Paul Atreides

"Many have marked the speed with which Muad'Dib learned the necessities of Arrakis. The Bene Gesserit, of course, know the basis of this speed. For the others, we can say that Muad'Dib learned rapidly because his first training was in how to learn. And the first lesson of all was the basic trust that he could learn. It is shocking to find how many people do not believe they can learn, and how many more believe learning to be difficult. Muad'Dib knew that every experience carries its lesson."

from "The Humanity of Muad'Dib" by the Princess Irulan.

Paul Atreides was born in the 57th year of the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV to Duke Leto Atreides and his Bene Gesserit lady, Jessica.

Since early childhood, Paul had displayed the ability to predict the future in his dreams. At the age of 15, before moving to Arrakis, Paul was visited by an old Reverend Mother who told him of the Bene Gesserit plans to produce the Kwisatz Haderach. She also revealed the possibilty that Paul may be that man.

After the Harkonnen attack, Paul and his mother escaped in the desert where they met the Fremen. Among them, he became known as Muad'Dib, and grew to be their leader.

Indeed, Paul Muad'Dib was the Kwisatz Haderach. By taking the Water of Life, he was able to see into the future and into the past. He was able to traverse the fabric of space and time. He was in all places at once.

"Muad'Dib could indeed, see the Future, but you must understand the limits of this power. Think of sight. You have eyes, but cannot see without light. If you are on the floor of a valley, you cannot see beyond your valley. Just so, Muad'Dib could not always choose to look across the mysterious terrain. He tells us that a single obscure decision of prophecy, perhaps the choice of one word over another, could change the entire aspect of the future. He tells us "The vision of time is broad, but when you pass through it, time become a narrow door." And always, he fought the tempation to choose a clear, safe course, warning "That path leads ever down into stagnation."

from "Arrakis Awakening" by Princess Irulan.