Muhammad was troubled by the moral ills of meccan society, especially greed. he often went to a cave in the hills near mecca to meditate. according to muslim belief, when he was about 40 years old he heard the voice of the angel gabriel calling him to be the messenger of god. muhammad was terrified and puzzled. how could he, an illiterate merchant, become the messenger of god? [his wife] khadija encouraged him to accept the call." this passage predicts a. muhammad established the first caliphate. b. muhammad began to urge arabs to give up pagan gods and worship the one true god. c. muhammad won the loyalty of his first converts. d. muhammad first formulated the five pillars.