After this the decent of revelation came to a temporary halt2 and remained as such for a certain period in time (the approximation of which, according to a narration related by Ibni ‘Abbās has been mentioned as 40 days).3 This period in time is known as the ‘Time of Fatrat’. It was as if, the illumination of the sun of apostleship was seen and then disappeared. A droplet of water fell upon the parched lips of the Holy Prophetsa and then the clouds dispersed. The Holy Prophetsa spent these days in a state of grave anxiety and restlessness. Day and night, whilst sitting and standing, the same thought preoccupied him – God knows what this affair is and what is to happen hereafter. What significance does the appearance of this unfamiliar and invisible messenger hold? Is this message and salutation truly from God, or is it a hidden reflection of my own soul? These questions greatly perplexed the Holy Prophetsa, and it is mentioned in Ḥadīth that during these days the Prophetsa experienced such anxiety that many times he would climb to the top of a mountain and contemplate dropping himself, thus putting an end to his life. Upon every such instance, an angel of God would say, “Look here Muḥammad, withhold yourself, verily you are the Messenger of Allāh.” Upon hearing this voice, the Holy Prophetsa would restrain himself, but whenever such a state of unease and restlessness would overtake him, he would again consider ending his life.4
It is quite possible that the above mentioned Ḥadīth, is not to be taken in the literal sense. The actual purport may be that the Holy Prophetsa was under the apprehension that the viewing of that invisible angel might be a reflection of his own thoughts, or might be a trial from God. Thus, the Holy Prophetsa intended to humble his own soul and by vanquishing and overpowering it, was as if for the sake of Allāh, to slay it completely. In this case, to throw oneself from a mountain would be comprehended as a metaphor. Whatever the meaning may be, for the Holy Prophetsa, these days were days of trepidation. In this very state of anguish, one day, the Holy Prophetsa was returning home from the Cave of Ḥirā when suddenly he heard a voice, as if someone was addressing him. The Holy Prophetsa looked forward and behind, right and left, he looked in every direction but could not see anything. Ultimately, the Holy Prophetsa looked up and saw the very same angel he had encountered in the Cave of Ḥirā. He saw him sitting upon a magnificent chair which extended between the heaven and the earth. When the Holy Prophetsa witnessed this vision, he was frightened and quickly returned home dismayed, and said to Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra, دَثِّرُونِی دَثِّرُونِی, “Place a mantle over me! Place a mantle over me!” Khadījahra hurriedly covered him with a mantle and the Holy Prophetsa lay down. As soon as the Prophetsa lay down, he heard a majestic voice:
“O thou that has wrapped thyself with thy mantle! Arise and wake others at the name of God. And thy Lord do thou magnify. And thy heart do thou purify. And abstain from all forms of polytheism.”
After this, the constant descent of revelation began.5
1 An Interval in Revelation (Publishers)
2 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 3
3 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az-Zarqānī, Volume 1, p. 441, Bābu Marātibil-Waḥī, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)
4 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 4
5 * Al-Muddaththir (74:2-6)
* Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tafsīr Sūratul-Muddaththir, Bābun Wa Rabbaka Fakabbir, Ḥadīth No. 4924
* Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 4