The Prophet ﷺ would regularly go to the cave of Hira to engage in contemplation. The Prophet ﷺ, with his pure character in the midst of an impure environment where all kinds of dark practices and idolatry took place, felt the need to reflect deeply on these matters. He took some provisions with him and chose the cave of Hira for this purpose. This period of contemplation and reflection, which lasted approximately three years, is regarded as a preparation for Prophethood.
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The First Revelation
When he ﷺ was approximately 40 years old, while he was in the cave in deep contemplation and reflection, the angel Jibril suddenly appeared during Ramadan. Sayyidina 'Aisha ﵂ narrated how this had taken place.
The first revelations of the Prophet ﷺ came in the form of dreams that would come true exactly as he had dreamt them. After that, التَحَنُّث (Al-tahannuth) became dear to him. This means that he would withdraw and isolate himself from his family for a number of nights to devote himself to deep contemplation and reflection. He would only return to collect provisions before withdrawing and isolating himself again. Suddenly and entirely unexpectedly, Jibril ﵇ appeared in the cave and said:
Jibril ﵇: إقرأ (Read)
The Prophet ﷺ: I cannot read.
Jibril ﵇: He then seized the Prophet ﷺ firmly and released him, then said again: Read!
The Prophet ﷺ: I cannot read!
Jibril ﵇: Again he seized the Prophet ﷺ until he was exhausted, released him and said once more: Read!
The Prophet ﷺ : I cannot read!
Jibril ﵇: He seized him ﷺ for a third time, released him again and said:
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَخَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ
Read in the name of your Lord, who created all things. Who created man from a clinging clot. Read! For your Lord is the Most Generous.
Surah Al-Alaq 1-3
The Prophet ﷺ, trembling with fear, repeated these verses and fled to his wife Khadijah ﵂ and said:
The Prophet ﷺ : Cover me, cover me!
The Prophet ﷺ : (After he calmed down, he told her what had happened in the cave)
Khadijah ﵂: Be at ease. Allah will never disgrace you. You maintain family ties, help the poor and needy, are good to your guests and remain steadfast on the path of truth.
(Together they visited her cousin Waraqa bin Nawfal. He was from the People of the Book and read their scriptures.)
Waraqa bin Nawfal: What has happened to you?
The Prophet ﷺ : (He told him what had happened to him in Hira)
Waraqa bin Nawfal: This is the Namus that Allah sent to Musa. I wish I were younger. I wish I would live until the day your people turn against you.
The Prophet ﷺ : Will they drive me out?
Waraqa bin Nawfal: Yes, everyone who has come with something similar to what you have come with was met with hostility. And if I am still alive on that day, I would support you with all my strength.
The Second Encounter with Jibril
While the Prophet ﷺ was walking, he heard a voice from the sky. He looked up and saw the same angel he had met the first time in the cave. There he saw him seated on a throne. The Prophet ﷺ was once again greatly frightened, went home quickly and asked again to be covered. It was at that moment that he ﷺ received the second revelation:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُدَّثِّرُ قُمۡ فَأَنذِرۡوَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرۡوَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرۡوَٱلرُّجۡزَ فَٱهۡجُرۡ
O you who is wrapped up. Arise and warn. And glorify your Lord. And purify your garments. And shun the idols.
Surah Al-Mudathir
The Prophet ﷺ was essentially commanded to rise from his covered state, to proclaim the Message of Allah ﷻ and to warn the people. He was to declare Allah’s ﷻ greatness by speaking praises of Him and to rid himself of unlawfully obtained income. And finally the command to stay away from Al-Rujz, that is, the idols.
After this second revelation, the revelations became more intense and more frequent.