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Mohammed

Where did Mohammed live?

The prophet Mohammed lived most of the time in Mecca, where he was born in A.D. 570. The holy city of Mecca is situated in what is now Saudi Arabia. It is the greatest place of pilgrimage for members of the Mohammedan religion which the Prophet founded. Hundreds of thousands of Mohammedans make the sacred journey to Mecca every year.

After his father's death, Mohammed was a poor shepherd boy in the mountains near Mecca. As he grew older he often used to go alone into the mountains to pray. He did not begin preaching until he was 40, a few years after he thought he heard the archangel Gabriel speaking to him on Mount Hira.

Mohammed taught simply that there was one all-powerful God, and that men should try to serve him through prayer, helping one another and trying to lead a good life.

In 622, persecution from men, who disagreed with his teaching, led to the flight or "hegira" of Mohammed from Mecca to the neighbouring city of Medina. This is the year from which the whole Mohammedan world reckons time. In Medina, Mohammed developed a more formal and organized religion. But he wanted Mecca to become the chief center for Mohammedans.  Already they faced mecca when they prayed, because they believed it was a holy place.

In 630, the Mohammedans advanced on Mecca, and took the city easily. The people who lived there then accepted the Mohammedan religion which today has hundreds of Millions of followers throughout the world, especially in Africa, Asia and eastern Europe.

It is now one of the most influential and widespread religious systems in the world.




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