Prophet Muhammad (570 - 632 AD) - the central figure of Islam - is believed to be the last of the prophets and the last Messenger of God to mankind.
His mawlid (birthday) is commemorated annually on the 12th of Rabi' Al Awwal, which falls on November 20th this year. The occasion is celebrated by millions of Muslims worldwide.
In honor of the prophet's birth, here are seven things you should know about him:
1. As a young man, the prophet worked as a shepherd
Prophet Muhammad was born to a noble family from the descendants of Ishmael, the son of Abraham. He was the first and only son of his parents; his father died before his birth and his mother died during his early childhood years.
He was then raised by his paternal uncle after losing both his parents and grandparents. He worked as a shepherd to help his uncle make ends meet.
In his early twenties, the prophet entered the service of a wealthy merchant in Mecca - Khadija bint Khawalayd - who later became his wife.
Khadija's business revolved around trading goods from Mecca to Syria and Yemen.
2. He defied traditional gender norms ... with his first marriage
Khadija - an elite figure in Mecca long before her marriage to the prophet - proposed to Prophet Muhammad shortly after working together.
He was 25-years-old at the time, while she was 40. Khadija had been twice married and twice widowed. The prophet defied gender norms and accepted the proposal. The two were married for 25 years before his wife died.
Khadija was the first person to accept Muhammad as the final prophet of God and played a major role in propagating the new faith of Islam.
3. "For his day, the Prophet Muhammad was a feminist"
"For his day, the Prophet Muhammad was a feminist," writes Lisa Beyer in an article for Time Magazine.
By laying down the Islamic doctrine that dictates women's rights, the prophet was arguably the first feminist in history. Countering the widespread exploitation of women, he ordered men to honor and respect them.
In one of his last commands before his death, he repeated the phrase: "I command you to be kind and considerate to women."
In another hadith, he said, "It is only the generous in character who is good to women, and only the evil one who insults them."
The prophet frowned upon fathers who favor their sons over daughters, and referred to the birth of a girl as a "blessing."
Known for treating them kindly and helping with house work, the prophet led by example in his relationships with his wives, many of whom were working women. He even decreed that women have a right to sexual satisfaction.
4. He preached moderation and social reform
He advocated for social reform on many levels, including gender and racial equality, religious freedom, and mandatory education for all Muslims.
His efforts and work paved the way and helped the Islamic civilization to flourish and spread between the 7th and 13th centuries.
5. He condemned racism and tribalism
Prophet Muhammad was known to stand up against discrimination and self-imposed "superiority." During his last sermon at Mount Arafat, his anti-racism views were made public.
The prophet stated that "an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab ... a white person has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety and good action."
6. He used this seal on letters sent to foreign dignitaries
Prophet Muhammad wore an engraved ring with the words "Muhammad is the messenger of God."
Because he was illiterate, he ordered the ring be made as his signature seal. The seal-ring was used to sign letters sent to various rulers.
His love and devotion to God pushed him to put "Allah" as the top word and his own name at the bottom.
7. He prayed in the presence of dogs
Prophet Muhammad cared for animals, including dogs and cats. While some sayings attributed to the prophet accuse him of being hostile towards canines, many Islamic scholars claim they are fabricated.
In his book The Animal in Ottoman Egypt and an article published on Quartz, Alan Mikhail - professor of history at Yale University - sets the facts straight about dogs in Islamic culture.
According to Mikhail, dogs were found around the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina, the second holiest Islamic site in the world, during the prophet's life and for centuries after his passing.
Citing "several authoritative accounts of his life and teachings," Mikhail writes that the prophet even conducted prayer in the presence of dogs. Additionally, according to some Islamic schools of thought, the prophet is believed to have forbade people from selling and paying for dogs and cats.