Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 AD Mecca was a large commercial city and most of Muhammad's relatives were traders and businessmen. He belonged to the Banu Hashim clan, a prominent family in Mecca, but the clan was not prosperous during Muhammad's early life. He became an orphan at the age of 6 as his father, Abdullah, died before Muhammad's birth, and his mother, Amina, died of illness. His grandfather and uncle took care of him during his early years. He later worked as a merchant or shepherd and married at the age of 25. Muhammad married a widow named Khadijah and joined her in business. He was very poor at first, but later became a very skilled merchant and manager. Muhammad had taken to retreating to a cave in the surrounding mountains and visiting it to meditate and pray. In 610, at the age of 40, while there, he received a powerful message from God through the angel Gabriel. He received advice and guidance in many areas. Three years after this, Muhammad began to preach these messages publicly. What he was told is recorded in the Quran, which ...