared to Muhammad with the first verses of the Koran, who ordered him to remember the text of the revelation and called him “Messenger of Allah.” Having begun to preach among his loved ones, Muhammad gradually expanded his circle of adherents. He called on his fellow tribesmen to monotheism, to a righteous life, to observance of the commandments in preparation for the coming divine judgment, and spoke about the omnipotence of Allah, who created man and all living and nonliving things on earth. He perceived his mission as an order from Allah, and called biblical characters his predecessors: Musa (Moses), Yusuf (Joseph), Zakaria (Zechariah), Isa (Jesus). A special place in the sermons was given to Ibrahim (Abraham), who was recognized as the forefather of Arabs and Jews and the first to preach monotheism. Muhammad stated that his mission was to restore the faith of Abraham.

The Mecca aristocracy saw his preaching as a threat to their power and organized a conspiracy against Muhammad. Having learned about this, the prophet's companions persuaded him to leave Mecca and move to the city of Yathrib (Medina) in 622. Some of his associates had already settled there. It was in Medina that the first Muslim community formed, strong enough to attack caravans coming from Mecca. These actions were perceived as punishment for the Meccans for the expulsion of Muhammad and his companions, and the funds received went to the needs of the community. Subsequently, the ancient pagan sanctuary of the Kaaba in Mecca was declared Muslim shrine, and from that time on, Muslims began to pray, turning their gaze to Mecca. Residents of Mecca itself did not accept new faith, but Muhammad managed to convince them that Mecca would retain its status as a major commercial and religious center. Shortly before his death, the prophet visited Mecca, where he broke all the pagan idols that stood around the Kaaba.

He was born half orphan, for his father Abdullah died when his mother was two months pregnant.

When he was six years old, his mother, Amina bint Wahab, also died, leaving Muhammad an orphan. His guardian was Abdul-Muttalib, his paternal grandfather, who had special position and influence in Mecca. Members of his Quraysh tribe treated him as a respectable sheikh. And in those days, the Quraish tribe occupied a dominant position among all other Arab tribes.

The Prophet Muhammad became the object of his grandfather's care, love and affection, but all this did not last long, for his grandfather passed away when Muhammad was only eight years old. After the death of his grandfather, his uncle Abu Talib became the boy's guardian.
When Muhammad was twelve years old, he and his uncle Abu Talib went on a trading journey to Bilad al-Sham (Syria). This is how Muhammad left his native place for the first time. When he was twenty-five years old, he again went to Bilad al-Sham, this time on the business of Lady Khadija bint Huaylid, a rich and noble woman. Having heard that he was a reliable and honest man, Khadija entrusted him with her money. Upon Muhammad's return from Bilad al-Sham, she invited him to marry her. At that time he was twenty-five years old and she was forty.
Even before Muhammad became a prophet at the age of forty, he was nicknamed “worthy of trust,” for he was the most highly moral and most worthy person in his midst. He was famous for such character traits as tolerance, modesty, justice, patience, chastity, generosity and courage.
Muhammad was known for his hatred of pagan idols even before he began his prophetic mission. This hatred was so great that Muhammad never attended any of the pagan rituals. In addition, the Prophet Muhammad never drank intoxicating drinks in his life.
These character traits are common to all prophets. God endows His prophets with such qualities in preparation for receiving His Revelation. For prophets must always be infallible. This means that they do not commit sins either before entering the path of prophecy or after that.
The Jews and Christians who lived at that time on the Arabian Peninsula and in neighboring lands expected the appearance of the Last of the prophets in this world, as they were told about this Holy books– Torah and Gospel.

In 610 AD, when the Prophet Muhammad was forty years old, a revelation from God was sent down to him through the Archangel Gabriel (Jibriel in Arabic). Gabriel brought him the first five verses of Surah Al-‘Alaq (“The Clot”) Holy Quran 1. Thus, Allah appointed Muhammad as a prophet.
From that day on, the Qur'an was gradually revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over the next twenty-three years. Each new revelation of the Koran was sent down to the Prophet by God in accordance with 1) circumstances and events that required their correct interpretation and explanation, and also 2) as necessary, specific practical instructions and instructions2. The Qur'an is the Word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel; in this case, the role of both the prophet Muhammad and Gabriel was reduced only to conveying it to the people. Gabriel recited the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad, who then memorized it and brought it to the people. The Prophet ordered everyone who was entrusted to keep the text of the Koran and write it down, for he himself was illiterate3. It is also worth mentioning that the entire text of the Koran was completely written down and preserved during the life of the Prophet Muhammad.
Before the start of the Prophet's mission, the Arabian Peninsula was under the rule of ignorance and tyranny, for the people worshiped idols. Each tribe had its own god in the form of an idol which it worshiped. At that time, the peninsula was inhabited by 360 tribes, and, accordingly, there were at least 360 idols.
In addition, the stronger treated the weaker according to the principle of “divide and conquer,” and therefore wars broke out at the slightest provocation. This was a period when theft and all kinds of robberies flourished, including the robbery of caravans on large trade routes; usury, adultery, drunkenness, gambling, and the custom of burying baby girls alive because the newborn's family feared shame or poverty. The position of women in society was reduced to nothing. Thus, a woman did not have the right to inherit the real estate of her close relatives and, on top of everything else, she herself was considered a thing to be inherited, like a piece of furniture, an animal or household utensils.

coming with prophetic mission, Muhammad, with the introduction of Islam, heralded the beginning new era. He called on people to worship the One God and observe a number of new principles and norms of daily life, unknown to the people of that time. These new principles and norms of behavior put an end to murder, robbery, usury, adultery, gambling, drunkenness, live burial of newborn girls, disregard for the rights of women, and all other vices that prevailed in pre-Islamic times.

The religion preached by the Prophet Muhammad profoundly changed moral principles among the Arabs, for it called for the worship of the only God, Allah, and also instilled in people the concept of life after death. This new religion preached the equality of all people, chastity, respectable family relations, respect for the rights of a neighbor, charity, and also defended the rights of women to inherit and own property.
Most of the pagans of Mecca were unhappy with the new way of life public life, which the prophet Muhammad preached, and began to fight him. They subjected him to all kinds of persecution, causing him deep physical and mental wounds. They began calling him a “liar”, “madman”, “sorcerer” and “poet”. The nickname “poetmaker” was intended to humiliate him. Thus, the pagans sought to show that they do not recognize the Koran as a Revelation sent down to Muhammad from above. And if before the prophecy of Muhammad people called him “worthy of trust,” then later they awarded him with many bad and offensive nicknames.

The pagans also tortured the followers of the Prophet. And in the end, Muhammad and his followers were expelled from hometown Mecca and were forced to move to the desert area. There they remained for three years, experiencing severe shortages of food and water, as well as many other hardships and suffering.
But despite everything, the Prophet Muhammad continued to preach Islam in Mecca for thirteen years. After this, Almighty God ordered him to move to Medina. This migration from Mecca to Medina, called the Hijra, is considered the starting point of Islamic history and marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. When the Prophet moved to Medina, the inhabitants of this city supported him, and he founded the first Islamic state there.
Medina, the prophet Muhammad was a ruler, judge and military leader. These responsibilities were in addition to vital role Muhammad as a prophet, a messenger, the father of his children and the husband of his wives. This point clearly proves the main differences between Muslim and non-Muslim cultures. Thus, Islam is a comprehensive religion that covers all aspects of human life. Therefore, Muslims do not believe in the doctrine of “separation of church and state” common in the West.
Prophet Muhammad provided strategic leadership in the defense of Medina, directing troops and military operations. He fought in many battles against the pagans and other enemies of Islam - twenty-seven military campaigns and sixty military detachments. All these military actions were taken to stop the onslaught of enemies, as well as to ensure the protection of Medina. In addition, these battles were intended to clear the way for the spread of Islam.
As time passed, people realized that they themselves were free to decide whether to choose Islam as a new way of life. After some time, they became convinced of the truth of this new religion, and Islam began to spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Prophet Muhammad sent letters to some of the monarchs of that time, as well as the rulers of neighboring states, urging them to accept Islam, because Islam is a religion without borders, i.e. for all peoples. The Prophet Muhammad sent messages to: Heraclius, the Byzantine emperor; Al-Mukaukas, an Egyptian prince; Askham ibn Al-Abjar, Negus (ruler) of Ethiopia; Khosrow, king of Persia; Al-Munzhir ibn Sawa, king of Bahrain; Jifar and 'Abd, both kings of Oman; and also to Khuza ibn Ali, king of Al-Yamam.

Prophet Muhammad concluded a peace treaty with the people of Mecca for a period of ten years. But the Meccans violated this treaty and united with the Bakr tribe, which killed many members of the Khuzaa tribe (this tribe entered into an alliance with the Prophet Muhammad). At the head of an army of ten thousand, the Prophet set out on a campaign to conquer Mecca. The Meccans realized the futility of resisting the forces of the Prophet and surrendered without a fight.
The conquest of Mecca is considered the greatest triumph among Muslims, since it has the status holy city, where people make an annual pilgrimage. Mecca is the area where the Kaaba, the Forbidden House of Allah, built by the prophets Abraham and Ismail (peace be upon them) is located. This city was also of great political and commercial importance for all Arab tribes. The Prophet Muhammad himself was a native of Mecca, as were many of his companions. And it was here that all the tribes took up arms against Muhammad. Thus Mecca became a strategic center of resistance to Islam. That is why her conquest was so great importance. The Prophet was well aware that the capture of Mecca was the best way to spread Islam among the Arabs.

The Prophet Muhammad entered Mecca humbly, completely and completely surrendering to God, and not with the arrogant air of a conqueror who had conquered his worst enemies. Evidence of Muhammad's humility and submission to God was that, upon entering Mecca, he bowed his head so that his forehead almost touched the saddle of his camel. In addition, the Prophet Muhammad forgave all the inhabitants of Mecca and ordered his soldiers not to touch their property and wealth.
Thanks to the Prophet's prudent and tolerant behavior, all the citizens of Mecca converted to Islam. As for the idols surrounding the Kaaba, they had to be destroyed every single one.
Having conquered Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad returned to Medina, where hundreds of people flocked to convert to Islam. All Arab tribes sent delegations to Medina to meet with the Prophet, who would teach them Islam. All these delegations converted to Islam, each on behalf of their tribe. This year became known as the Year of Delegations.
Prophet Muhammad was able to unite all Arab tribes on the basis of Islam. Mutual enmity and contempt reigned between these tribes for a long time. They constantly fought among themselves, and no one in the entire history of the Arabian Peninsula had ever managed to unite them. Having installed islamic state, the Prophet Muhammad united the vast majority of the population of the Arabian Peninsula.
Before his death, the Prophet made a pilgrimage to Mecca. He walked around the Kaaba seven times. During this Last Pilgrimage, Prophet Muhammad delivered his famous Farewell speech. Here is some of what he said then:
“...O people, listen to me, I will explain to you, for, truly, I do not know whether I will meet you in this place after this year.
O people, truly, as this month and day is holy for you, as this city of Mecca is sacred for you, in the same way the life and property of every Muslim should be holy and sacred for you, and so on until you meet your Lord. O Allah, have I brought (Your message) to the attention of people? (If so), be my Witness to this.
And the one who has a thing entrusted by someone (amana), let him return it to the one who entrusted it to him.

O people, truly, Shaitan (Satan) has lost hope that he will be worshiped in your land. However, he is content to subjugate you in all your other actions that you neglect.
O people, truly, believers are brothers, and a person is allowed the property of his brother only according to his own free will. O Allah, have I brought (Your message) to the attention of people? (If so), be my Witness to this.
O people, do not turn into infidels after me, killing and oppressing each other. Indeed, I have truly left among you something by adhering to which you will never go astray - the Book of Allah. O Allah, have I brought (Your message) to the attention of people? (If so), be my Witness to this.
O people, your Lord is one, and your father is one - you are all from Adam, and Adam is from the earth. The most noble of you before Allah is the most God-fearing.
An Arab has no superiority over a foreigner except in fear of God. O Allah, have I brought (Your message) to the attention of people? (If so), be my Witness to this.
And let the one present among you notify the one who is absent.”
In 633 AD. Prophet Muhammad died. He was then sixty-three years old lunar calendar or sixty-one years according to the solar calendar. Immediately after his death, Abu Bakr addressed the people with the words: “Truly, everyone who worshiped Muhammad knows that Muhammad is dead. But everyone who worships Allah knows that Allah lives, that He does not die.” He then recited the following verses from the Holy Quran:
“Truly, you are mortal (Muhammad), just as they are mortal.”
(Sura 39, verse 30)
“And Muhammad is no more than a messenger, many others preceded him, and if he dies or is destroyed, will you turn back? The apostates will not harm Allah in any way, but Allah will reward the grateful in full.”
(Sura 3, verse 144)
The body of the Prophet was buried in his own house, in the room of his wife ‘Aisha, that is, in the same place where he died. Her room is located near the Prophet's Mosque, which today has expanded so much that the Prophet's house is located inside it. The Prophet's Mosque is located in Medina.
Today this Mosque is visited by millions of Muslims. You can visit it during the pilgrimage to Mecca or at other times.
Less than two centuries after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims spread his Message. Islam spread throughout the world to China in the east and Spain in the west. The impetus for such an amazingly rapid spread of the Muslim faith was the teachings of Islam.
Today there are more than a billion Muslims in the world4, most of whom live in 55 Muslim countries in Asia and Africa. The largest Muslim country is currently Indonesia. In addition, millions of Muslims live in non-Muslim countries: 120 million in India, more than 100 million in China, about 20 million in Russia.

So, currently the four countries with the largest Muslim populations are: Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria. Millions of Muslims also live in non-Muslim countries such as the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, former Yugoslavia and the USA.

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