born in mecca, muhammad's parents died in his childhood and he grew as an orphan. at the age of six, his grandfather abd al-muttalib took care of him, though he died just two years later. in young life, muhammad accompanied his uncle abu talib on trade trips. in 610 ad, at the age of forty, while muhammad was praying, he reportedly met gabriel and received the first revelation of the quran. at first, muhammad preached these revelations to his close friends and family. he started preaching monotheism publicly where he received opposition from the meccan polytheists. the polytheists boycotted muhammad for three years, in which muhammad could barely eat or drink. he was attacked with stones, ridiculed while praying, and eventually forced to leave his hometown of mecca.