History of the Prophet Muhammad. Basic dates and events of life, brief biography

Islam is one of the most widespread religious movements in the world. To date, in total, it has more than a billion followers around the world. The founder and great prophet of this religion is a native of Arab tribes named Mohammed. About his life - wars and revelations - will be discussed in this article.

Birth and childhood of the founder of Islam

The birth of the Prophet Muhammad is a very important event for Muslims. It was in 570 (or so) in the city of Mecca, which is in the territory of modern Saudi Arabia. The future preacher came from an influential tribe of Quraysh, the custodians of Arab religious relics, the main of which was the Kaaba, which will be discussed below.

Parents Muhammad lost very early. He did not know his father at all, since he died before the birth of his son, and his mother died when the future prophet was barely six years old. Therefore, the boy was brought up by the grandfather and uncle. Under the influence of his grandfather, the young Muhammad deeply imbued with the idea of monotheism, although most of his tribesmen professed paganism, worshiping the multitude of deities of the ancient Arab pantheon. This is how the religious history of the Prophet Muhammad began.

The Youth of the Future Prophet and the First Marriage

When the young man grew up, his uncle introduced him into his trade affairs. I must say that Muhammad in them has succeeded enough, having gained respect and trust among his people. The affairs under his leadership went so well that over time he even became the manager of the trading business of a wealthy woman named Khadija. The latter fell in love with the young enterprising Muhammad, business communication gradually developed into a personal one. They did not interfere, because Khadija was a widow, after all, Mohammed married her. This union was happy, the couple lived in love and harmony. From this marriage the prophet had six children.

The religious life of the prophet in his youth

Muhammad was always devout. He thought a lot about the things of the divine and often retired for prayer. He also had the custom to retire permanently to the mountains for a long time, in order to hide in a cave and spend time there in fasting and prayers. The further history of the prophet Muhammad is closely connected with one of such seclusion, which came in 610 year. He was then about forty years old. Despite his already mature age, Muhammad was opened to a new experience. And this year was a turning point for him. One could even say that at that time the second birth of the prophet Muhammad took place, the birth precisely as a prophet, as a religious leader and preacher.

The Revelation of Gabriel (Jabriel)

In short, Muhammad experienced a meeting with Gabriel (Jabriel in Arabic transcription) - an archangel, known from Jewish and Christian books. The latter, as Muslims believe, was sent by God to open a new prophet a few words, which the latter received an order to learn. They, according to Islamic beliefs, became the first lines of the Koran - the holy scripture for Muslims.

Later Gabriel, presenting himself in various guises or simply expressing himself in a voice, gave Muhammad instructions and commands from above, that is, from God, who in Arabic is called Allah. The latter revealed himself to Muhammad, the Lord, who spoke before in the prophets of Israel and in Jesus Christ. Thus there was a third Abrahamic religion - Islam. The Prophet Muhammad became her actual founder and ardent preacher.

The life of Muhammad after the beginning of the sermon

The further history of the Prophet Muhammad is marked by tragedy. Because of his persistent preaching, he acquired many enemies. He and his new converts were boycotted by their compatriots. Many Muslims were later forced to seek refuge in Abyssinia, where they were charitably sheltered by the Christian king.

In 619 Khadija, the faithful wife of the prophet, died. After her died, and the uncle of the prophet, who defended his nephew from the indignant tribesmen. To avoid reprisals and persecution from the enemies, Muhammad had to leave his native Mecca. He tried to find shelter in the nearby Arab city of Taif, but he was not accepted there either. Therefore, at his own peril and risk, he was forced to return.

Soon the prophet enters into a second marriage with his new convert named Saud. Then, according to the Arab tradition of polygamy, after Sauda, he has another wife - Aisha.

Revelation in Jerusalem

In the same year, another event happened that blocked all the tragedies that the Prophet Muhammad experienced. The story of his life tells how in 619 he was miraculously transferred to the middle of the night in Jerusalem, where Gabriel escorted him along the road opened in the heavens to the throne of the Most High. On this night he appeared before Allah and received detailed instructions in prayer, which became an obligatory codified ritual for any Muslim. Today it is known as Namaz and is one of the pillars of Islam.

Resettlement of the Prophet from Mecca to Yathrib

When Muhammad's uncle died, the latter perfectly understood that now there is no one to protect him, and the hostile Quraysh will sooner or later kill him. Therefore, he again decided to move. This time Muhammad chose as his new home the city of Yathrib, where he was invited for a long time by the governors, who were imbued with his sermon. When the prophet entered the city, the inhabitants came out to meet him with applause. Each of them began to offer him his home as a haven, honoring for the honor for himself, that under his roof settled Mohammed. The prophet of Muslims, apparently, having become confused by such hospitality, offered to make a choice to his ... camel. The animal wandered through the streets of the city and stopped on the spot with dried dates. This place was immediately presented to the prophet so that he could build a house on it. The city was also renamed Medina, which means "House of the Prophet". The inhabitants endowed Muhammad with supreme authority and the right to judge what the newly proclaimed prophet did not fail to take advantage of - he quickly declared himself as the leader and leader of the inhabitants of Medina.

Medina under the rule of Muhammad

The rule of Muhammad in Medina was at first quite soft. He banned interreligious conflicts and announced that in Medina everyone can openly profess his faith without fear of persecution. With regard to secular laws, Muhammad also turned out to be fair, though not the most merciful ruler. In one way or another, all his actions were subordinated to a religious feeling, which was entirely focused on the spread of Islam.

The personal life of the prophet proceeded in conditions of modesty. Possessing power and wealth, he huddled in a small clay house with his wives. He did not have personal quarters, many servants and all sorts of luxuries, which the eastern rulers always differed. Days he spent in his garden, where his followers gathered to listen to religious teachings and pray. And he spent the nights in prayer, often denying himself a dream. The story of the prophet Muhammad is full of such episodes.

The Conquest of Mecca

In Medina, the prophet had everything - power, fortune, followers. And yet he dreamed of returning to Mecca. So Allah ordered him. And the Prophet Muhammad decided to realize this intention in 628. Together with his 1400 adherents, he, without weapons, came to the walls of Mecca. It was not a conquest, but an act of religious pilgrimage. All Muslims who came from Medina were dressed in white robes. But the city authorities still refused to let them in, so they made the planned sacrifices in a nearby settlement called Hudaibiya, and then retired back to Medina.

Nevertheless, Muhammad did not abandon his intention to conquer Mecca. On his return to Medina, he began to develop a plan for her conquest. Perseverance and even stubbornness he did not have to occupy - such is the image of the Prophet Muhammad in history, and it is quite fair. However, this quality has borne fruit. In 629, the Prophet led a ten-thousand-strong Muslim army and went to Medina. The formal reason for this was the attack of the Meccans on one of the Arab tribes, which were allied with Muslims. Having settled down at the foot of the city, Muhammad began to wait. The army under his command was simply enormous at that time. Therefore, Mecca surrendered without a fight, and Muhammad entered the city as a triumphant.

Hajj Approval

The image of the Prophet Muhammad as a religious fanatic is not accidental. Conquering Mecca, he went not to state and government offices, not to the treasury and not to the court. As soon as he entered the walls of the city, Muhammad rushed straight to the Kaaba. He ritually went around it seven times, after which he went inside and destroyed all pagan sculptures. After that, the pilgrimage to the Kaaba became an important tradition. Muhammad, even as Muslims believe, received special guidance from the Almighty on how to perform this action. He himself by all the rules did it only once - in 632. In the memory of the Muslim world, it is called "Hajat al-Vida", that is, "The Last Pilgrimage." Every spiritual descendant of the Prophet Muhammad is obliged to repeat in his life this journey to the Kaaba at least once.

The last years of life and the death of the prophet

The last years of his life, Mohammed spent in sickness. The healers tried in vain to cure him, but they did not succeed. The prayers of the faithful, like the prophet himself, were also fruitless.

As far as he could, Muhammad tried to take part in the religious life of his community. He led the prayers and read the sermons. The last of them was uttered on Mount Arafat.

When the Prophet Muhammad passed away, he was sixty-three years old. It is believed that his last words were the phrase: "I am destined to be in paradise among the most worthy".