The First Revelation

As soon as he came, he said:

“Read. — Iqra’.”

You ﷺ replied:

“I cannot read.”
(That is, “I am not literate.”)

You ﷺ said:

“He squeezed me with such force that I thought I was going to die.”

After that, he released you ﷺ and then said:

“Read.”

That is, “Read what I say.”

You ﷺ said:

“What should I read?”

Then Jibril عليه السلام recited these verses from Surah Al-‘Alaq:

Translation:

“O Prophet ﷺ! Read in the name of your Lord, who created all creation; who created man from a clot of blood.

Read the Qur’an, and your Lord is Most Generous, who gives whatever He wills, and who taught those who write and read by means of the pen.

And He taught human beings, through other means, those things which they did not know.”

You ﷺ said:

“I recited these verses exactly as he had recited them. After this, the angel left me. It seemed as though a writing had been inscribed into my heart; that is, these words became memorized by me.”

After this, you ﷺ returned home.

According to some narrations, when Jibril عليه السلام came to the cave, he first said these words:

“O Muhammad! You are the Messenger of Allah, and I am Jibril.”

Before your ﷺ arrival at home, Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها had, as usual, prepared food for you ﷺ and sent it to you ﷺ through a person.

However, that person did not find you ﷺ in the cave.

He returned and told Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها about this.

She sent people to the homes of your ﷺ relatives to search for you ﷺ, but you ﷺ were not found there either.

Therefore, Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها became worried.

While she was still in this state of worry, you ﷺ arrived.

You ﷺ told Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها in detail everything that you ﷺ had seen and heard.

You ﷺ also told her the words of Jibril عليه السلام:

“O Muhammad! You are the Messenger of Allah.”

Hearing this, Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها said:

“Glad tidings to you! Be certain! By the One in whose possession is my life, you will be the Prophet of this nation.”

Then Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها took you ﷺ to her cousin, Waraqah bin Nawfal.

She told him the entire incident of the cave.

Waraqah bin Nawfal was a scholar of the previous scriptures.

After hearing the whole matter, he exclaimed:

“Quddus… Quddus! By the One in whose possession is my life, Khadijah! If you are telling the truth, then without any doubt, the same Namus al-Akbar, that is, Jibril, who used to come to Musa عليه السلام, has come to him.

Muhammad is the Prophet of this nation. He should have certainty about this.”

The meaning of Quddus is: “The One who is pure and free from every defect.”

This word is spoken at a time of astonishment, just as we say, “Allah… Allah.”

Waraqah bin Nawfal was astonished upon hearing the name of Jibril because people in the other cities of Arabia had not even heard this name.

It is also said that Waraqah bin Nawfal kissed your ﷺ head and then said:

“I wish I could remain alive until the time when you will invite people toward Allah Almighty.

I would help you and participate wholeheartedly in this great task.

I wish I could remain alive until the time when your people would reject you, cause you difficulties, fight wars against you, and drive you out from here.

If I remain alive at that time, I will support you and defend the religion of Allah.”

Hearing this, you ﷺ were surprised and said:

“My people will drive me out of my homeland?”

Waraqah replied:

“Yes! Because whoever brought what you have brought was subjected to oppression.

If I live to see that time, I will certainly help you fully.”

Waraqah also said to Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها:

“Indeed, your husband is truthful. In reality, these are the beginnings of Prophethood. He is the Prophet of this nation.”

However, shortly after this, Waraqah bin Nawfal passed away.

He was buried at a place called Hajun.

Since he had affirmed and testified to the truth of the Prophet ﷺ, the Noble Prophet ﷺ said about him:

“I saw Waraqah in Paradise. He was wearing a red garment.”

After meeting Waraqah, you ﷺ returned home.

After this, Jibril عليه السلام did not come before you ﷺ for some time.

There was wisdom in this interval. Allah Almighty intended that the effect of the fear that had arisen in your ﷺ blessed heart upon seeing Jibril عليه السلام would disappear, and that because of his absence, a longing for revelation would develop in your ﷺ heart.

And this is exactly what happened.

After the arrival of Jibril عليه السلام, when the revelation stopped for a period, you ﷺ were deeply distressed.

Several times, you ﷺ climbed to the tops of mountains so that you might throw yourself from there and end your life.

But whenever you ﷺ attempted to do so, Jibril عليه السلام would call out:

“O Muhammad! You are truly the Messenger of Allah Almighty.”

Hearing these words, you ﷺ would feel at peace.

But when the interval without revelation continued for some more time, you ﷺ would again become restless and sorrowful, and in the same way would climb to the top of a mountain.

Then Jibril عليه السلام would come again and comfort you ﷺ.

Finally, revelation came again.

The first three verses of Surah Al-Muddaththir were revealed.

Translation:

“O you who are wrapped in garments, arise! (That is, rise from your place and prepare yourself.)

Then warn the disbelievers.

Then proclaim the greatness of your Lord.

And keep your garments pure.”

In this way, along with Prophethood, you ﷺ were commanded to preach.

Ibn Ishaq writes:

“Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها was the first woman to believe in Allah and His Messenger and to affirm everything that the Messenger ﷺ brought from Allah.

Whenever you ﷺ suffered any difficulty or distress at the hands of the polytheists, Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها would comfort and console you ﷺ.”

After Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها, the second person was Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, who was your ﷺ old friend.

As soon as he heard from your ﷺ blessed tongue about your being granted Prophethood, he immediately affirmed you ﷺ and accepted faith.

Among the children was Sayyiduna Ali رضي الله عنه, who was among the first to believe in you ﷺ.

The incident of his accepting Islam happened in the following way:

One day, he came to the Noble Prophet ﷺ.

At that time, Sayyidah Khadijah رضي الله عنها was also with you ﷺ, and you ﷺ were praying secretly with her.

Seeing this new thing, he asked:

“What are you doing?”

The Noble Prophet ﷺ said:

“This is the religion which Allah Almighty has chosen for Himself, and for it Allah Almighty has sent His prophets.

I also invite you toward Allah and forbid you from worshipping Lat and Uzza.”

Hazrat Ali رضي الله عنه, upon hearing this, said:

“This is something new. I have never heard of it before today.

Therefore, I cannot say anything about myself at this moment. I will consult my father.”

Hearing his answer, you ﷺ said:

“Ali! Even if you do not become a Muslim, keep this matter secret.”

He promised and did not mention it to anyone.

He spent the entire night thinking about it.

Finally, Allah Almighty granted him guidance.

In the morning, he came into your ﷺ service and accepted Islam.

The scholars have written that at that time Hazrat Ali رضي الله عنه was approximately eight years old.

Even before this, he had never worshipped idols.

He had lived with the Noble Prophet ﷺ since childhood.