Narrated 'A"ishah رضى الله عنها: (the mother of the faithful believers) The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He صلى الله عليه وسلم used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضى الله عنها to take his food like-wise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم replied, "I do not know how to read. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadijah bint Khuwayilid رضى الله عنها and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضى الله عنها replied, "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones." Khadijah bint Khuwaylid رضى الله عنها then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqah bin Nawfal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during the Pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadijah bint Khuwayilid رضى الله عنها said to Waraqah, "Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqah asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم described whatever he had seen. Waraqah said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqah replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqah died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while. Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari رضي الله عنه while talking about the period of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم "While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following Holy Verses (of Qur-an): 'O you (i.e. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Wrapped up in garments! Arise and warn (the people against Allah's Punishment),... up to 'and desert the idols.' (74:1-5) After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly."
Bukhari, Book 1, Hadith 3 |
