Mahomet’s First Revelation

According to Muslim tradition, while the last Islamic prophet was in the cave near Mecca in Arabia, meditating and seeking peace, while trying to understand the world around him, Muhammad experienced his first revelation from God. Muhammad later said that he had been visited by the angel Gabriel, and this resulted in Muhammad proclaiming himself to be a prophet of God. The exact date is disputed between the Qur’an and historic writer of the era, but Muhammad was at this point, around forty years old. As Islamic legends go, the Truth, or angel, appeared to him, squeezed Muhammad against him in an embrace, then bade him recite from the Qur’an. Muhammad, frightened, said he could not. Again, the angel “squeezed” him tightly, and bade him recite from the Qur’an, and again Muhammad said he was unable. Once more, the angel or the Truth, embraced Muhammad, and the recited from the Quran 96:1-3:

“Read! In the name of your Lord, Who has created, has created man from a clot. Read! and your Lord is the Most Generous.”

Afterwards, Muhammad repeated the verses as he was told, and then ran directly home to one of his wives for comfort. After he had calmed, the two traveled to Waraqa ibn Nawfal, a cousin of his wife, Khadijah. Waraqa had been converted to Christianity in a pre-Islamic era, and had recorded the Bible in Hebrew when he was younger; at this point he was old and blind. The two discussed what had happened to Muhammad in the cave, and afterwards, Waraqa told him that the people of Mecca would eventually drive him out of the city. Waraqa also said that he hoped he could be there with Muhammad that day so he could stand and support him. However, only a few days later the old man died.