Mohammed, [2] born at Mecca about 570 A.D., belonged to
the tribe of the Koreish, who had long been guardians of the sacred Kaaba. Left
an orphan at an early age, the future prophet was obliged to earn his own
living. He served first as a shepherd on the hillsides of Mecca. This
occupation, though lowly, gave him the love of solitude, and helped to nourish
in his soul that appreciation of nature which later found expression in so many
of his utterances. While still a youth he became a camel-driver and twice
crossed the deserts with caravans to Syria. Doubtless he made many
acquaintances on these journeys and picked up much useful information.
Mohammed, however, did not receive a regular education; it is doubtful whether
he could read or write. His marriage, when about twenty-five years of age, to a
rich widow, named Khadija, brought him wealth and consideration. For some time,
henceforth, he led the life of a prosperous merchant of Mecca.
[2] The earlier spelling was Mahomet.
MOHAMMED'S VISIONS
Mohammed seems always to have been a deeply religious man.
As he grew older, his thoughts more and more centered on spiritual themes. He
could not reconcile the gross idolatry of the Arabs with that belief in the
unity of God which he himself had reached. In his distress he would withdraw
into the wilderness, where he spent much time in fasting and solitary vigils,
practices perhaps suggested to him by the example of Christian hermits.
During these lonely hours in the desert strange scenes passed before his eyes
and strange voices sounded in his ears. At first Mohammed thought that evil
spirits possessed him, but Khadija encouraged him to believe that his visions
were a revelation from another world. One day, so he declared, God's messenger,
the archangel Gabriel, appeared to him and bade him preach a new religion to
the Arabs. It was very simple, but in its simplicity lay its strength:
"There is no god but God, and Mohammed is the prophet of God."