Abraha, the Abyssinian governor of Yemen, marched an army with elephants toward Makkah to destroy the Ka'bah, but was repelled by divine intervention.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born in Makkah in the Year of the Elephant.
The infant Muhammad ﷺ was given to Halimah al-Sa'diyyah, a Bedouin wet-nurse from Banu Sa'd, as was the custom of Quraysh.
Aminah bint Wahb passed away at al-Abwa' while returning from a visit to Madinah. Muhammad ﷺ was approximately six years old and became an orphan.
After the death of his grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, the Prophet ﷺ came under the guardianship of his uncle Abu Talib.
During a trade journey to Syria with Abu Talib, a Christian monk named Bahira reportedly recognized signs of prophethood in the young Muhammad ﷺ.
Young Muhammad ﷺ participated in the Hilf al-Fudul, a pact among Quraysh clans to defend the oppressed and uphold justice. He later praised this pact in Islam.
Muhammad ﷺ married Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a respected merchant of Quraysh. She was his first wife and his staunchest supporter.
When the Ka'bah was rebuilt after flood damage, the clans of Quraysh disputed over who would place the Black Stone. Muhammad ﷺ resolved the conflict by placing the stone on a cloth carried by representatives of each clan.
The angel Jibril appeared to Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira' and commanded him to 'Read!' (Iqra'). The first verses of Surah al-Alaq were revealed.
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid was the first person to believe in the Prophet's ﷺ message and accept Islam.
For approximately three years, the Prophet ﷺ preached Islam privately. Early converts included Abu Bakr, Ali ibn Abi Talib, and Zayd ibn Harithah.
The Prophet ﷺ was commanded to warn his nearest kinsmen openly. He ascended Mount Safa and proclaimed his message publicly to the Quraysh.
After the public declaration, Quraysh intensified persecution of Muslims, especially those without tribal protection. Bilal, Sumayyah, and Ammar ibn Yasir were among the most severely persecuted.
A group of Muslims, including Uthman ibn Affan and Ruqayyah (daughter of the Prophet ﷺ), migrated to Abyssinia to escape persecution. The Negus (al-Najashi) granted them protection.
When Quraysh sent envoys to retrieve the Muslims, Ja'far ibn Abi Talib delivered a speech before the Negus describing Islam's teachings, including reciting from Surah Maryam.
Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib accepted Islam, reportedly after witnessing Abu Jahl's abuse of the Prophet ﷺ.
Quraysh imposed a total social and economic boycott on Banu Hashim and Banu al-Muttalib, confining them to the Shi'b (valley) of Abu Talib for approximately three years.
Abu Talib, the Prophet's ﷺ protector, and Khadijah, his beloved wife, both passed away within a short period.
After losing his protectors, the Prophet ﷺ traveled to Ta'if seeking support from the tribe of Thaqif. They rejected him and their youth pelted him with stones.
The Prophet ﷺ was taken on a night journey from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsa (Isra').
Twelve men from Yathrib (Madinah) pledged allegiance to the Prophet ﷺ at Aqabah, promising to worship Allah alone, avoid major sins, and obey the Prophet ﷺ.
Seventy-three men and two women from Yathrib pledged to support and protect the Prophet ﷺ. This paved the way for the Hijrah.
The Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr secretly departed Makkah, hiding in the Cave of Thawr for three days before continuing to Madinah.
The Prophet ﷺ stopped at Quba on the outskirts of Madinah and established the first mosque in Islam (Masjid Quba).
The Prophet ﷺ established al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) at the spot where his camel knelt in Madinah.
The Prophet ﷺ paired each Muhajir (Meccan emigrant) with an Ansari (Medinan helper) as brothers, sharing resources and support.
The Prophet ﷺ established a treaty (Sahifah) defining the rights and duties of Muslims, Jews, and other groups in Madinah as a single community (ummah).
Allah commanded the change of the Qiblah (direction of prayer) from Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis) to the Ka'bah in Makkah.
The Muslims (approximately 313 fighters) faced a much larger Quraysh force (approximately 1,000) at Badr and achieved a decisive victory.
Quraysh returned with 3,000 fighters to avenge Badr. The battle initially favored the Muslims but turned when archers left their posts. Hamza ibn Abd al-Muttalib was martyred.
Banu Nadir were expelled from Madinah after an alleged assassination attempt against the Prophet ﷺ and violation of the treaty.
A confederation of Quraysh and allied tribes (10,000 strong) besieged Madinah. The Muslims dug a trench on Salman al-Farisi's suggestion, preventing direct assault.
After the Battle of the Trench, Banu Qurayza were besieged for breaking their alliance during the siege. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh was chosen as arbiter and passed judgment.
The Prophet ﷺ led an expedition against Banu al-Mustaliq at the well of al-Muraysi'. After the Muslim victory, the Prophet ﷺ married Juwayriyah bint al-Harith (daughter of the tribe's chief), leading the Muslims to release their captives out of respect for the Prophet's ﷺ new kinship.
The Muslims traveled to Makkah for Umrah but were halted at Hudaybiyyah. A treaty was negotiated: 10-year ceasefire, Muslims would return that year and perform Umrah the next.
The Muslim forces besieged and conquered the fortresses of Khaybar. Ali ibn Abi Talib played a key role in the final assault.
The Prophet ﷺ sent letters inviting various rulers to Islam, including the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, the Persian Emperor Khosrow, the Negus of Abyssinia, and the ruler of Egypt.
As agreed in the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, the Muslims returned to Makkah and performed Umrah peacefully.
After Quraysh violated the Hudaybiyyah treaty, the Prophet ﷺ marched on Makkah with approximately 10,000 Muslims. The city was taken largely without bloodshed.
After the conquest of Makkah, the tribes of Hawazin and Thaqif assembled against the Muslims at Hunayn. The Muslims initially panicked but rallied and won.
The Prophet ﷺ led the largest Muslim army (estimated 30,000) northward to Tabuk in response to reports of Byzantine mobilization. No battle occurred; several border tribes submitted.
Numerous Arab tribes sent delegations to Madinah to declare their allegiance and acceptance of Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ performed his only Hajj and delivered the Farewell Sermon at Arafat, emphasizing equality, sanctity of life and property, and the completion of the religion.
The Prophet ﷺ passed away in Madinah in the apartment of Aisha. He was sixty-three years old.