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The Story of Muhammad
One evening, a very long time ago, in a cave in a faraway land, a man sat thinking. The man's name was Muhammad and he was not happy. ' My business is going well. My family are fine. People like me. So why am I so sad?' Muhammad thought about Mecca, the city where he lived. Mecca was a very busy city, full of people who were greedy and dishonest. No one cared about the poor and the needy. People believed in evil spirits and magic and worshipped many different gods.
Muhammad wondered if there was anything that would show these people how to live better lives and to give up their bad ways. Muhammad often spent days and nights in this cave, thinking about these things. It was a quiet, cool place where he could think and pray all by himself.
Suddenly Muhammad had a strange feeling that he was no longer alone. "Do not be afraid," said a voice. Muhammad rubbed his eyes and stared - it was an angel. It was the Angel Jibril.
Jibril showed Muhammad some words. 'Read!' the angel commanded. But Muhammad had never gone to school. He had never learned to read or write. The angel repeated his command, before squeezing Muhammad so hard that he thought that he would faint.
The angel released Muhammad and began to read out the beautiful words. Muhammad immediately knew that these words came from God. He listened carefully and was able to remember everything the angel said.
The same thing happened to Muhammad over the years. At first, he was frightened by the angel's visits. But when he told his wife and friends about the first visit, they said,
"Be happy! Allah has chosen you to bring His message to the world." But not everyone in Mecca believed Muhammad. The messages from Allah, which he spoke, made many people angry and he was forced to leave Mecca with his family and friends.
Years later, Muhammad returned to Mecca and became the leader of the city. He did not punish the people who had driven him out of the city. Instead, he made new rules and laws which meant that poor people and children were looked after properly.
Soon after his return to Mecca, Muhammad died. The messages from God which he had told people were written down and made into a book - the Holy Qur'an.
