The First Revelation
📜 Read! — The Night of the First Revelation
"Read in the name of your Lord who created ۞ Created man from a clinging substance ۞ Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous ۞ Who taught by the pen ۞ Taught man that which he knew not"
— [Al-'Alaq: 1-5] — The first verses revealed of the Quran
📖 Introduction
A Night That Changed History
On a night in Ramadan 610 CE...
In a small cave on the Mountain of Light...
A forty-year-old man was meditating alone...
He did not know that this night would change the course of human history!
🏔️ The Cave of Hira' — The Retreat in Search of Truth
📍 Location
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Cave of Hira' |
| Location | Mountain of Light (Jabal al-Nur) — northeast of Mecca |
| Distance | About 4 km from the Ka'bah |
| Altitude | 634 meters above sea level |
| Size | Small — fits one or two people |
🕯️ Tahannuth — Worship Before Prophethood
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is Tahannuth? | Worship and meditation in seclusion |
| When did it start? | Years before Prophethood |
| How long did he stay? | Entire nights (days and nights) |
| What did he do? | He contemplated the universe, seeking the truth |
| Who fed him? | Khadijah sent him provisions |
💭 Why Was He Meditating?
📜 The Scene: In the darkness of the cave...
Muhammad ﷺ would contemplate the sky and stars...
He wondered: Who created this universe?
He saw his people worshiping idols that neither benefit nor harm...
And he felt there was a greater truth...
But he did not know how to reach it!
💡 The Wisdom: Allah was preparing him for the great mission — meditation and seclusion purified his heart from the impurities of Jahiliyyah.
👼 The Descent of Jibril — The Decisive Moment
📅 The Date
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Month | Ramadan |
| Year | 610 CE |
| Day | The night of the 21st or 24th (likely Laylat al-Qadr) |
| Prophet's Age ﷺ | 40 years |
📜 The Supreme Scene — The Moment of Revelation
In the darkness of the cave...
Muhammad ﷺ was alone in contemplation...
Suddenly — a magnificent angel appeared to him!
He squeezed him so tightly that he reached the limit of endurance...
Then released him and said:
📜 The First Dialogue
| Jibril عليه السلام | Muhammad ﷺ |
|---|---|
| "Read!" | "I cannot read" |
| (He squeezed him a second time) | |
| "Read!" | "I cannot read" |
| (He squeezed him a third time) | |
| "Read!" | "I cannot read" |
Then Jibril said:
"Read in the name of your Lord who created ۞ Created man from a clinging substance ۞ Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous ۞ Who taught by the pen ۞ Taught man that which he knew not"
💡 Analysis of the First Verses
| Verse | Meaning | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Read in the name of your Lord | Begin with mentioning Allah | Every action starts with Allah |
| Who created | Allah is the Creator | Tawhid is the foundation of the message |
| Created man from a clinging substance | From a blood clot | Reminder of man's humble origin |
| Read and your Lord is Most Generous | Allah is the Most Giving | Message of generosity and giving |
| Who taught by the pen | Source of knowledge | Importance of writing |
| Taught man what he knew not | Allah is the source of all knowledge | Knowledge is a grace from Allah |
🏠 The Return to Khadijah — Cover Me!
📜 The Scene of Return
He descended from the mountain with his heart trembling...
His heart was pounding violently...
What happened? Who was that?
He entered upon Khadijah trembling...
And said with a shivering voice:
"Zammiluni! Zammiluni!"
(Cover me! Cover me!)
💬 The Dialogue of Reassurance
Khadijah: What happened, Abu al-Qasim?
Muhammad ﷺ: "I feared for myself!"
Khadijah (with firmness and wisdom):
"Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you!"
"You maintain the ties of kinship" — you preserve family bonds
"You bear the burden of others" — you help the weak and needy
"You give to the one who has nothing" — you give to those who lack
"You host the guest" — you honor guests
"You assist in the hardships of life" — you help in difficulties
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
💎 Lessons from Khadijah's Attitude
| Lesson | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Stability in shock | She didn't panic, but reassured him |
| Character argument | She used his virtues as proof of Allah's protection |
| Psychological support | She provided him emotional security |
| Wisdom | She didn't mock him or call him a liar |
| First believer | She believed him immediately without hesitation |
📖 Waraqah ibn Nawfal — The Confirmation
👤 Who Was Waraqah?
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Waraqah ibn Nawfal ibn Asad |
| Relation | Khadijah's cousin |
| Religion | He had converted to Christianity before Islam |
| Knowledge | He could read the Scriptures in Hebrew |
| Age | An old blind man |
📜 The Meeting with Waraqah
Khadijah took him to her cousin Waraqah...
The Prophet ﷺ told him what he had seen...
Waraqah said:
"This is the Namus that was revealed to Moses!"
(Namus = Jibril — the carrier of Revelation)
"If only I were young and strong!"
"If only I were alive when your people will expel you!"
💬 An Important Dialogue
Muhammad ﷺ (surprised): "Will they really expel me?!"
Waraqah: "Yes! No man has ever brought what you bring without being opposed"
"And if I live until that day, I will support you with utmost support"
💡 The Lesson: Waraqah knew from the previous scriptures that prophets are opposed by their people!
🕯️ The Death of Waraqah
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| When? | Shortly after this meeting |
| Impact | He did not live to see the beginning of the public call |
| His fate | The Prophet ﷺ said: "I saw him in Paradise wearing white" |
⏸️ The Period of Interruption — The Painful Pause
📅 The Duration
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Fatrat al-Wahy (Interruption of Revelation) |
| Duration | Different opinions: days, months, or up to 3 years |
| Most likely | Several months |
😔 The Prophet's Suffering ﷺ
📜 The Scene:
The Revelation stopped...
And the Prophet ﷺ waited anxiously...
"Has my Lord abandoned me?"
"Did I do something wrong?"
To the point that he would go to the mountain peaks...
💡 The Wisdom of the Interruption
| Wisdom | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Longing | To increase his yearning for Revelation |
| Preparation | To prepare him psychologically for the great mission |
| Distinction | To understand the difference between presence and absence of Revelation |
| Test | To test his patience and steadfastness |
🌟 The Return of Revelation — O You Who Covers Himself!
📜 The Scene of Return
The Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ said:
"While I was walking, I heard a voice from the sky"
"I raised my gaze and there was the angel who had come to me at Hira'"
"Sitting on a throne between the sky and the earth"
"I was terrified and returned"
"I said: Cover me! Cover me!"
Then Allah revealed:
📜 Surah Al-Muddaththir — The Beginning of the Call
"O you who covers himself! ۞ Arise and warn! ۞ And your Lord glorify! ۞ And your garments purify! ۞ And uncleanliness avoid!"
— [Al-Muddaththir: 1-5]
💡 Analysis of the Commands
| Command | Meaning | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Arise and warn | Stand up and warn the people | Beginning of the public call |
| And your Lord glorify | Exalt Allah alone | Tawhid comes first |
| And your garments purify | External and internal purity | Purity is a condition for da'wah |
| And uncleanliness avoid | Leave the idols | Breaking from Jahiliyyah |
💡 After these verses: Revelation continued without interruption until the Prophet's death ﷺ!
📊 Summary: The Stages of the First Revelation
| Stage | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Tahannuth in the Cave of Hira' | Spiritual preparation |
| 2️⃣ | Descent of Jibril with "Read" | Beginning of Revelation |
| 3️⃣ | Return to Khadijah | Support and reassurance |
| 4️⃣ | Meeting with Waraqah ibn Nawfal | Confirmation |
| 5️⃣ | Interruption of Revelation | Waiting and preparation |
| 6️⃣ | Revelation of "Al-Muddaththir" | Beginning of the call |
📝 Summary of Key Points
| Point | Remember |
|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | First revealed verses: Surah Al-'Alaq (Read) — Ramadan 610 |
| 2️⃣ | The place: Cave of Hira' — Mountain of Light |
| 3️⃣ | Khadijah was the first to reassure him and the first to believe |
| 4️⃣ | Waraqah ibn Nawfal confirmed it was the Namus (Jibril) |
| 5️⃣ | The Interruption of Revelation — a pause for divine wisdom |
| 6️⃣ | Al-Muddaththir — beginning of the order to warn and call |
❓ Questions for Reflection
-
Why was "Read" the first word of the Quran?
-
How did Khadijah use the Prophet's character ﷺ to prove Allah would not disgrace him?
-
What is the wisdom behind the interruption of Revelation?
-
Why did Waraqah say "Your people will expel you"?
-
How can we be inspired by Khadijah's support in our married life?
📚 Sources
| Book | Author |
|---|---|
| Sahih al-Bukhari | Book of the Beginning of Revelation |
| Sahih Muslim | Book of Faith |
| Al-Sira al-Nabawiyyah | Ibn Hisham |
| Al-Rahiq al-Makhtum | Al-Mubarakfuri |
In the next lesson: 👥 The First Muslims — Who believed first?
And Allah knows best
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا