Iqraʾ: Story of the first encounter with Jibrīl at Ḥirāʾ and the first Divine Revelation

At first what started of the Waḥī (Revelation) to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was good visions during sleep and he never saw a vision except what came to him was the like of the crack of dawn (i.e. his visions came true). Thereafter, seclusion was made beloved to him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Ḥirāʾ where he used to practice monotheism, which was worship for several days until he longed to see his family and prepare for a similar trip. He would then return to Khadījah and would prepare for a similar trip.

Until ˹one day,˺ the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Ḥirāʾ. The Angel came to him and asked him and said "Iqraʾ (Read!)". He said, "I do not know how to read!" He said, "The Angel grabbed me and overwhelmed me such that fatigue overcame me. He then let me go and and said 'Read.' I said, 'I do not know how to read!' Then he grabbed me a second time and overwhelmed me such that fatigue overcame me. He then let me go and said 'Read!' I said, 'I do not know how to read!' Then he grabbed me for the third time, overwhelmed me, and then let me go and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord: who created; He created man from ʿalaq (a thing suspended). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (ʿAlaq 96:1-3)

Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadījah b. Khuwaylid ؓ and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was lifted and after that he told her what had happened and said, "I fear for myself." Khadījah said, "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you! (1) In fact, you keep good relations with your kith and kin, (2) you carry the weak, (3) you provide for those deprived, (4) you are hospitable to your guests, and (5) you assist the deserving ˹calamity-afflicted˺ ones."

Khadījah then brought him to her cousin Waraqah b. Nawfal b. Asad b. ʿAbd al-ʿUzzá, paternal cousin of Khadījah, and one who had become a Christian during the pre-Islamic Period, and used to write in Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight.

Khadījah said to Waraqah: Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin! Waraqah said, "O my nephew! What have you seen? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ described to him whatever he had seen. Waraqah then said to him: This is the nāmūs (keeper of secrets) whom Allah had sent to Moses ﷺ. Would that I were young and would be alive when your people would turn you out. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqah said: Yes, no man has ever come with something similar to what you have brought and was not treated with hostility. And if I would see ˹such ˺ a day ˹of yours˺ then I would strongly support you. The Waraqah could not fulfill ˹his promise˺ and died. Then the Waḥī paused for a while.  

أَوَّلُ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ الْوَحْىِ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّالِحَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ، فَكَانَ لاَ يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلاَّ جَاءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ۔ ثُمَّ حُبِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلاَءُ وَكَانَ يَخْلُو بِغَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ: وَهُوَ التَّعَبُّدُ اللَّيَالِيَ ذَوَاتِ الْعَدَدِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْزِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ۔ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِمِثْلِهَا۔

حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهُوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءٍ، فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فَقَالَ: «اقْرَأْ۔» قَالَ: «مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ۔» قَالَ: «فَأَخَذَنِي، فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدَ۔ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ: (اقْرَأْ) قُلْتُ: (مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ۔) فَأَخَذَنِي، فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدَ۔ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ: (اقْرَأْ۔) فَقُلْتُ: (مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ۔) فَأَخَذَنِي، فَغَطَّنِي الثَّالِثَةَ۔ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ: {اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ۝ خَلَقَ الإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ۝ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الأَكْرَمُ ۝}»

فَرَجَعَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَرْجُفُ فُؤَادُهُ، فَدَخَلَ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ بِنْتِ خُوَيْلِدٍ ؓ فَقَالَ: «زَمِّلُونِي، زَمِّلُونِي۔» فَزَمَّلُوهُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الرَّوْعُ۔ فَقَالَ لِخَدِيجَةَ وَأَخْبَرَهَا الْخَبَرَ: «لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي۔» فَقَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ: «كَلاَّ! وَاللَّهِ مَا يُخْزِيكَ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا! إِنَّكَ (١) لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ، (٢) وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ، (٣) وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ، (٤) وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ، (٥) وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ۔»

فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى، ابْنَ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ، وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ: وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعِبْرَانِيَّ فَيَكْتُبُ مِنَ الإِنْجِيلِ بِالْعِبْرَانِيَّةِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ، وَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ عَمِيَ۔

فَقَالَتْ لَهُ خَدِيجَةُ: «يَا ابْنَ عَمِّ، اسْمَعْ مِنَ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ۔» فَقَالَ لَهُ وَرَقَةُ: «يَا ابْنَ أَخِي، مَاذَا تَرَى؟» فَأَخْبَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَبَرَ مَا رَأَى۔ فَقَالَ لَهُ وَرَقَةُ: «هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى مُوسَى ﷺ۔ يَا لَيْتَنِي فِيهَا جَذَعًا، لَيْتَنِي أَكُونُ حَيًّا إِذْ يُخْرِجُكَ قَوْمُكَ۔» فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: «أَوَمُخْرِجِيَّ هُمْ؟» قَالَ: «نَعَمْ۔ لَمْ يَأْتِ رَجُلٌ قَطُّ بِمِثْلِ مَا جِئْتَ بِهِ إِلاَّ عُودِيَ۔ وَإِنْ يُدْرِكْنِي يَوْمُكَ، أَنْصُرْكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَّرًا۔» ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْشَبْ وَرَقَةُ أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ، وَفَتَرَ الْوَحْىُ۔  

(the wife of the Prophet) The commencement (of the Divine Inspiration) to Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in the form of true dreams in his sleep, for he never had a dream but it turned out to be true and clear as the bright daylight. Then he began to like seclusions, so he used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship Allah continuously for many nights before going back to his family to take the necessary provision (of food) for the stay. He come back to (his wife) Khadija again to take his provision (of food) likewise, till one day he received the Guidance while he was in the cave of Hira. An Angel came to him and asked him to read. Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, "I do not know how to read." The Prophet ﷺ added, "Then the Angel held me (forcibly) and pressed me so hard that I felt distressed. Then he released me and again asked me to read, and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he held me again and pressed me for the second time till I felt distressed. He then released me and asked me to read, but again I replied. 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he held me for the third time and pressed me till I got distressed, and then he released me and said, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists), has created man out of a clot, Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not." (96.1-5). Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned with that experience; and the muscles between his neck and shoulders were trembling till he came upon Khadija (his wife) and said, "Cover me!" They covered him, and when the state of fear was over, he said to Khadija, "O Khadija! What is wrong with me? I was afraid that something bad might happen to me." Then he told her the story. Khadija said, "Nay! But receive the good tidings! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you, for by Allah, you keep good relations with your Kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, entertain your guests generously and assist those who are stricken with calamities." Khadija then took him to Waraqa bin Naufil, the son of Khadija's paternal uncle. Waraqa had been converted to Christianity in the Pre-lslamic Period and used to write Arabic and write of the Gospel in Arabic as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said (to Waraqa), "O my cousin! Listen to what your nephew is going to say." Waraqa said, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" The Prophet ﷺ then described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same Angel (Gabriel) who was sent to Moses. I wish I were young." He added some other statement. Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, "Will these people drive me out?" Waraqa said, "Yes, for nobody brought the like of what you have brought, but was treated with hostility. If I were to remain alive till your day (when you start preaching). then I would support you strongly." But a short while later Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was paused (stopped) for a while so that Messenger of Allah ﷺ was very much grieved.  

كَانَ أَوَّلُ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّادِقَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ فَكَانَ لاَ يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلاَّ جَاءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ حُبِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلاَءُ فَكَانَ يَلْحَقُ بِغَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ قَالَ وَالتَّحَنُّثُ التَّعَبُّدُ اللَّيَالِيَ ذَوَاتِ الْعَدَدِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَيَتَزَوَّدُ بِمِثْلِهَا حَتَّى فَجِئَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهْوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ قَالَ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجُهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ قُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيِةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجُهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ قُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّالِثَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجُهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ {اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ * خَلَقَ الإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ * اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الأَكْرَمُ * الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ} الآيَاتِ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {عَلَّمَ الإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ} فَرَجَعَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ تَرْجُفُ بَوَادِرُهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَقَالَ زَمِّلُونِي زَمِّلُونِي فَزَمَّلُوهُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الرَّوْعُ قَالَ لِخَدِيجَةَ أَىْ خَدِيجَةُ مَا لِي لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي فَأَخْبَرَهَا الْخَبَرَ قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ كَلاَّ أَبْشِرْ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يُخْزِيكَ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا فَوَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ وَتَصْدُقُ الْحَدِيثَ وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلٍ وَهْوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ أَخِي أَبِيهَا وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعَرَبِيَّ وَيَكْتُبُ مِنَ الإِنْجِيلِ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ وَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ عَمِيَ فَقَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ يَا ابْنَ عَمِّ اسْمَعْ مِنِ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ قَالَ وَرَقَةُ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي مَاذَا تَرَى فَأَخْبَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ خَبَرَ مَا رَأَى فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُوسَى لَيْتَنِي فِيهَا جَذَعًا لَيْتَنِي أَكُونُ حَيًّا ذَكَرَ حَرْفًا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَوَمُخْرِجِيَّ هُمْ قَالَ وَرَقَةُ نَعَمْ لَمْ يَأْتِ رَجُلٌ بِمَا جِئْتَ بِهِ إِلاَّ أُوذِيَ وَإِنْ يُدْرِكْنِي يَوْمُكَ حَيًّا أَنْصُرْكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَّرًا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْشَبْ وَرَقَةُ أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ وَفَتَرَ الْوَحْىُ فَتْرَةً حَتَّى حَزِنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ  

The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in the form of good righteous (true) dreams in his sleep. He never had a dream but that it came true like bright day light. He used to go in seclusion (the cave of) Hira where he used to worship(Allah Alone) continuously for many (days) nights. He used to take with him the journey food for that (stay) and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise again for another period to stay, till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him in it and asked him to read. The Prophet ﷺ replied, "I do not know how to read." (The Prophet ﷺ added), "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read, and I replied, "I do not know how to read," whereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and asked me again to read, but again I replied, "I do not know how to read (or, what shall I read?)." Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me and then released me and said, "Read: In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). Has created man from a clot. Read and Your Lord is Most Generous...up to..... ..that which he knew not." (96.15) Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned with the Inspiration, his neck muscles twitching with terror till he entered upon Khadija and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and then he said, "O Khadija, what is wrong with me?" Then he told her everything that had happened and said, 'I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija said, 'Never! But have the glad tidings, for by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you as you keep good reactions with your Kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guest generously and assist the deserving, calamityafflicted ones." Khadija then accompanied him to (her cousin) Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin ʿAbdul ʿUzza bin Qusai. Waraqa was the son of her paternal uncle, i.e., her father's brother, who during the Pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the Arabic writing and used to write of the Gospels in Arabic as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to him, "O my cousin! Listen to the story of your nephew." Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" The Prophet ﷺ described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same Namus (i.e., Gabriel, the Angel who keeps the secrets) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, "Will they turn me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said: "Never did a man come with something similar to what you have brought but was treated with hostility. If I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while and the Prophet ﷺ became so sad as we have heard that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains and every time he went up the top of a mountain in order to throw himself down, Gabriel would appear before him and say, "O Muhammad! You are indeed Messenger of Allah ﷺ in truth" whereupon his heart would become quiet and he would calm down and would return home. And whenever the period of the coming of the inspiration used to become long, he would do as before, but when he used to reach the top of a mountain, Gabriel would appear before him and say to him what he had said before. (Ibn ʿAbbas said regarding the meaning of: 'He it is that Cleaves the daybreak (from the darkness)' (6.96) that Al-Asbah. means the light of the sun during the day and the light of the moon at night).  

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أَوَّلُ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ الْوَحْىِ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّادِقَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ فَكَانَ لاَ يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلاَّ جَاءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ فَكَانَ يَأْتِي حِرَاءً فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ وَهْوَ التَّعَبُّدُ اللَّيَالِيَ ذَوَاتِ الْعَدَدِ وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَتُزَوِّدُهُ لِمِثْلِهَا حَتَّى فَجِئَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهْوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَغَطَّنِي الثَّالِثَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ {مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ} فَرَجَعَ بِهَا تَرْجُفُ بَوَادِرُهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَقَالَ زَمِّلُونِي زَمِّلُونِي فَزَمَّلُوهُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الرَّوْعُ فَقَالَ يَا خَدِيجَةُ مَا لِي وَأَخْبَرَهَا الْخَبَرَ وَقَالَ قَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي فَقَالَتْ لَهُ كَلاَّ أَبْشِرْ فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ يُخْزِيكَ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ وَتَصْدُقُ الْحَدِيثَ وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى بْنِ قُصَىٍّ وَهْوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ أَخُو أَبِيهَا وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعَرَبِيَّ فَيَكْتُبُ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ مِنَ الإِنْجِيلِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ وَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ عَمِيَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ خَدِيجَةُ أَىِ ابْنَ عَمِّ اسْمَعْ مِنِ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ ابْنَ أَخِي مَاذَا تَرَى فَأَخْبَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ مَا رَأَى فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُوسَى يَا لَيْتَنِي فِيهَا جَذَعًا أَكُونُ حَيًّا حِينَ يُخْرِجُكَ قَوْمُكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَوَمُخْرِجِيَّ هُمْ فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ نَعَمْ لَمْ يَأْتِ رَجُلٌ قَطُّ بِمَا جِئْتَ بِهِ إِلاَّ عُودِيَ وَإِنْ يُدْرِكْنِي يَوْمُكَ أَنْصُرْكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَّرًا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْشَبْ وَرَقَةُ أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ وَفَتَرَ الْوَحْىُ فَتْرَةً حَتَّى حَزِنَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا حُزْنًا غَدَا مِنْهُ مِرَارًا كَىْ يَتَرَدَّى مِنْ رُءُوسِ شَوَاهِقِ الْجِبَالِ فَكُلَّمَا أَوْفَى بِذِرْوَةِ جَبَلٍ لِكَىْ يُلْقِيَ مِنْهُ نَفْسَهُ تَبَدَّى لَهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّكَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ حَقًّا فَيَسْكُنُ لِذَلِكَ جَأْشُهُ وَتَقِرُّ نَفْسُهُ فَيَرْجِعُ فَإِذَا طَالَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَتْرَةُ الْوَحْىِ غَدَا لِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا أَوْفَى بِذِرْوَةِ جَبَلٍ تَبَدَّى لَهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ {فَالِقُ الإِصْبَاحِ} ضَوْءُ الشَّمْسِ بِالنَّهَارِ وَضَوْءُ الْقَمَرِ بِاللَّيْلِ  

The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in the form of good righteous (true) dreams in his sleep. He never had a dream but that it came true like bright day light. He used to go in seclusion (the cave of) Hira where he used to worship(Allah Alone) continuously for many (days) nights. He used to take with him the journey food for that (stay) and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise again for another period to stay, till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him in it and asked him to read. The Prophet ﷺ replied, "I do not know how to read." (The Prophet ﷺ added), "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read, and I replied, "I do not know how to read," whereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and asked me again to read, but again I replied, "I do not know how to read (or, what shall I read?)." Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me and then released me and said, "Read: In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). Has created man from a clot. Read and Your Lord is Most Generous...up to..... ..that which he knew not." (96.15) Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned with the Inspiration, his neck muscles twitching with terror till he entered upon Khadija and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and then he said, "O Khadija, what is wrong with me?" Then he told her everything that had happened and said, 'I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija said, 'Never! But have the glad tidings, for by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you as you keep good reactions with your Kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guest generously and assist the deserving, calamityafflicted ones." Khadija then accompanied him to (her cousin) Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin ʿAbdul ʿUzza bin Qusai. Waraqa was the son of her paternal uncle, i.e., her father's brother, who during the Pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the Arabic writing and used to write of the Gospels in Arabic as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to him, "O my cousin! Listen to the story of your nephew." Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" The Prophet ﷺ described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same Namus (i.e., Gabriel, the Angel who keeps the secrets) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, "Will they turn me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said: "Never did a man come with something similar to what you have brought but was treated with hostility. If I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while and the Prophet ﷺ became so sad as we have heard that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains and every time he went up the top of a mountain in order to throw himself down, Gabriel would appear before him and say, "O Muhammad! You are indeed Messenger of Allah ﷺ in truth" whereupon his heart would become quiet and he would calm down and would return home. And whenever the period of the coming of the inspiration used to become long, he would do as before, but when he used to reach the top of a mountain, Gabriel would appear before him and say to him what he had said before. (Ibn ʿAbbas said regarding the meaning of: 'He it is that Cleaves the daybreak (from the darkness)' (6.96) that Al-Asbah. means the light of the sun during the day and the light of the moon at night). (Using translation from Bukhārī 6982)  

أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أَوَّلُ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنَ الْوَحْيِ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّادِقَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ وَكَانَ لَا يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلَّا جَاءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ حُبِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلَاءُ فَكَانَ يَأْتِي حِرَاءَ فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ وَهُوَ التَّعَبُّدُ اللَّيَالِيَ ذَوَاتِ الْعَدَدِ وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَتُزَوِّدُهُ لِمِثْلِهَا حَتَّى فَجِئَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهُوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءَ فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ {اقْرَأْ} [العلق 1] فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ قَالَ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ {اقْرَأْ} [العلق 1] فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ {اقْرَأْ} [العلق 1] فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّالِثَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ {اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ} [العلق 1] حَتَّى بَلَغَ {مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ} [العلق 5] قَالَ فَرَجَعَ بِهَا تَرْجُفُ بَوَادِرُهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَقَالَ زَمِّلُونِي زَمِّلُونِي فَزَمَّلُوهُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الرَّوْعُ فَقَالَ يَا خَدِيجَةُمَالِي؟ فَأَخْبَرَهَا الْخَبَرَ قَالَ وَقَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَيَّ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ كَلَّا أَبْشِرْ فَوَاللهِ لَا يُخْزِيكَ اللهُ أَبَدًا إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ وَتَصْدُقُ الْحَدِيثَ وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى بْنِ قُصَيٍّ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ أَخِي أَبِيهَا وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعَرَبِيَّ فَكَتَبَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ مِنَ الْإِنْجِيلِ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ وَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ عَمِيَ فَقَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ أَيْ ابْنَ عَمِّ اسْمَعْ مِنَ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ ابْنَ أَخِي مَا تَرَى؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مَا رَأَى فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَا لَيْتَنِي فِيهَا جَذَعًا أَكُونَ حَيًّا حِينَ يُخْرِجُكَ قَوْمُكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَوَ مُخْرِجِيَّ هُمْ؟ فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ نَعَمْ لَمْ يَأْتِ رَجُلٌ قَطُّ بِمَا جِئْتَ بِهِ إِلَّا عُودِيَ وَإِنْ يُدْرِكْنِي يَوْمُكَ أَنْصُرْكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَّرًا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنْشَبْ وَرَقَةُ أَنْ تُوُفِّيَ وَفَتَرَ الْوَحْيُ فَتْرَةً حَتَّى حَزِنَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فِيمَا بَلَغَنَا حُزْنًا غَدَا مِنْهُ مِرَارًا كَيْ يَتَرَدَّى مِنْ رُءُوسِ شَوَاهِقِ الْجِبَالِ فَكُلَّمَا أَوْفَى بِذِرْوَةِ جَبَلٍ لِكَيْ يُلْقِيَ نَفْسَهُ مِنْهُ تَبَدَّى لَهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ إِنَّكَرَسُولُ اللهِ حَقًّا فَيُسْكِنُ ذَلِكَ جَأْشَهُ وَتَقَرُّ نَفْسُهُ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ فَيَرْجِعُ فَإِذَا طَالَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَفَتَرَ الْوَحْيُ غَدَا لِمِثْلِ ذَلِكَ فَإِذَا أَوْفَى بِذِرْوَةِ جَبَلٍ تَبَدَّى لَهُ جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَقَالَ لَهُ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ  

[Machine] Narrated Aisha, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ , said that the first thing that Allah's Messenger ﷺ started receiving from Allah was true dreams during his sleep. And he would not see any dream but it would come true like bright daylight. Then solitude was made dear to him and he used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many nights before coming back to his wife Khadija. She informed him of her conviction of his Prophethood and supported him through her wealth and efforts. Then Allah's Messenger ﷺ returned with that experience of true inspiration, his heart was beating violently, and then he went to Khadija and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him until his fear was over and then he told Khadija everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija replied, "Never! But have the glad tidings, for by Allah, Allah shall never disgrace you as you keep good relations with your kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously, and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones." Then Khadija went along with him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza bin Qusai. Waraqa was the son of her paternal uncle, i.e., her father's brother, who during the Pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to him, "O my cousin! Listen to the story of your nephew." Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" The Prophet ﷺ described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same Namus (i.e., Gabriel, the Angel who keeps the secrets of Allah) whom Allah had sent to Moses ﷺ . I wish I were young and could live till the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Messenger ﷺ asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days of Waraqa's death, Allah's Messenger ﷺ received the Divine Inspiration and the Verse of Al-Qur'an, 2.286 (Surat Al-Baqarah) was revealed to him.  

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ أَوَّلُ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنَ الْوَحْيِ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّادِقَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ كَانَ لَا يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلَّا جَاءَتْهُ مِثْلُ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ حُبِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلَاءُ فَكَانَ يَأْتِي جَبَلَ حِرَاءٍ فَيَحْنَثُ وَهُوَ التَّعَبُّدُ حَتَّى فَاجَأَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهُوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فِيهِ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ «مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ» قَالَ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ لِي {اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ} [العلق 2] قَالَ فَرَجَعَ بِهَا تَرْجُفُ بَوَادِرُهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَقَالَ «زَمِّلُونِي زَمِّلُونِي» فَزَمَّلُوهُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الرَّوْعُ فَقَالَ «يَا خَدِيجَةُ مَا لِي؟» فَأَخْبَرَهَا الْخَبَرَ وَقَالَ «قَدْ خَشِيتِ عَلَيَّ» فَقَالَتْ لَهُ كَلَّا أَبْشِرْ فَوَاللَّهِ لَا يُخْزِيكَ اللَّهُ أَبَدًا إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ وَتَصْدُقُ فِي الْحَدِيثِ وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى بْنِ قُصَيٍّ وَهُوَ عَمُّ خَدِيجَةَ أَخُو أَبِيهَا وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَكَانَ يَكْتُبُ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ وَيُكْتَبُ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ مِنَ الْإِنْجِيلِ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ فَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ عَمِيَ قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ أَيْ عَمُّ اسْمَعْ مِنَ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ قَالَ وَرَقَةُ بْنُ نَوْفَلٍ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي مَاذَا تَرَى؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ خَبَرَ مَا رَأَى فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُوسَى ﷺ  

At first what started of the Waḥī (Divine Inspiration) to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was good visions during sleep and he never saw a vision except what came to him was the like of the crack of dawn (i.e. his visions came true). Thereafter, seclusion was made beloved to him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Ḥirāʾ where he used to practice monotheism, which was worship for several days until he longed to see his family and prepare for a similar trip. He would then return to Khadījah and would prepare for a similar trip.

Until ˹one day,˺ the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Ḥirāʾ. The Angel came to him and asked him and said "Iqraʾ (Read!)". He said, "I do not know how to read!" He said, "The Angel grabbed me and overwhelmed me such that fatigue overcame me. He then let me go and and said 'Read.' I said, 'I do not know how to read!' Then he grabbed me a second time and overwhelmed me such that fatigue overcame me. He then let me go and said 'Read!' I said, 'I do not know how to read!' Then he grabbed me for the third time, overwhelmed me, and then let me go and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord: who created; He created man from ʿalaq (a thing suspended). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (ʿAlaq Q 96:1-3)

Then Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija replied, "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."

Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during the pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Messenger of Allah ﷺ described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while. (Using translation from Bukhārī 3)   

النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَخْبَرَتْهُ قَالَتْ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا بُدِئَ بِهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ مِنَ الْوَحْيِ الرُّؤْيَا الصَّالِحَةُ فِي النَّوْمِ فَكَانَ لَا يَرَى رُؤْيَا إِلَّا جَاءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ حَبَّبَ اللهُ إِلَيْهِ الْخَلَاءَ فَكَانَ يَخْلُو بِغَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ وَهُوَ التَّعَبُّدُ اللَّيَالِيَ أُولَاتِ الْعَدَدِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَتُزَوِّدُهُ بِمِثْلِهَا حَتَّى فَجَأَهُ الْحَقُّ وَهُوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَجَاءَهُ الْمَلَكُ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ قَالَ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّالِثَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الْجَهْدُ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ {اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ} [العلق 2] فَرَجَعَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ تَرْجُفُ بَوَادِرُهُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى خَدِيجَةَ ؓ فَقَالَ زَمِّلُونِي زَمِّلُونِي فَزَمَّلُوهُ حَتَّى ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ الرَّوْعُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِخَدِيجَةَ أَيْ خَدِيجَةُ مَا لِي وَأَخْبَرَهَا الْخَبَرَ قَالَ لقَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي قَالَتْ لَهُ خَدِيجَةُ كَلَّا أَبْشِرْ فَوَاللهِ لَا يُخْزِيكَ اللهُ أَبَدًا وَاللهِ إِنَّكَ لِتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ وَتَصْدُقُ الْحَدِيثَ وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ وَتُكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ خَدِيجَةُ ؓ حَتَّى أَتَتْ بِهِ وَرَقَةَ بْنَ نَوْفَلِ بْنِ أَسَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعُزَّى بْنِ قُصَيٍّ وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَمِّ خَدِيجَةَ ابْنُ أَخِي أَبِيهَا وَكَانَ امْرَأً تَنَصَّرَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَكْتُبُ الْكِتَابَ الْعَرَبِيَّ وَيَكْتُبُ مِنَ الْإِنْجِيلِ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ وَكَانَ شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا قَدْ عَمِيَ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ خَدِيجَةُ أَيْ عَمِّ اسْمَعْ مِنِ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ قَالَ وَرَقَةُ بْنُ نَوْفَلٍ ابْنَ أَخِي مَاذَا تَرَى؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَبَرَ مَا رَأَى فَقَالَ لَهُ وَرَقَةُ هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ اللهُ عَلَى مُوسَى يَا لَيْتَنِي فِيهَا جَذَعًا يَا لَيْتَنِي أَكُونُ حَيًّا حِينَ يُخْرِجُكَ قَوْمُكَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَوَمُخْرِجِيَّ هُمْ؟ قَالَ وَرَقَةُ نَعَمْ لَمْ يَأْتِ رَجُلٌ قَطُّ بِمَا جِئْتَ بِهِ إِلَّا عُودِيَ وَإِنْ يُدْرِكْنِي يَوْمُكَ أَنْصُرْكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَّرًا  

[Machine] He said, "Read." I said, "I am not able to read." Then he seized me again and said, "Read." I said, "I am not able to read." He seized me again and said, "{Read in the name of your Lord who created} [Quran 96:1]." Muhammad ibn An-Nu'man said that the Messenger of Allah returned with that, Ibn Shihab said, "I heard Urwah ibn Az-Zubayr say that Aisha said, 'The Prophet ﷺ pushed me and returned to Khadijah trembling. He said, 'Cover me! Cover me!' So, they covered him, and when the fear was gone from him, he said to Khadijah, 'I have been scared for myself.' She said, 'Don't worry! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously, and assist those affected by calamities.' Khadijah then went with him to her cousin Waraqah bin Nawfal, who, during the pre-Islamic period, became a Christian and used to write Arabic writing, and he would write from the Gospel in Arabic as much as Allah wished him to write. He asked, 'O my cousin! What do you see?' Allah's Messenger ﷺ said that Waraqah replied, 'This is the same Angel [Gabriel] who came to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.' Allah's Messenger ﷺ asked, 'Will they drive me out?' Waraqah replied in the affirmative and said, 'Anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out, I would support you strongly.'"  

ﷺ فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ ثُمَّ عَادَ إِلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ اقْرَأْ فَقُلْتُ مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ فَعَادَ إِلَى مِثْلِ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي فَقَالَ {اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ} [العلق 2] قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ فَرَجَعَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ فَسَمِعْتُ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ يَقُولُ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ ؓ دَفَعَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَرَجَعَ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ ؓ يَرْجُفُ فُؤَادُهُ فَقَالَ زَمِّلُونِي زَمِّلُونِي فَزُمِّلَ فَلَمَّا سُرِّيَ عَنْهُ قَالَ لِخَدِيجَةَ لَقَدْ أَشْفَقْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي قَالَتْ خَدِيجَةُ ؓ أَبْشِرْ فَوَاللهِ لَا يُخْزِيكَ اللهُ أَبَدًا إِنَّكَ لَتَصْدُقُ الْحَدِيثَ وَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ انْطَلِقْ بِنَا فَانْطَلَقَتْ خَدِيجَةُ ؓ إِلَى وَرَقَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ وَكَانَ رَجُلًا قَدْ تَنَصَّرَ شَيْخًا أَعْمَى يَقْرَأُ الْإِنْجِيلَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ فَقَالَتْ لَهُ خَدِيجَةُ ؓ أَيِ ابْنَ عَمِّ اسْمَعْ مِنِ ابْنِ أَخِيكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ وَرَقَةُ مَاذَا تَرَى؟ فَأَخْبَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِالَّذِي رَأَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ وَرَقَةُ بْنُ نَوْفَلٍ هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَهُ اللهُ عَلَى مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَا لَيْتَنِي أَكُونُ حِينَ يُخْرِجُكَ قَوْمُكَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَوَ مُخْرِجِيَّ هُمْ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ لَمْ يَأْتِ رَجُلٌ بِمِثْلِ مَا جِئْتَ بِهِ إِلَّا عُودِيَ وَإِنْ يُدْرِكْنِي يَوْمُكَ أَنْصُرْكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَّرًا