If you’re trying to pin down exactly when did Mohammed live, you’ve probably noticed that history from 1,500 years ago is kinda messy. It’s not like he had a digital footprint or a birth certificate filed in a government office. But honestly, we have a surprisingly clear picture of his life thanks to a mix of early Islamic biographies (the Sira) and a few outside mentions from people living at the same time.
Basically, Mohammed lived from c. 570 CE to 632 CE.
He was born in Mecca, which is in modern-day Saudi Arabia, and died in Medina. His life didn't just change the Arabian Peninsula; it redirected the entire course of human history. To understand the "when," you have to look at the world he stepped into—a world of tribal wars, shifting empires, and a whole lot of desert.
The Early Years: 570 to 610 CE
Mohammed was born into the Banu Hashim clan, which was part of the powerful Quraysh tribe. His birth year is often called the "Year of the Elephant." Why? Because according to tradition, that’s the year an Abyssinian army tried to attack Mecca with war elephants.
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Life was tough from the jump.
His father, Abdullah, died before he was even born. Then his mother, Amina, passed away when he was just six. He ended up being raised by his grandfather, and later his uncle, Abu Talib.
For about 40 years, he lived a relatively "normal" life for a Meccan of his status. He worked as a merchant. People called him Al-Amin, meaning "The Trustworthy," because he was apparently the only guy in town who wouldn't rip you off. In 595 CE, at age 25, he married a wealthy businesswoman named Khadijah. She was actually his boss before they got married.
He didn't start preaching until he was 40.
When Everything Changed: The Prophetic Era (610–632 CE)
In 610 CE, everything flipped. Mohammed was meditating in a cave called Hira on the outskirts of Mecca when he reported receiving his first revelation through the Angel Gabriel.
This marks the start of his career as a prophet.
For the next 22 years, he’d receive verses that eventually became the Quran. But the Meccan elites weren't fans. He was preaching about one God and social justice in a city that made its money from pagan pilgrims and slave labor. Things got so heated that his followers were tortured, and he eventually had to flee.
The Hijra: The Pivot Point of 622 CE
If you ever see a date with "AH" next to it, that stands for Anno Hegirae. This refers to the Hijra, the migration from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.
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This is arguably the most important date in the timeline of when Mohammed lived.
It’s when the Muslim community stopped being a persecuted minority and started being a political and social power. In Medina, Mohammed wasn't just a preacher; he was a statesman. He drafted the Constitution of Medina, which is one of the earliest documents outlining rights for different religious groups living together.
The Final Decade and 632 CE
The last ten years of his life were a whirlwind of diplomacy, battles, and expansion. He eventually returned to Mecca in 630 CE, not as a fugitive, but as a conquerer—though he famously pardoned most of his former enemies.
By the time he died on June 8, 632 CE, almost the entire Arabian Peninsula was under the banner of Islam.
He was roughly 62 or 63 years old. He died in the arms of his wife Aisha and was buried right where he passed away, in what is now the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.
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Why the Dates Sometimes Conflict
You might find some scholars saying he was born in 571 CE instead of 570. Or that he died a few days earlier or later in June.
Here’s the thing: the Islamic calendar is lunar.
Because a lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar (Gregorian) year, dates shift around. Also, early historians like Ibn Ishaq (who wrote the first major biography about 100 years later) were working with oral traditions. While the big milestones are solid, the "day-of-the-week" specifics can sometimes be a puzzle for modern historians.
Key Timeline at a Glance
- 570 CE: Born in Mecca (Year of the Elephant).
- 595 CE: Marries Khadijah and continues work as a merchant.
- 610 CE: Receives the first revelation in Cave Hira at age 40.
- 613 CE: Begins preaching publicly in Mecca.
- 622 CE: The Hijra (migration to Medina); Year 1 of the Islamic calendar.
- 624 CE: Battle of Badr, the first major military victory.
- 630 CE: The Conquest of Mecca.
- 632 CE: The Farewell Pilgrimage and his death in Medina.
What Most People Get Wrong
A big misconception is that Mohammed lived a life of luxury once he became a leader. Historically, that’s just not true. Even at the height of his power in Medina, records show he lived in a simple mud-brick house and often went weeks without a hot meal, living on dates and water.
Another weird one? People think he was "The Founder" of Islam in a way that implies he invented it. From his perspective—and the perspective of Muslims today—he was simply the final messenger in a long line that included Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. He saw himself as a reformer, not an inventor.
How to Explore This History Further
If you want to get deeper into the specific day-to-day life of Mohammed, you’ve gotta look at the Hadith (sayings and actions) and the Sira (biography).
Start by reading The Sealed Nectar (Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum) by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri. It’s widely considered one of the most authoritative modern accounts of his life. If you prefer a more Western academic lens, check out the works of W. Montgomery Watt or Martin Lings. Lings’ biography is famous for feeling more like a narrative story while staying very close to the traditional sources.
Understanding when Mohammed lived helps you see him as a real person navigating a specific moment in time, rather than just a figure in a book.
Next Steps for Your Research:
- Compare the Meccan and Medinan periods to see how the tone of the Quranic revelations changed based on his life circumstances.
- Look into the Byzantine-Sassanid War that was happening during his life; it explains a lot about why the surrounding empires were too weak to stop the spread of Islam after his death.
- Visit a local library to find a copy of the Constitution of Medina to see how he managed a multi-faith society in the 7th century.