10-10-2012

Episode 28: Read. The Right Man For The Job: Aftermath of Revelation, Khadijah & Waraqah bin Nawfal

 

Welcome to Seerah Pearls, which aims to highlight some tantalising learning points from each episode of the Seerah- Life of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

 

Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was meant for this job as a Prophet: this was no random act. Everything in his life had been leading up to the start of revelation. Iman Ahmad ibn Hanbal reports that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was asked when he was made a Prophet: he said this happened when Adam (alayhi as-salaam) was in the state between dust/clay and before the soul was breathed into him i.e. when Allah created humans.

 

We sometimes talk about the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in ‘superhero’ terms. However, he experienced pain, difficulty and adversity- he had the true human experience. Imagine the event of the first revelation: this experience must have been earth-shattering, one that could damage someone's psyche. Allah created a system so the Prophets would be gradually acclimated to the experience. They would have a warm-up period in the form of true dreams. These would make the Prophets trust their heart. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had true dreams for 6 months prior to revelation.

 

Revelation started on a Monday. When asked about fasting on Mondays, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that was the day he was born and that was the day he received the first revelation. As for the month, the vast majority agree that it started in Ramadan. As for the specific day, opinions vary: the 14th, 17th, 21st or 27th night- Allah knows best! Ibn Ishaaq leans towards the opinion it was the 21st night, in the 40th year of the Prophet's life.

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was startled by the appearance of Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam). Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) told him to ‘Read!’ The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) objected and said, ‘I do not read.’ Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) squeezed the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), taking him from ‘0-60’ in an instant. The messengers did not have the luxury of time. Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) squeezed until the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) gave up. Then Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) left the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), giving him time to catch his breath. Again, Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) told him to ‘Read!’ Again, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) objected and said, ‘I do not read.’ Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) squeezed for a second time until the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) gave up, releasing him and giving him time to catch his breath. A third time, Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) told him to ‘Read!’ Again, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) objected and said, ‘I do not read.’ Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) squeezed for the third time and released when the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) gave up.

Then Jibreel (alayhi as-salaam) recited the first revelation:

96:1     Recite in the name of your Lord who created -

96:2     Created man from a clinging substance.

96:3     Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous -

96:4     Who taught by the pen -

96:5     Taught man that which he knew not.

 

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had received the first revelation. His heart was shaking and he was filled with lots of emotions. Some narrations say that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) never had such a strong dislike for those misguiding poets, fortune tellers and soothsayers as at that time, for they preyed on the weak and those with insecurities. He was still trying to deal with what happened, and felt he did not want to be associated with the former groups of people. Thus, he started climbing up a mountain, thinking that rather than take advantage of people,