The first revelation: How did prophecy begin in the Cave of Hira? The story and the challenges
After many years of thinking and contemplating the universe and the Creator, the defining moment in the life of the Prophet Muhammadcame, the moment of the first revelation in the Cave of Hira. This moment was not just the beginning of prophecy, it was the launch of a message that would change the face of the world forever. What are the details of this momentous event that changed the course of history?
Hira cave: Retreat and meditation before the message
Before he was sent as a prophet, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to seclude himself in the Cave of Hira, located on Mount Nur in Mecca. He would spend countless nights worshipping and meditating on God’s creation and searching for truth in the midst of a society drowning in idolatry. These retreats were a divine preparation of his pure soul to receive the greatest message known to mankind.
First meeting with Jibril: “Iqraa” is the beginning of light
While the Prophet ( peace be upon him) was worshiping in the cave of Hira, on one of the nights of the blessed month of Ramadan , the angel Gabriel came to him in a form he had never seen before. Imam Bukhari narrated in his Sahih from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), in the hadith of the beginning of revelation, that Gabriel came to him and said, “Read.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I am not a reader” (i.e. I do not know how to read). Gabriel took him and hugged him tightly until he was exhausted, then he sent him off and said, “Read.” The Prophet responded with the same answer. Gabriel repeated it three times, and each time he hugged him tightly, then sent him off and said: “Read in the name of your Lord who created.”
Evidence: These are the first verses of the Qur’an, the beginning of Surah Al-Alaq:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ (1) خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ (2) اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ (3) الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ (4) عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ (5)
These verses were the divine announcement of the beginning of prophecy, and that the message of Islam would begin with reading and learning.
The Dread and the Return to Khadija: The First Bond
The Prophet returned home after this great experience with a trembling heart, saying to his wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her): “Cover me, cover me” (i.e., cover me). The event was beyond human comprehension, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered into a blanket of fear and dread.
Here, Mrs. Khadija’s great role in stabilizing and reassuring him stands out. She was the epitome of a good and supportive wife. She said something heart-warming to him: “No, by Allah, you will never be disgraced by Allah, for you are the one who connects the womb, bears the burden, provides for the needy, helps the guest, and assists in the afflictions of righteousness.” Her words were evidence of her deep belief in his noble morals, and that such a person could not be harmed by God.
The testimony of Waraqa ibn Nawfal: Confirmation of prophethood
Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) was not satisfied with this, but took the Prophet (peace be upon him) to her cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal, who was an old man who had become a Christian in the Jahiliyyah and used to write the Hebrew book and hear from the people of the Book. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him what had happened, Waraqa said: “This is the law that Allah revealed to Moses, I wish I were a stump (i.e., a strong young man), and I wish I were alive when your people bring you out.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Or are they the ones who will bring you out?” He said, “Yes, no man has ever come with anything like what you came with except to return.”
Evidence: This story is detailed in the hadith of the beginning of revelation in Sahih al-Bukhari. The testimony of Waraqa ibn Nawfal was a prophetic confirmation from the scholar of the People of the Book that what was revealed to Muhammad was the same revelation that was revealed to the previous prophets, and that this is the divine law that befalls every prophet: Hostility from his people.
Conclusion: The Beginning of the Message of Light and Guidance
The revelation in the Cave of Hira was a watershed moment in human history, and represented the beginning of a great journey of call and challenges. This story emphasizes that prophethood is a divine choice, and that the Prophet was psychologically and spiritually prepared to receive this great trust. From this moment, the dawn of Islam began, and humanity began to receive the light of guidance that would change the face of the earth forever, from darkness to light.
What’s your biggest takeaway from the story of the first revelation?Share your thoughts in the comments.
