Aisha
(R.A) (Wife of Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H) Narrated that :
The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's
Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright daylight, and then the
love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He 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) Khadija to take his food likewise 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 replied, "I do not know how to read."
The Prophet 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 returned with the Inspiration and
with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid 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." Khadija 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."
Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal 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. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen to the
story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?"
Allah's Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa 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 asked, "Will
they drive me out?" Waraqa 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 Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.
Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari narrated while talking about the period of pause in revelation
reporting the speech of the Prophet "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
Quran):
'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! 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."
