Prophets in The Qur'an - Muhammad

Muhammad

Muhammad (Muhammed ibn Abdullah, محمد) is the last prophet. According to Islamic tradition Muhammad never claimed that Islam was a new religion but in fact preached the unity of the religion since Adam, the first person and prophet of God. The strongest Islamic belief is that Islam is the only religion which all prophets preached. Also the Quran refers to all prophets as Muslims. Muhammad was born in Mecca where he spent the first part of his life as a well-travelled merchant. He would often spend his time in the mountains surrounding the city in prayer, contemplating the situation with Mecca. According to Islamic beliefs, at the age of forty, during one of those trips to the Cave of Hira in the Jabal al-Nour (Mountain of Light), Muhammad began to, despite his illiteracy, receive and recite verses from God which today make up the Quran. He quickly began to spread the message he was receiving, convincing a few others in the city, including his wife, to convert to a form of Islam similar to one practiced today. He became the leader of those who had submitted to God (Muslims), moving to another city (present-day Medina) away from the oppressors in Mecca. Muhammad served not just as a prophet, but as a leader who helped defeat the non believers during the Battle of Badr in 624. He was a lawgiver, trust worthy, humble, and merciful. He continued to lead the Muslims, spreading Islam across the Arabian Peninsula. He performed the first hajj in 629 and established the form of Islam, with its five pillars still practiced by Muslims today. Others continued Muhammad's legacy after his death in 629 proclaiming themselves as caliphs (or successors) to him. The 47th sura, Muhammad, is named for him.