in the Quran (Q 33:40) as the Seal of the Prophets
(khatam al-nabiyyin), which, according to Islamic
belief, means that he is the last one to bring God’s
word to humankind.
The main source for knowing about Muham-
mad’s life is a biography known as the Sira (also
known as Sirat Rasul Allah), written in the middle
of the eighth century by mUhammad ibn ishaq (d.
767) and later edited by Ibn Hisham. This book
weaves oral history and legendary accounts into
a grand heroic narrative. The Quran is also a
source for biographical information, but it con-
tains mainly indirect references to events in his
life, except for the last 10 years in Medina. Schol-
ars have obtained additional information from
the hadith, but both Muslims and non-Muslims
suspect that some, if not many, of the assertions
were invented after Muhammad’s death. There is
scant knowledge about Muhammad’s childhood,
even the exact year of his birth is uncertain. It is
generally agreed that he was born in mecca to a
family belonging to the clan of the Banu Hashim,
a branch of the powerful Quraysh tribe that domi-
nated the city in the late sixth century. This was
the chief city of western Arabia and it was home
to a major temple, the kaaba, where Arabian gods
and goddesses were worshipped and where sacred
relics were housed. The Quraysh tribe profited
from its being a pilgrimage center for people liv-
ing in the region.MuhAMMAD IN MECCA
Muhammad’s father died before his birth, and,
in accordance with Arab custom, he was nursed
by a Bedouin woman, Halima. According to early
biographical lore, he was taken aside by two men
dressed in white (identified as angels in some
accounts), who opened his belly and purified his
heart with snow, an event that was taken as a sign
that he was destined to become a prophet. Muslim
commentators also associated it with the chapter
of the Opening of the Breast in the Quran (Q 94).
Muhammad’s mother Amina died when he was six
years old, so he became a dependent of his pater-
nal grandfather, Abd al-Mutallib. Then, when his
grandfather died two years later, he was cared
for by his paternal uncle, Abu Talib. As a youth,
Muhammad became involved in Mecca’s caravan
trade, which brought him into contact with peo-
ples living in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula
and Syria. As an adult his career was bolstered by
marriage to khadiJa (d. 619), a wealthy Meccan
businesswoman who was about 15 years older
than he. She was to bear all his children—several
daughters, including Fatima (d. 633), and two
sons, both of whom died in infancy. Known for
his honesty, Muhammad mediated a dispute thatAn Ottoman hilya, or word-portrait of Muhammad’s
physical appearance, based on the description attrib-
uted to Ali ibn Abi Talib. It is embellished with Quran
verses and the names of the first four caliphs.
Muhammad 491 J