The Arabs of pre-Islamic times needed a hero capable of assuming a tripartite role. First, he had to be a political leader in order to establish a united Arab nation; second, he had to be a military genius who could transform the Arab raiding capacity into a fighting force capable of advancing the Arabs as a whole; and third, he had to be a religious leader with divine authority to receive support beyond tribal boundaries.
When Muhammad was born in Mecca, that great trade center was already the focus of religious piety attached to the Kaaba, the Holy Rock, and its pantheon of tribal deities, of whom Allah was one. The future Prophet of Islam was orphaned at an early age and was raised by his grandfather and uncle, both of whom were prominent members of the Quraysh, the tribe responsible for maintaining the Kaaba and its lands and sacred well. Under their guardianship, Muhammad grew up in an atmosphere of religious excitement.
Possibly from Jews and Christians who visited or dwelt in Mecca, possibly from contacts made with them on his travels, Muhammad learned something of the biblical faith. In his twenties, he married the wealthy widow Khadijah, who freed him from financial concern, supported his meditations, bore him seven children, and became his first and most fervent follower. In a cave on Mount Hira near Mecca, where Muhammad often withdrew for meditation, he experienced a vision of the angel Gabriel calling him to prophesy. When he felt convinced that the revelation was genuine, Muhammad began to preach, proclaiming Allah as the one true God, the same God who had revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. It was his monotheism that aroused the fury of the inhabitants of Mecca, whose livelihood depended in part on pilgrims who came to worship the gods of the Kaaba.
Muhammad was forced to flee Mecca in 622. From this event, known as the Hegira, Islam dates its calendar. It marks the beginning of the Muhammadan era. The Prophet found refuge