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Muhammad is the central figure of Islam, whom Muslims regard as the model of the perfect human being, and the paradigmatic exemplar par excellence. Muslims believe Muhammad is the chief of God's apostles and the sealer of his prophets, whose advent, they believe, fulfilled their prophecies about him and whose mission was mercy to all the creation.

Born approximately in 570 CE in the Arabian city of Mecca for a noble Ishmaelite clan, Muhammad was orphaned at an early age; he was raised under the care of his paternal uncle Abu Talib. When he was just a boy of about twelve years, he and his uncle, Abu Talib, made a journey to Bosra where he encountered Bahira the Monk. After his childhood Muhammad primarily worked as a shepherd. In his youth, he received the title al-Amin, (Arabic: الأمين), meaning "the Faithful". In his twenties, he joined the League of the Virtuous. Later, he went to work for Khadija, a widow who owned a caravan business. Later, the two were wed and this marriage provided Muhammad a secure livelihood. At age 35, Muhammad was involved with a well-known story about setting the Black Stone in place in the wall of the Kaaba. As an Abrahamic monotheist Hanif, he would occasionally retreat to a cave named Hira in the mountains for several nights of seclusion and prayer; later, at age 40, he reported being visited by Gabriel in the cave delivering to him the divine order to recite the Qur'an, the central religious scripture in Islam. At this point of his life, Muhammad started his Ministry. Historians divide the Ministry of Muhammad into two periods. The first is Muhammad's Meccan period and the second is Muhammad's Medinan period. The two periods are split by a major event known as the Hegira; which defines the beginning of history in the Islamic Calender. Muslims believe that Muhammad has a "unique significance" in the world. Muslim doctrines include the beliefs that Muhammad is God's most perfect man, God's first creation, God's last and greatest apostle, sent to all the the worlds, confirmed the message of the prophets of Islam and fulfilled their prophecies about him, attested his words with miracles, and informed about the future events. Muslims believe that Muhammad led the prophets in prayer in Jerusalem, ascended to heaven, met God, and came back in one night. Muslims believe that Muhammad will intercede for his Ummah on the Day of Judgment, and that he will be the possessor of the River of al-Kawthar (whiter than milk and sweeter than honey), and the Banner of Praise. On that Day, they believe, he will be the owner of the Praised Station (al-Maqam al-Mahmoud).