THE FIRST REVELATION
After the event of reconstructions of Ka’aba the Prophet started to spend more
time in solitude .He started feeling powerful inward signs and would see true visions.He
described them as,”the breaking of the light of dawn”.He would retreat to the Cave of
Hira on Mount Nur in the outskirts of Makka for meditation.This was a common practice
as throughout generations people would retreat in search of Supreme being like Hazrat
Ibrahim(AS).He would take provision and stay there and sometimes returned to take
further provision.Ramadan being the traditional month of retreat,in during the last days
of the month in 610 CE he had fallen asleep after weeks of reflection and thoughts
when a deep voice resonating the stone commanded,”Read!”.He, being unlettered
expressed his inability and so,the angel hugged him so tight he could not breath.After
two more time of commanding him to read,the third time the following verses burst out
of his lips like breath being exhaled.”Read!In the name of Your Lord.Who has
created(all exists).Has created man from a clot.Read!And He is the most
generous,who has taught the writing (by the pen).Has taught man which he knew
not.”(Surah Alaq 96:1-5)He being shaken by the experience ran out of the cave in panic
and there he saw the beautiful starry sky covered by a figure surrounded by light
covering the whole horizon.It said,”I am Jibrael and you Muhammad are the
Messenger of Allah.”With the verses in his ear her ran home and asked Hazrat
Khadija to cover him.In halting voice he told her what happened and she consoled him
by saying Allah would not harm a man who is kind and generous to poor.Scared she left
him there where he fell in a silent slumber and went to her cousin,Warqa bin Nawfal.He
was a christian monk and upon hearing the event he said to her,”Holy! Holy! Holy! If
you would believe me Khadija the one who came to him is the same Holy Spirit
who used to go to Moses.He is going to be the Prophet of this nation.He will be
called a Liar.He will be persecuted.And if I am alive then Allah will see I will give a
good account of myself.”She returned home and later brought the Prophet to meet
him.He told the Prophet about the hardships he will face and counseled him by
saying,”If you ever hear the voice again,stay and listen to what it says.”With this
the Prophet was granted the Prophethood at the age of 40 and he became aware of his
duty to to humanity.
