Basic HTML Version
XII
THE QURAN
because first its acceptance is enjoined by Allah in the Quran,
and second it supplements and explains the Quranic message.
Muhammad was born in 571 in the North Arabian city of
Makkah, which was then inhabited mainly by the tribe of
Quraysh. In those ties, this tribe enjoyed throughout Arabia and
the neighboring countries great prestige on account of the
position of their city as a flourishing trade and religious center.
Their caravans, which journeyed to Syria and Yemen, and the
most ancient shrine of Ka'ba at Makkah annually, drew a great
number of Arabian pilgrims.
Though most of the Arabians were then idol-worshippers, several
others religions, including Christianity and Judaism, had
followers in Arabia. But none of those other religions could
claim to have been at any time the religion of more than a
negligible minority.
Muhammad's family belonged to one of the noble clans of
Quraysh-the clan of Banu Hashim. He grew up as an orphan. His
father died before he was born, and his mother when he was six
year old. It fell first to his grandfather to take care of him and
then to his uncle Abu Talib. As from his early youth he
impressed his countrymen as person of high integrity, and they
called him the trustworthy.
When Muhammad was twenty-five years old, he married
Khadija, a wealthy and noble widow who had engaged him to
handle her caravan trade, and who had developed great
admiration and respect for his noble character.
His marriage, thanks to Khadija's broadmindedness and
understanding, proved to be a happy one. Though during the first