Muhammad was an Arab religious, military and political leader, and the founder of Islam. At the age of 40, he claimed to receive divine revelation from the archangel Gabriel, which formed the basis of the Quran. He sought to unite the Arab tribes under Islam, and led a series of battles that led to the creation of the first Islamic state with him as its head. Muhammad's successors later continued the expansion of the Islamic state, creating the Rashidun caliphate. Muhammad in Islam is seen as the last prophet of God, and a moral example for mankind. His sunnah, which documents his life and practices, is followed by Muslims worldwide and has received extensive study.