Quote · In the months before the first revelation
I recognise the stone in Makkah which used to greet me with salam before I was sent as a prophet, and I recognise it even now.
~Last ten nights of Ramadan, a Monday (Laylat al-Qadr) -- c. 610 CE · 12 BHDate debatedThe precise night within the last ten of Ramadan (Laylat al-Qadr) is not fixed by this account.
Dating debated
The precise night within the last ten of Ramadan (Laylat al-Qadr) is not fixed by this account.
In brief
In the months before revelation Muhammad ﷺ took to worshipping alone in the Cave of Hira, saw dreams that came true and heard stones greet him. On a Monday in the last ten nights of Ramadan, Jibril came to him, pressed him three times and commanded him to read, and recited the first verses of Surah al-Alaq. He came down trembling to Khadija RA, who covered him and swore that Allah would never disgrace a man of his character, and took him to Waraqa ibn Nawfal, who recognised the angel who had come to Musa AS and warned him that his people would drive him out. Waraqa died days later, and some count him the first to believe.
The commencement of the Divine Inspiration, narrated in detail by Aisha RA from what Muhammad ﷺ himself later told her. Scholars say that with the command "Iqra," Muhammad ﷺ became a nabi (prophet).
The First Revelation·Chapter 1 of 9Read
See the whole storyThe Life of the Prophet ﷺ·Chapter 3 of 12Makkah
See the whole storyDreams that came true, and stones that gave salam.
I recognise the stone in Makkah which used to greet me with salam before I was sent as a prophet, and I recognise it even now.
Nothing is left of prophethood except good dreams. And good dreams are one forty-sixth of prophethood.
Jibril in the cave, and the first verses.
The angel came to me and asked me to read. I said, "I do not know how to read." He caught me and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it anymore, then released me and again asked me to read, and I said, "I do not know how to read." He caught me again and pressed me a second time until I could not bear it anymore, then released me and again asked me to read, and I said, "I do not know how to read, or what shall I read?" He caught me a third time and pressed me, then released me and said: "Read, in the Name of your Lord who created, created humans from a clinging clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the pen: taught humanity what they knew not." Then I returned with the revelation, my heart beating severely.
Cover me, cover me. I fear that something may happen to me.
كلَّا! والله ما يخزيك الله أبدًا، إنك لتصل الرحم، وتصدُقُ الحديثَ، وتَحمِل الكَلَّ، وتَكسِبُ المعدومَ، وتَقري الضيف، وتعين على نوائب الحق
No, by Allah! Allah will never humiliate you or cause you harm. You are good to your kin, you are truthful in speech, you take on the burden of others, you give money to those who have little, you are hospitable to your guests, and you do all kinds of good!
Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!
Said to her cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal RA, after Khadija RA had brought Muhammad ﷺ to him to hear what had happened in the cave.
O my nephew! What have you seen?
This is the same One Who Keeps the Secrets (the 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.
Will they drive me out?
Anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive until the day when you are turned out, then I would support you strongly.
Passed away a few days after the first revelation, and the revelation was paused for a while.
Cover me; Allah will never disgrace you; this is the Namus who came to Musa.
He believed in you, but he died before your advent.
Recalled by Aisha RA as something Khadija RA once asked the Prophet ﷺ, some time after Waraqa's death.
I saw him in a dream, and upon him were white garments. If he were among the inhabitants of the Fire, then he would have been wearing other than that.
The first prayers, and what remains of prophethood.
In that early stage, all of the prayers were two rak'ahs each.
A later report about the practice of prayer in the earliest days of revelation, before the five daily prayers were made obligatory at al-Isra' wal-Mi'raj.
Every prophet was given signs because of which people believed in him; what I have been given is the revelation which Allah has revealed to me.
So I hope that my followers will outnumber theirs on the Day of Resurrection.
Cited as evidence that the Qur'an's revelation began in Ramadan.
“Read in the Name of your Lord who created.”
The first verses revealed to Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira, when Jibril commanded him to read.
“Created humans from a clinging clot.”
The first verses revealed to Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira, when Jibril commanded him to read.
“Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.”
The first verses revealed to Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira, when Jibril commanded him to read.
“Who taught by the pen.”
The first verses revealed to Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira, when Jibril commanded him to read.
“Taught humanity what they knew not.”
The first verses revealed to Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira, when Jibril commanded him to read.
“We will soon send upon you a weighty revelation.”
Cited as one possible explanation for why Jibril squeezed the Prophet ﷺ during the first revelation -- to indicate the weighty revelation about to come.
“Stand all night [in prayer] except a little”
Al-Muzzammil is among the earliest-revealed surahs, instituting qiyam al-layl in the first days after the beginning of revelation.