Muhammad was an orphaned merchant from Mecca who often retreated to a cave to pray. At age 40, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and commanded him to recite verses that would become the Quran. Muslims believe several proofs establish Muhammad as a prophet, including verses from the Torah and Injil prophesying his coming, his ability to foretell past events only known to God, and scientific facts in the Quran only discovered recently by science. While some may question his prophethood, Muslims point to the enduring message of the Quran as the greatest sign of its divine origin and Muhammad's status as the final prophet.