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He was a humble merchant who received revelations from the angel Gabriel. But the religion he founded is now viewed by many as an enemy of the Western world. One of the most influential figures in human history, Muhammad is a figure of inspiration and enlightenment to billions of people the world over. Yet countless others see the religion he created as a source of evil and instability. Go far beyond the headlines and into the sands of history with this thoughtful, probing portrait. Travel the lands where he is said to have walked, and hear from renowned scholars and spiritualists who illuminate the man at the heart one of the world's great faiths.
His father died before he was born, and his mother died when he was only six. But sheltered by a powerful uncle, he made a good start in life, established himself in a profitable business and married well. And then, at the age of 40, he was transformed. A man who could not read or write, he announced that he was the prophet of God. His name was Muhammad, and in the next 23 years he would bring peace to the warring pagan tribes of Arabia and establish the new religion of Islam, which today has 1.2 billion followers.
The Prophet Muhammad and the Origins of Islam
The Met Museum
The Islam Book
A Concise Encyclopedia of Islam
by
The Qur'an : a beginner's guide
by