Khadija was his first convert. At first he shared his revelations with a small group of friends and family members, who became his disciples, "convinced that he was the long-awaited Arab prophet." As Mohammed, who was illiterate, recited new passages, believers wrote them down: a compilation that became the Koran.
The Meccans were offended by Mohammed's preaching that the ideal was submission. ("Islam" means submission.) He taught that the proper way to pray was to bow, forehead to the earth, "a posture that would be repugnant to the haughty Quraysh," Armstrong notes. Mohammed also insisted that the Meccans abandon the worship of their three stone goddesses, because there was only one God, Allah.
Mohammed and his followers were exiled to Medina, 400km north of Mecca. He did not conquer Medina so much as form alliances and win converts. But there were epic battles with the Quraysh and other tribes, and Mohammed was a fighter and tactician.
"Mohammed was not a pacifist," Armstrong writes. "He believed that warfare was sometimes inevitable and even necessary."
This is why some passages in the Koran are rules for warfare. Terrorist groups cite these selectively — or contort or violate them. The Koran says not to take aim at civilians; some terrorist groups declare all Israelis to be combatants because Israelis are required to perform military service.
Armstrong declines to stand in judgment of events that have scandalized other biographers; as when Mohammed falls for the wife of his adopted adult son and takes her as his fifth wife. Armstrong writes: "This story has shocked some of Mohammed's Western critics who are used to more ascetic, Christian heroes, but the Muslim sources seem to find nothing untoward in this demonstration of their prophet's virility. Nor are they disturbed that Mohammed had more than four wives: Why should God not give his prophet a few privileges?"
Mohammed ultimately took back Mecca and reclaimed the Kaabah, still the destination for the Muslim pilgrimage. Armstrong argues that he prevailed by compassion, wisdom and steadfast submission to God. This is the power of his story and the reason that more parents around the world name their children Mohammed than any other name.
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