1.3:

Narrated `Aisha:

(the mother of the faithful believers) The commencement of the

Divine Inspiration to Allah's Apostle was in the form of good

dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the

love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in

seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah

alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his

family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay

and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food

likewise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him

while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and

asked him to read. The Prophet replied, "I do not know how to

read. The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and

pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then

released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do

not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and

pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He

then released me and again asked me 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 the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3)

Then Allah's Apostle 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?" Allah's Apostle 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." Allah's Apostle 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. Narrated Jabir bin

`Abdullah Al−Ansari while talking about the period of pause in

revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet "While I was

walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I

looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the

cave of Hira' sitting on a chair between the sky and the

earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap

me (in blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following Holy

Verses (of Qur'an): 'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in

garments!' Arise and warn (the people against Allah's

Punishment),... up to 'and desert the idols.' (74.1−5) After

this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and

regularly."