Prophet (S.A.W)’s First Experience of Receiving Revelation
Life in Makkah
Give an account of the Prophet (S.A.W)’s first experience of receiving revelation.
The Period Before Receiving Revelation
As Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) was getting older, he isolated himself from the corrupt practices of Arab society. At 40, he began to spend most of his time meditating and worshipping in a nearby cave, Hira. There, He (S.A.W.) would think of his Lord and the Makkah society. He usually carried supplies of food and water and returned home when they ended. Occasionally, his wife, Hazrat Khadija (R.A.) would take food for him, and then He (S.A.W.) would continue his meditation. Meanwhile, a strange incident happened to him.
The Prophet’s Experience of Revelation
One day, in 610 A.D., when He (S.A.W.) was meditating in the cave of Mount Hira, the Archangel Jibrael came to him in the form of a man and told him to ‘Read!’ The Prophet (S.A.W.) replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’
At that moment, the man grabbed him by force, pressed him hard, and then released him and commanded him to follow the order to Read!
The answer of the Prophet (S.A.W.) was again the same. He does not know how to read. The being now hugged him and pressed him hard a second time. Later, the Prophet (S.A.W.) shared this experience with his companions and told them that he was embraced and squeezed so tightly that he deemed he would die of suffocation. Forthwith, the man commanded him to recite it again. The Prophet (S.A.W) replied this time, ‘What should I read?’ Now, the following verses of the Surah Alaq were recited,
“Read, in the name of Your Lord who created, created man from a clot of blood. Read, your Lord is most generous, who taught man with the pen. Taught man what he did not know.” (96: 1-5) Al-Alaq
He recited these verses following Angel Jibrael and observed them as if they were written in his heart. After this strange experience, Mohammad (S.A.W.) was immensely trembling, so he fled from the cave. When he was halfway down the slope, he heard a voice from above saying, “O Mohammad (S.A.W.) you are the Messenger of Allah, and I am Jibrael.”
He immediately looked up and saw the same being again that had visited him in the cave. But, this time, the being was a gigantic figure, its head touching the sky, its feet on the earth, and the tips of his wings touching the east and west. The Prophet (S.A.W.) was scared of seeing that creature. Yet, he stood until the Angel Jibrael disappeared.
First Year of Hijra
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Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) escaped from Makkah to Madinah with his friend, Abu Bakr (R.A), as per Allah’s order. They hid in …
Sixth Year of Hijra
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In the year 628 A.D, in the month of Dhul Qadah, The Prophet (S.A.W) set out from Madinah for hajj …
After the Visitation of the Angel Jibrael
Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) rushed to the home and asked Hazrat Khadija (R.A.) to wrap him. Khadija consoled him by covering him, and subsequently, He (S.A.W.) narrated his experience to Hazrat Khadija (R.A.) and said I am afraid that something has happened to me.
Hazrat Khadija (R.A.) 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.”
Hazrat Khadija (R.A.) later accompanied him to her aged cousin Waraqa bin Nawfil, who had converted to Christianity during the Jahiliyya period and was familiar with the ancient scriptures of the Torah and the Gospel. The Prophet (S.A.W.) described to Waraqa what He (S.A.W.) had viewed and heard. Waraqa said that the being was Angel Jibrael, who had been sent before by Allah to Moses. Waraqa also explained the career of the Prophet (S.A.W.), that he received through the Angel Jibrael inviting people towards one God and His religion.
Prophecy of Waraqa bin Nawfil
Waraqa predicted that Mohammad (S.A.W.) would face opposition from people after delivering the message of Allah. He (S.A.W.) may face eviction from his hometown. Moreover, Waraqa assured his support for the Prophet of Islam. Thus, the Prophet (S.A.W.) was greatly consoled by this act of Waraqa. A few days later, Waraqa died, and a long time passed before the second revelation was revealed to the Prophet (S.A.W.). Allah says in the Quran, “The month of Ramadhan is the month in which the Quran was revealed.”
Allah Says, “Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel – it is [none but] he who has brought the Qur’an down upon your heart, [O Muhammad], by permission of Allah , confirming that which was before it and as guidance and good tidings for the believers." (2:97)
Explain the significance of the action of the Angel and Waraqa bin Nawfil in this event.
The Angel
The Prophet (S.A.W.) received a visit from the Angel Jibrael in the cave. Cave Hira’s activities in this incident are noteworthy in a variety of ways.
First and foremost, Angel Jibrael was carrying out the mission that Allah had entrusted him to deliver the Divine word to His chosen people. It demonstrates that Allah selected the Prophet (S.A.W.).
Secondly, by this visit, the archangel became the first person to notify the Prophet (S.A.W.) about his new duty of conveying the messages of Allah to the ordinary man.
Finally, the fact that the Angel Jibrael showed up at this particular occurrence indicates that Allah was the source of the revelations. The Quran states, “It is taught to him by one (angel) of strong faculties.” (53:3)
Waraqa bin Nawfil
Waraqa bin Nawfil was the cousin of Hazrat Khadija R.A. He was a scholar with expertise in Christian and Jewish scriptures. His acts played a crucial role in explaining the visit of the archangel to the Prophet (S.A.W.) in the Mount Hira cave.
He was the first person to convey to the Prophet (S.A.W.) the value of his experience of revelation. Waraqa assisted the Prophet (S.A.W.) in realizing that the Angel Jibrael was the one who appeared to past prophets and communicated the word of Allah had come to him.
The exposition of Waraqa bin Nawfil assisted the Prophet (S.A.W.) in discovering his responsibilities. These were about his new duties of the prophethood of receiving and conveying God’s message. Additionally, he issued warnings to the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) of his impending banishment from Makkah and prepared him for the difficulties that were coming ahead. In that manner, Waraqa’s action hugely comforted the Prophet (S.A.W.).