Life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
18 periods70 events161 sources
How the sources are used: Sources are chosen in this order: the Quran first, then the hadith collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, and then other collections such as al-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and Malik. The sirah books, mainly Ibn Ishaq as transmitted by Ibn Hisham, are used only for details not found in the hadith, and these are marked as “recorded in the sirah books.” Dates in the Christian era are approximate, and hadith numbers follow the hadith library of this website.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026
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Common questions
When and where was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ born?
He was born in Makkah on a Monday, in the Year of the Elephant, around 570 CE (some say 571). When asked about fasting on Mondays he said: “On it I was born, and on it revelation was sent down to me” (Sahih Muslim 1162e). The day most often given is 12 Rabi' al-Awwal, though scholars differ and some give the 2nd, 8th or 9th.
How old was he at the first revelation, and how long did he live in Makkah and Madinah?
He was forty when the first revelation came. Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما said he was sent at forty, stayed thirteen years in Makkah, then migrated and lived ten years in Madinah, and died aged sixty-three (Sahih al-Bukhari 3902). Anas رضي الله عنه gave ten years in Makkah and a death age of sixty (Sahih Muslim 2347a), but most scholars prefer the first account.
How old was the Prophet ﷺ when he died?
Most scholars say he was sixty-three. Aisha رضي الله عنها reported that he died aged sixty-three (Sahih al-Bukhari 3536), and Mu'awiyah رضي الله عنه said the same in a sermon (Sahih Muslim 2352b), as did Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما (Sahih al-Bukhari 3902). He died on a Monday in Rabi' al-Awwal of 11 AH, about June 632 CE (Sahih al-Bukhari 1387).
Where is the Prophet ﷺ buried?
He is buried in Madinah, in the room of Aisha رضي الله عنها, where he died; the room is now beside and within the Prophet's Mosque. Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said he had heard the Prophet ﷺ say that Allah does not take a prophet except in the place where he would like to be buried (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1018). Aisha رضي الله عنها added that his grave would have been placed in the open had it not been feared that it would be taken as a mosque (Sahih Muslim 529). Abu Bakr and Umar رضي الله عنهما were later buried beside him, as historians record.
How many battles did the Prophet ﷺ take part in?
Zayd ibn Arqam رضي الله عنه said the Prophet ﷺ led nineteen expeditions (Sahih al-Bukhari 4404), and Buraydah رضي الله عنه said that he fought in eight of the nineteen (Sahih Muslim 1814a). Counts differ because scholars define a battle differently; many sirah scholars count nine in which fighting took place, including Badr, Uhud, the Trench, Khaybar, the conquest of Makkah, Hunayn and Ta'if. He also sent many other expeditions without leading them.
When does the Hijri calendar begin?
The Hijri calendar counts from the Hijrah, the Prophet's migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE. Sahl ibn Sa'd رضي الله عنه said that the Muslims did not count from his mission or his death but from his arrival in Madinah (Sahih al-Bukhari 3934). Historians record that the calendar was formalised in the time of Umar رضي الله عنه, with the first of Muharram of the first year falling in mid-July 622 CE.