The light of dawn was about to manifest itself upon the eastern horizon and the sun which was to illuminate the whole world was about to rise. The Holy Prophetsa would regularely retreat to the Cave of Ḥirā, and would engage himself in the worship of God in a manner of his own. The commencement of true dreams had begun and the Holy Prophetsa spent six months in this very state.1
It was now that the Holy Prophetsa had reached the age of forty and his disposition had attained the maturity of prophethood and apostleship. It was among the last ten days of the blessed month of Ramaḍān and a Monday. As per custom, the Holy Prophetsa was in the Cave of Ḥirā, and was engaged in the worship of God, when suddenly an unfamiliar being appeared before him. This divine messenger, who was Gabrielas, the angel of God, addressed the Holy Prophetsa and said, اِقْرَأ, “read”, in other words, ‘speak’ or ‘convey to the people’.2 The Holy Prophetsa responded, مَا اَنَا بِقَارِئٍ , “I cannot read”, meaning, ‘I cannot bear this responsibility’.3 When the angel heard this reply he took hold of the Holy Prophetsa and tightly pressed him against his breast and after releasing him said, اِقْرَأ but the response of the Holy Prophetsa remained the same. The angel took hold of him again and firmly squeezed him and after releasing him said, اِقْرَأ but the same hesitation remained. Upon this, the divine messenger took hold of the Holy Prophetsa a third time and clinched him very tightly, such as by embracing the Holy Prophetsa he would leave an impression upon his heart. After having confirmed that the disposition of the Holy Prophetsa was ready to accept this message, he released the Holy Prophetsa and said:
“Read (i.e., speak or convey) thou in the name4 of thy Lord Who created. He created man from a clot of blood. Aye! Read! And thy Lord is most honourable and eminent. Who taught man by the pen. Taught man what he knew not5.”6
After this dialogue the angel disappeared but the Holy Prophetsa was left in a state of deep anxiety and restlessness and his heart was panting, for only God knew what this matter was and what was about to take place. In this state, the Holy Prophetsa hurriedly left the Cave of Ḥirā, returned home, and said to Khadījahra, زَمِّلُونِی زَمِّلُونِی, “Cover me with a mantle! Cover me with a mantle!” When Hadrat Khadījahra witnessed the state of her beloved husband, she became worried and quickly covered the Holy Prophetsa with a mantle. When he was somewhat calmed and his anxiety had lessened, the Holy Prophetsa related the entire event to Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra and in the end said, لَقَدْ خَشِیْتُ عَلیٰ نَفْسِیْ, “I have begun to fear for my life”, but Khadījahra, who was well acquainted with the nature of the Holy Prophetsa, said:
كَلَّا اَبْشِرْ فَوَاللّٰهِ لَا یُخْزِیْكَ اللّٰهُ اَبَداً اِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرِّحْمَ وَتَصْدِقُ الْحَدِیْثَ وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُوْمَ وَتَقْرِی الضَّیْفَ وَتُعِیْنَ عَلیٰ نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ
“Nay, nay, such can never happen, rather glad tidings be to you. By God, Allāh shall never disgrace you. You treat your kith and kin with love. You are truthful, and assist others in discharging their responsibilities, and have gathered within yourself lost virtues. You are hospitable, and a helper to others in the way of truth.”7
Then Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra took the Holy Prophetsa to her cousin Waraqah bin Nawfal, who had abandoned polytheism and become a follower of the Christian religion. He was somewhat acquainted with the scriptures of past prophets. He was now old and had lost his eyesight as well. When Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra reached there with the Holy Prophetsa, she said, “Brother! Would you kindly listen to your nephew?” He said, “Yes, what is the matter.” The Holy Prophetsa related the entire occurrence. When Waraqah heard the entire account, he said, “This is the same angel who brought revelation to Mosesas. O would that I had power. Would that I remain alive until your people banish you from your homeland.” The Holy Prophetsa inquired in amazement, اَوَمُخْرِجِیَّ ھُمْ, “Shall my people banish me?” “Yes,” responded Waraqah, “no prophet came with whom his people did not harbour enmity and if I remain alive until that time, I shall assist you to the utmost of my capability.” However, Waraqah could not witness that time, because he passed away shortly thereafter.8
1 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az-Zarqānī, Volume 1, p. 386, Bābu Mab‘athin-Nabīsa, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)
2 The word قَرَأَ also means to convey a message, as is said, اِقْرَأَ مِنِّی السَّلَامَ , in other words, ‘Convey my greetings to him’. Refer to Aqrabul-Mawārid, Volume 4, p. 296, under the word “Qara’a” (Author)
3 This response was similar to that given by Ḥaḍrat Mosesas that ‘I am not capable of prophethood, this task should be assigned to someone else’, but who is more aware of the one who is capable of prophethood than Allāh himself. (Author)
4 In this case, according to syntax structure, the word اسْمِ is the object of اِقْرَأَ. In light of the rules of Arabic grammatical syntax, in some instances the letter ب is added additionally to the object of اِقْرَأ. Refer to Aqrabul-Mawārid, Volume 4, p. 296, under the word قَرَأَ (Author)
5 In other words the time has now come when, through the pen, innovative sciences should be taught to mankind. (Author)
6 * Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 3
* Al-‘Alaq (96:2-6)
7 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 3
8 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 3