Muhammad was born in Mecca, around 570 CE. Mecca was a great city for trade, 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 early in Muhammad's life. He was orphaned at the age of 6 because his father, Abdullah, died before Muhammad was born 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 started out very poor, but later became a very capable trader and manager. Muhammad developed the habit of retiring to a cave in the surrounding mountains and going there to meditate and pray. In 610, at age 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 happened, Muhammad began to publicly preach these messages. What he was told is recorded in the Quran, which ...