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He was born Abu al-Qasim Muḥammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf ibn Qusai ibn Kilab. This name means "to praise, to glorify". He was born in the town of Mecca, which was already a religious town because it had the Black Stone, the Kabah.
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Muhammad married a woman named Khadija. She was an older, wealthy widow. Together they had six children.
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Muhammad was orphaned after his mother died. He first was placed into the protection of his paternal grandfather, and later his uncle.
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Muhammad was 40 when on Mount Hira he received his first revelation. At first he thought he was hallucinating, losing his mind, or witnessing a demonic apparition. He became convinced that it was in fact the Angel Gabriel, and shared about his vision with his wife, close friends, and family. These were the first Muslims, or “People who submit” (to God).
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Mohammad took his message public into the city of Mecca. His messages that he believed were from Allah were later compiled into the Qur'an. His message was not well recieved by Mecca.
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Mohammad's messages were poorly received because his revelations included the destruction of statues and images and to end lending money at overpriced rates, which angered the businessmen of Mecca. Thus his followers were persecuted and they had to move to the city of Medina.
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Muhammad and his Muslims had three major battles with the Meccans. He won at the first and third, the Battle of Badr and the Battle of the Trench. They lost at the second, the Battle of Uhud.
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Eventually, with enough followers, the Muslims overwhelmed the Meccans. They marched into Mecca with the help of Arabic tribes, completely unchallenged, without any lives lost.
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Mohammad had one last pilgrimage to Mecca before his death. He took with him tens of thousands of Muslims, and gave the famous Farewell sermon to his people. The sermon encouraged Muslims to follow his teachings and the Qur'an.
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Mohammed died of illness in Medina. He died 3 months after his final pilgrimage. He is buried in the mosque in Medina.
