Born into the Heart of Arabia
Muhammad was born around 570 A.D. in the city of Mecca, located in the Hejaz region of what is today Saudi Arabia. Mecca was a busy trading crossroads — a place where caravans carrying goods from Africa, Persia, and the Mediterranean world passed through regularly. At its center stood the Kaaba, a cube-shaped shrine that housed idols worshiped by the many tribes of Arabia, making Mecca a religious destination as well as a commercial hub.
His father, Abdullah, died before Muhammad was born. His mother, Amina, died when he was just six years old. By the age of eight, his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib — who had taken him in — also died. Muhammad was then raised by his uncle, Abu Talib, a merchant and leader of the Hashim clan of the powerful Quraysh tribe. From early childhood, Muhammad knew loss, dependency, and life on the margins of Meccan society.
Mecca has been a pilgrimage center for centuries — long before Islam, it was already a gathering place for Arabian tribes.
Key Facts — Early Life
- Born: ~570 A.D., Mecca
- Tribe: Quraysh (Hashim clan)
- Father: Abdullah (died before birth)
- Mother: Amina (died age 6)
- Guardian: Uncle Abu Talib
- Known as: “Al-Amin” (the trustworthy)
