Muhammad's life and early Islam shaped the foundation of one of the world's major religions. Born in Mecca around 570 CE, Muhammad received divine revelations, faced persecution, and established the first Islamic state in Medina.

The early Muslim community, united under Muhammad and his successors, rapidly expanded the Islamic empire. This period saw the emergence of the Sunni-Shia divide, which continues to influence Islamic thought and politics today.

Life of Muhammad

Early Life and Revelations

• Muhammad born in Mecca around 570 CE to the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe
• Orphaned at a young age and raised by his uncle Abu Talib
• Worked as a merchant and became known for his trustworthiness (al-Amin)
• Married Khadija, a wealthy widow, at the age of 25
• Received his first revelation from God through the angel Gabriel around 610 CE while meditating in a cave on Mount Hira

Migration to Medina (Hijra)

• Faced opposition and persecution in Mecca for preaching monotheism and criticizing the polytheistic practices of the Quraysh
• Escaped an assassination attempt and migrated to the city of Yathrib (later renamed Medina) in 622 CE
• The migration, known as the Hijra, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar
• Established the first Islamic state in Medina, creating a constitution that governed the diverse population, including Muslims, Jews, and pagans

Final Years and Legacy

• Continued to receive revelations, which were compiled into the Quran after his death
• Returned to Mecca in 629 CE and peacefully conquered the city, forgiving his former enemies and establishing Islam as the dominant religion in the region
• Died in 632 CE in Medina, leaving a united Arabian Peninsula under the banner of Islam
• His life and teachings continue to serve as a model for Muslims worldwide, with his sayings and actions (Hadith) forming the basis of Islamic law (Sharia) alongside the Quran

Early Islamic Community

Unity and Expansion (Umma)

• The early Muslim community, known as the Umma, was united under the leadership of Muhammad and his successors (Caliphs)
• The Umma was guided by the principles of equality, justice, and solidarity, regardless of tribal or ethnic affiliations
• Rapid expansion of the Islamic empire under the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali) through military conquests and diplomatic alliances
• By the mid-7th century, the Islamic empire stretched from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Indus Valley in the east

Leadership and Succession (Caliphate)

• After Muhammad's death, the question of succession led to the emergence of two main branches of Islam: Sunni and Shia
• Sunni Muslims, who make up the majority, believe that the leader (Caliph) should be elected by the community based on their qualifications and the consensus of the Umma
• The first four Caliphs, known as the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Rashidun), were chosen through this method and are revered by Sunni Muslims for their piety and leadership
• The Caliphate continued under the Umayyad (661-750 CE) and Abbasid (750-1258 CE) dynasties, serving as both political and religious leaders of the Islamic world

Sectarian Divide (Sunni and Shia)

• Shia Muslims believe that leadership should have remained within Muhammad's family, specifically with his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, and his descendants (Imams)
• The Shia maintain that Ali was designated by Muhammad as his successor and that the Caliphate was usurped by the first three Rightly Guided Caliphs
• The division between Sunni and Shia Muslims was solidified after the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, where Ali's son, Husayn, was killed by the Umayyad Caliph Yazid I
• The Sunni-Shia split has had significant political, social, and religious implications throughout Islamic history, with tensions and conflicts persisting to the present day (Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen)