MUHAMMAD
(PBUH) believed that there was only one Allah, Creator of
the sun, the moon, the earth, the sky, and of all living
things, and that all people should worship only Him.
Muhammad (PBUH) would often leave the crowded city and go to
the cave in Mount Hira'. He liked to be alone there, away
from all thoughts of the world and daily life, eating and
drinking little. In his fortieth year, Muhammad (PBUH) left
Mecca to spend Ramadan, the traditional month of retreat, in
the cave. In the second half of Ramadan, Allah began to
reveal His message for mankind through Muhammad (PBUH). This
first Revelation occurred as follows. The Archangel Gabriel
came to Muhammad (PBUH) in the cave and commanded him to
'Read'. Muhammad (PBUH) replied 'I cannot read.' At this the
Archangel took Muhammad (PBUH) in his arms and pressed him
to him until it was almost too much to bear. He then
released him and said again 'Read.' 'I cannot', replied
Muhammad (PBUH), at which the Archangel embraced him again.
For the third time the Archangel commanded Muhammad (PBUH)
to read, but still he said he could not and was again
embraced. On releasing him this time, however, the Archangel
Gabriel said:Read: In the Name of thy Lord who createth,
Createth man from a clot. Read: And thy Lord is the Most
Generous Who teacheth by the pen,Teacheth man that which he
knew not. (Koran xcvi.1-5)Muhammad (PBUH) repeated these
verses, just as the Archangel had said them. When the
Archangel was sure Muhammad (PBUH) knew them by heart, he we
away. Now that he was alone Muhammad (PBUH) could not
understand what had happened to him. He was terribly afraid
and rushed out of the cave. Perhaps the cave was haunted?
Perhaps the devil had taken a hold of his mind? But he was
stopped by a voice from heaven which said; 'O Muhammad (PBUH)
you are the Messenger of Allah, and I am Gabriel.' He looked
up at the sky and wherever he turned he saw the Archangel
Gabriel. In a state of confusion he returned home to
Khadijah. When his wife saw him she became very worried as
he began to shiver, as though in a fever. He asked her to
wrap him in blankets, which she did. After a while he
recovered sufficiently to tell her what had happened at Hira'.
Khadijah believed all that he told her and with great
respect said: 'Be happy, O son of my uncle and be confident.
Truly I swear by Allah who has my soul in His hands, that
you will be our people's Prophet.' Muhammad (PBUH), the
Messenger of Allah, was eased by her faith in him, but after
all that had happened he was exhausted and felt fast asleep.
Khadijah left the Prophet (PBUH) sleeping and went to see
her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, to ask him what he thought
about all that had happened. Waraqah was a very wise man who
had read many books and had become a Christian after
studying the Bible. He told Khadijah that Muhammad (pbuh)
had been chosen by Allah to be His Messenger. Just as the
Archangel Gabriel had come to Moses before and had ordered
him to guide his people, so, too, would Muhammad (PBUH) be
the Prophet of his people. But Waraqah warned that all the
people would not listen to the Prophet and some would
mistreat his followers. He must, however, be patient because
he had a great message for all the world. From that day on,
the Archangel Gabriel came often to the Prophet (PBUH) and
the verses he taught him, the message from Allah to man,
were later written down, and are known to us as the Holy
Koran.
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