بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The First Revelation
A Prophet is Born
Seerah Series - Part 2 of 9
"Read! In the Name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clinging clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the pen — taught man that which he knew not."
— Surah Al-Alaq 96:1-5 (The First Revelation)
For forty years, Muhammad ﷺ had lived among the people of Makkah as a man of impeccable character — honest, trustworthy, compassionate, and just. Yet something stirred within his soul, a yearning for truth that the idol worship and moral decay of Makkah could not satisfy. Little did he know that on one fateful night in the month of Ramadan, in a cave high above the city, his life — and the life of all humanity — would change forever.
Solitude in the Cave of Hira
As Muhammad ﷺ approached his fortieth year, he increasingly sought solitude and contemplation. He would take provisions and retreat to the Cave of Hira (Ghar Hira), a small cave high in the mountains of Jabal al-Nur (Mountain of Light), overlooking the city of Makkah.
There, in complete isolation, he would spend days and nights in deep meditation. He reflected on the wonders of creation — the stars above, the desert below, the mystery of life and death. His heart yearned to understand the purpose of existence, rejecting the hollow idol worship that surrounded him.
🕌 The Cave of Hira
The Cave of Hira is a small, narrow cave barely large enough for a person to sit comfortably. Located about 4 kilometers from Makkah, it requires a steep climb of nearly 300 meters. From this secluded spot, one can see the entire city of Makkah spread below, including the sacred Ka'bah.
The cave remains to this day as a testament to the momentous event that occurred within its walls — the beginning of the final revelation to mankind.
His devoted wife Khadijah رضي الله عنها would prepare food and provisions for these retreats, supporting his spiritual quest with patience and understanding. She recognized the nobility in her husband's search for truth, even if she didn't yet know where it would lead.
Laylat al-Qadr - The Night of Power
It was the month of Ramadan, in the year 610 CE. Muhammad ﷺ was forty years old, sitting alone in the cave in deep contemplation. The night was still, the silence profound. Suddenly, the stillness was shattered.
A magnificent presence filled the cave — an angel of overwhelming power and beauty appeared before him. This was Jibreel (Gabriel), the archangel, the bearer of divine revelation, sent by Allah with a momentous message.
"Iqra!" - "Read!"
The angel embraced Muhammad ﷺ with overwhelming force and commanded:
"Iqra!" — "Read!"
Muhammad ﷺ, who had never learned to read or write, replied trembling:
"Ma ana bi-qari" — "I cannot read."
The angel embraced him again with such force that he felt all the breath squeezed from his body. Again came the command: "Read!" Again Muhammad ﷺ responded that he could not. A third time the angel embraced him and released him, and then spoke the words that would echo through eternity...
The First Words of the Quran
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ
الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ
عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
"Read! In the Name of your Lord who created —
Created man from a clinging clot.
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous,
Who taught by the pen —
Taught man that which he knew not."
— Surah Al-Alaq 96:1-5
These five verses, inscribed forever on Muhammad's ﷺ heart, marked the beginning of 23 years of divine revelation. The Quran — the final message from the Creator to His creation — had begun its descent to mankind.
Fear and Trembling
When the angel departed, Muhammad ﷺ was left alone, trembling from the overwhelming experience. His heart raced, his body shook. The encounter had been so powerful, so utterly beyond anything he had experienced, that he feared for himself.
He rushed down the mountain, his mind reeling. Halfway down, he heard a voice calling from above:
"O Muhammad! You are the Messenger of Allah, and I am Jibreel!"
Muhammad ﷺ looked up and saw the angel filling the horizon — whichever way he turned, the angel was there, a sight of such majesty that it confirmed beyond doubt: this was real, this was from Allah, and his life would never be the same.
Still trembling, he hurried home to the one person he trusted most in the world — his beloved wife Khadijah.
"Cover Me! Cover Me!" - Khadijah's Unwavering Faith
Muhammad ﷺ entered his home, shaking and pale, calling out to Khadijah:
"Zammiluni! Zammiluni!" — "Cover me! Cover me!"
Khadijah quickly wrapped him in a cloak and held him close until the trembling subsided. Once he had calmed, he told her everything — the angel, the embrace, the command to read, the verses that were now etched in his heart.
He confessed his fear: "I feared for myself, Khadijah."
The First Believer Speaks
Khadijah's response was immediate and unwavering:
"Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you! You maintain family ties, you bear the burdens of the weak, you help the poor and needy, you serve your guests generously, and you assist those struck with calamities. Allah would never bring you to disgrace!"
In this moment of fear and uncertainty, Khadijah's faith in her husband's character became the foundation upon which Islam would be built. She knew with absolute certainty that a man of such noble character could only be chosen for something great.
The Testimony of Waraqah ibn Nawfal
Khadijah, seeking to confirm what had happened, took Muhammad ﷺ to her elderly cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal. Waraqah was a learned man, a Christian scholar who had studied the ancient scriptures and knew the signs of prophethood.
When Muhammad ﷺ described his experience, the old man's eyes widened with recognition. He exclaimed:
"This is the same angel (Namus) that Allah sent to Musa (Moses)! I wish I were young! I wish I could be alive when your people drive you out!"
Muhammad ﷺ was shocked: "Will they drive me out?"
Waraqah replied with the wisdom of history: "Yes. Never has a man come with what you have brought without being treated with hostility. If I should be alive when that day comes, I will support you strongly."
Historical Note: Waraqah ibn Nawfal passed away shortly after this meeting. According to some narrations, he died believing in Muhammad's ﷺ prophethood, making him one of the very first believers in Islam.
Fatrat al-Wahy - The Pause in Revelation
After this overwhelming first encounter, revelation paused. For several months — some reports say six months, others say longer — no further revelation came. This period is known as Fatrat al-Wahy (the pause in revelation).
Muhammad ﷺ longed for the return of the angel, yearning to hear more of Allah's words. The silence was difficult, but it served a divine purpose — it gave him time to absorb the magnitude of what had happened, to prepare himself for the tremendous mission ahead.
Divine Wisdom in the Pause
The pause allowed Muhammad ﷺ to reflect, to strengthen his resolve, and to understand that what he experienced was real and true. When revelation resumed, he would be ready — not just to receive it, but to carry the weight of prophethood with unwavering faith.
The Second Revelation - A Command to Warn
Then one day, as suddenly as it had stopped, revelation resumed. Angel Jibreel appeared again, this time with a new message — not just about knowledge and reading, but about action and mission:
يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ
قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ
وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ
وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ
وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ
"O you wrapped in garments!
Arise and warn!
And magnify your Lord!
And purify your garments!
And abandon all idolatry!"
— Surah Al-Muddathir 74:1-5
The command was clear: Arise and warn mankind! Muhammad ﷺ was no longer just a recipient of divine knowledge — he was now the Messenger of Allah, charged with the mission of calling people back to the worship of the One True God. The prophethood had truly begun.
The Dawn of Islam - The First Believers
Muhammad ﷺ began his mission quietly, calling people to Islam in secret. He started with those closest to him, and the first to believe formed the foundation of the Muslim community:
Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
The First Believer
His wife, who believed instantly and supported him unwavering
Ali ibn Abi Talib
First Child to Accept
His young cousin, about 10 years old, living in his household
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq
First Man to Believe
His closest friend, who accepted without hesitation
Zayd ibn Harithah
The Freed Slave
His adopted son, who chose to stay with him over his own family
Through Abu Bakr's efforts, more companions joined: Uthman ibn Affan, Zubair ibn al-Awwam, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Talha ibn Ubaydullah, and others. Slowly but surely, in secret gatherings, the community of believers began to grow.
Three Years of Secret Da'wah
For the first three years, the Prophet ﷺ preached Islam in secret. Small groups would gather in homes, particularly in the house of Al-Arqam ibn Abi al-Arqam near the Ka'bah, to learn about this new religion.
They would meet quietly, away from the eyes of the Quraysh leadership. There, Muhammad ﷺ would recite the verses of the Quran as they were revealed, teach them about:
☝️ Tawhid — The Oneness of Allah, rejecting all idols and false gods
⚖️ Accountability — The Day of Judgment and life after death
🙏 Worship — How to pray, how to purify oneself, how to live righteously
💚 Morality — Justice, honesty, kindness, and care for the weak
By the end of three years, the number of Muslims had grown to around forty people. They were men and women, young and old, rich and poor, free people and slaves — all united by their belief in One God and His final messenger.
Lessons from the First Revelation
1. Knowledge is the First Command
The very first word revealed was "Iqra" — Read! Islam begins with knowledge, learning, and understanding. A believer must seek knowledge throughout their life.
2. Support from Loved Ones is Invaluable
Khadijah's immediate belief and unwavering support gave the Prophet ﷺ strength to continue. A supportive spouse or family can make the difference between success and failure.
3. Fear is Natural, But Faith Overcomes
Even the Prophet ﷺ felt fear when confronted with the divine. But he didn't let fear stop him — he moved forward with faith and trust in Allah.
4. Great Missions Begin Small
Islam began with one man in a cave. Three years later, there were forty believers. Today, there are nearly 2 billion Muslims. Never underestimate small beginnings.
5. Solitude and Reflection Bring Clarity
The Prophet's ﷺ habit of retreating to the cave for contemplation prepared him to receive revelation. In our busy lives, we too need moments of quiet reflection to connect with Allah.
The Journey Continues
The message had been delivered. The first believers had accepted Islam. But soon, the Prophet ﷺ would receive a command from Allah to take his message public. When he did, the entire city of Makkah would turn against him, beginning years of severe persecution and hardship.
Coming Next: "Persecution in Makkah - Years of Hardship"
Peace and blessings be upon him ﷺ
May Allah allow us to follow his example and be gathered with him in Paradise. Ameen.
Part 2 of 9 • Seerah Series • Islamic Messages