Viewed as a poet by some and a troublemaker by still others, Muhammad ibn Àbdullah believed he was a messenger of God. In the tradition of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, Muhammad was to be the champion of monotheism among his polytheistic tribesmen. After facing severe persecution, Muhammad's followers (known as Muslims) gained a political foothold in Arabia, allowing Islam's message to travel beyond the sands of Arabia. Muhammad united the country, and within 100 years of his death, an Islamic empire stretched across the continent.