Allah’s Divine Inspiration touches Muhammad
For years after his marriage, Muhammad had been accustomed to secluding himself in a cave in
Mount Hira, a few miles from Mecca. To this cave he used to go for prayer and meditation,
sometimes alone and sometime with his family.
There, he often spent the whole nights in deep thought and profound communion with the Unseen yet All-Knowing Allah of the Universe.
It was during one of those retirements and in the still hours of the night, when no human sympathy was
near, that an angel came to him to tell him that he was the Messenger of Allah sent to reclaim a
fallen people to the knowledge and service of their Lord.
Renowned compilers of authentic traditions of Islam agree on the following account of the first
revelations received by the Prophet.
Muhammad would seclude himself in the cave of Mount Hira and worship three days and nights.
He would, whenever he wished, return to his family at Mecca and then go back again, taking
with him the necessities of life. Thus he continued to return to Khadijah from time to time until one
day the revelation came down to him and the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) appeared to him and said:
“Read!”
But as Muhammad was illiterate, having never received any instruction in reading or writing, he
said to the angel:
“I am not a reader.”
The angel took a hold of him and squeezed him as much as he could bear, and then said again:
“Read!”
Then Prophet said:
“I am not a reader.”
The Angel again seized the Prophet and squeezed him and said:
“Read! In the Name of Your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created a man from a
clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has
taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not.” (Ch 96:1-4 Quran).
Then the Prophet repeated the words with a trembling heart. He returned to Khadijah from Mount
Hira and said:
“Wrap me up! Wrap me up!” She wrapped him in a garment until his fear was dispelled.
He told Khadijah what had occurred and that he was becoming either a soothsayer or one smitten with madness.
She replied: “Allah forbid! He will surely not let such a thing happen, for you speak the truth, you are faithful in trust, you bear the afflictions of the people, you spend in good works what you gain in trade, you are hospitable and you assist your fellow men.
Have you seen anything terrible?”
Muhammad replied: “Yes,” and told her what he had seen.
Whereupon, Khadijah said: “Rejoice, O dear husband and be cheerful. He is Whose hands stands
Khadijah’s life bears witness to the truth of this fact, that you will be the prophet to this people.”
Khadijah consults cousin knowledgeable of Scriptures; confirmation of Prophet
After this experience Khadijah went to her cousin Waraqa Ibn Naufal, who was old and blind and
who knew the Scriptures of the Jews and Christians, and is stated to have translated them into
Arabic.
When she told him of what she had heard, he cried out:
“Holy! Holy! Verily, this is the Namus (The Holy Spirit) who came to Moses. He will be the prophet of his people. Tell him this and bid him to be brave at heart.”
When the two men met subsequently in the street, the blind old student of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures spoke of his faith and trust:
“I swear by Him in Who hand Waraqa’s life is, Allah has chosen you to be the prophet of this people.
They will call you a liar, they will persecute you, they will banish you, and they will fight against you. Oh, that I could live to those days. I would fight for these.” And he kissed him on the forehead.
Muhammad’s Visions and struggle to fight depression
The first vision was followed by a considerable period, during which Muhammad suffered much
mental depression.
Only Almighty Allah knows what Muhammad must have been thinking and feeling at that time. He may have been worried about his visions, uncertain as to how the majority of the Makka would treat Allah’s blessing, since their own interests were at stake.
The Makka, at that time, relied heavily on trade that revolved around polytheistic and pagan rituals
of false idols and statues and other things that they worshipped.
One can’t contemplate his future and responsibilities to the people of the world, as well as the challenges that Allah Almighty had chosen him for.
Prophet rises to start his mission for Allah
The angel spoke to the grieved heart of hope and trust and of the bright future when he would see
the people of the earth crowding into the one true faith. His destiny was unfolded to him, when,
wrapped in profound meditation, melancholy and sad, he felt himself called by a voice from
heaven to arise and preach.
“O you (Muhammad) enveloped (in garments)! Arise and warn! And your Lord (Allah)
magnify!” (Ch 74:1-3 Quran)
He arose and engaged himself in the work to which he was called. Khadijah was the first to accept
his mission.
She was to believe in the revelations, to abandon the idolatry of her people and to join
him in purity of heart and in offering up prayers to Allah the Almighty.
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