Sahih al-Bukhari 4922

Sahih al-Bukhari 4922
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، سَأَلْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَوَّلِ، مَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏‏{‏يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ‏}‏ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ ‏‏{‏اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ‏}‏ فَقَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ سَأَلْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضى الله عنهما عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَقُلْتُ لَهُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي قُلْتَ فَقَالَ جَابِرٌ لاَ أُحَدِّثُكَ إِلاَّ مَا حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏جَاوَرْتُ بِحِرَاءٍ، فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ جِوَارِي هَبَطْتُ فَنُودِيتُ فَنَظَرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ أَمَامِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ خَلْفِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَرَأَيْتُ شَيْئًا، فَأَتَيْتُ خَدِيجَةَ فَقُلْتُ دَثِّرُونِي وَصُبُّوا عَلَىَّ مَاءً بَارِدًا ـ قَالَ ـ فَدَثَّرُونِي وَصَبُّوا عَلَىَّ مَاءً بَارِدًا قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ ‏‏{‏يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ * قُمْ فَأَنْذِرْ * وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ‏}‏ ‏"
Translation
Narrated Yahya bin Abi Kathir

I asked Aba Salama bin `Abdur-Rahman about the first Sura revealed of the Qur'an. He replied "O you, wrapped-up (i.e. Al Muddaththir)." I said, "They say it was, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord Who created,' (i.e. Surat Al-`Alaq (the Clot)." On that, Abu Salama said, "I asked Jabir bin `Abdullah about that, saying the same as you have said, whereupon he said, 'I will not tell you except what Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had told us. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I was in seclusion in the cave of Hiram', and after I completed the limited period of my seclusion. I came down (from the cave) and heard a voice calling me. I looked to my right, but saw nothing. Then I looked up and saw something. So I went to Khadija (the Prophet's wife) and told her to wrap me up and pour cold water on me. So they wrapped me up and poured cold water on me." Then, 'O you, (Muhammad) wrapped up! Arise and warn,' (Surat Al Muddaththir) was revealed." (74.1)

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This hadith, transmitted by Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), clarifies the sequence of Qur'anic revelation, specifically addressing the question of which Surah was revealed first. The Prophet (peace be upon him) explicitly states that after his seclusion in the cave of Hira, the first revelation he received upon descending was Surah Al-Muddaththir ("O you wrapped up"), commanding him to arise and warn. This narrative underscores the progressive nature of prophethood: the initial encounter with revelation (Surah Al-Alaq) was a private, transformative experience, while Surah Al-Muddaththir marked the public commissioning of the Prophet as a warner to humanity. The central theme is the divine preparation and gradual empowerment of the Prophet for his monumental mission, emphasizing that true prophethood transitions from personal spiritual awakening to active societal engagement.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The hadith occurs in the context of a scholarly debate among the Companions regarding the first revealed Surah. Abu Salama initially believed it was Al-Muddaththir, while the narrator (likely Ibn Abbas) suggested Al-Alaq. Jabir resolves this by narrating the Prophet's own account: after completing his seclusion (tahannuth) in Hira, he heard a voice, looked around, and saw the angel (Jibril) filling the horizon. Overwhelmed, he returned to Khadija and asked to be wrapped (daththiruni) and to have cold water poured on him. The Arabic term "Al-Muddaththir" (المدثر) derives from "dithar" (دثار), meaning a covering or blanket, signifying the Prophet's state of being enveloped. The command "Qum fa-andhir" (قم فأنذر) — "Arise and warn" — uses the imperative "qum" (rise with resolve) and "andhir" (warn), which carries a sense of urgent, repeated admonition. Linguistically, the shift from "Iqra" (Read) in Al-Alaq to "Qum" (Arise) in Al-Muddaththir marks a transition from passive reception to active proclamation, a nuance classical scholars highlight as central to the prophetic mission.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • The first revelation was Surah Al-Alaq (the first five verses) during the Prophet's seclusion, while Surah Al-Muddaththir was the first Surah revealed after the initial encounter, marking the commencement of the public da'wah. This distinction reconciles the apparent contradiction in narrations, as clarified by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari.
  • The hadith demonstrates the permissibility of seeking physical comfort (such as being wrapped and having water poured) during moments of intense spiritual or emotional distress, as the Prophet himself did, indicating that Islam does not demand asceticism but rather balanced self-care.
  • The command "Arise and warn" establishes the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil (amr bil-ma'ruf wa nahy anil-munkar) upon the Prophet and, by extension, his Ummah, with wisdom and gentleness, as a core principle of Islamic da'wah.
"The Prophet's asking to be wrapped was not out of fear of the creation, but rather due to the overwhelming nature of the divine revelation, which is the greatest form of honor. This shows that the heart of the Prophet, despite his immense strength, was deeply affected by the weight of the message, teaching us to seek comfort in lawful means during trials." — Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al-Bari

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

For the contemporary Muslim, this hadith offers profound lessons in resilience and purposeful action. Just as the Prophet moved from the solitude of Hira to the public arena, we are reminded that personal worship and spiritual retreat must translate into social responsibility. When faced with overwhelming challenges or moments of anxiety, we can emulate the Prophet's example by seeking lawful comfort (rest, family support, or prayer) before rising to fulfill our duties. The command to "arise and warn" calls us to speak truth with courage and compassion in our families, workplaces, and communities, whether by advising against injustice or inviting others to goodness. This narrative also reassures us that divine guidance comes in stages — we need not be overwhelmed by the entirety of our mission, but rather take one step at a time, trusting that Allah empowers us progressively, just as He prepared His beloved Prophet for the greatest task in history.