ABSTRACT
Muhammad was born about A.D. 570, and he lived about forty years before being transformed into a prophet. He was an orphan. His father died before he was born, and his mother died when he was about six. Muslims consider Muhammad the exemplar of Islam. Muhammad is the best indication of the holy life that Allah requires. Muhammad became the Prophet through the revelations that God gave him. Muhammad is the spokesperson for God. God chose Muhammad, for God's own reasons, to recite the message of coming Judgment and mercy that God wanted to impart. Angels serve God's Will. Muhammad assumes that humankind forms a unity. Muhammad actually improved the lot of women, compared to what it had been before the Qur'an. Muhammad died in 632; he left his community bereft but well-founded. Abu Bakr took charge, and the probability is that he carried out plans that Muhammad had formulated rather clearly.
