Sahih al-Bukhari

Sahih al-Bukhari 3392

"And mention in the Book (this Qur'an) Musa (Moses). Verily, he was chosen and he was a messenger and a prophet. And We called him from the right side of the Mount, and made him to draw near to us for a talk with him."
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Sahih al-Bukhari 3392
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، سَمِعْتُ عُرْوَةَ، قَالَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ ـ رضى الله عنهافَرَجَعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ يَرْجُفُ فُؤَادُهُ، فَانْطَلَقَتْ بِهِ إِلَى وَرَقَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ، وَكَانَ رَجُلاً تَنَصَّرَ يَقْرَأُ الإِنْجِيلَ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ مَاذَا تَرَى فَأَخْبَرَهُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ وَرَقَةُ هَذَا النَّامُوسُ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَى مُوسَى، وَإِنْ أَدْرَكَنِي يَوْمُكَ أَنْصُرْكَ نَصْرًا مُؤَزَّرًا‏.‏ النَّامُوسُ صَاحِبُ السِّرِّ الَّذِي يُطْلِعُهُ بِمَا يَسْتُرُهُ عَنْ غَيْرِهِ‏.‏
Translation
Narrated `Aisha

The Prophet (ﷺ) returned to Khadija while his heart was beating rapidly. She took him to Waraqa bin Naufal who was a Christian convert and used to read the Gospels in Arabic Waraqa asked (the Prophet), "What do you see?" When he told him, Waraqa said, "That is the same angel whom Allah sent to the Prophet) Moses. Should I live till you receive the Divine Message, I will support you strongly."

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This hadith, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (3392) within the Book of Prophets, captures the pivotal moment of the first revelation and the Prophet Muhammad's (ﷺ) immediate recourse to his wife Khadija (RA) for solace. The central theme is the divine confirmation of prophethood through the recognition of the angel Jibril (AS) as the same spirit sent to Musa (AS), establishing continuity in the chain of revelation. It also highlights the profound wisdom of Khadija (RA) in seeking counsel from Waraqa ibn Nawfal, a learned monotheist, and underscores the emotional and psychological support that anchors faith during moments of overwhelming spiritual encounter.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The incident occurs shortly after the first revelation in the Cave of Hira, when the Prophet (ﷺ) was encompassed by the angel's embrace and commanded to "Read" (Iqra). The Arabic phrase "فَرَجَفَ" (his heart beating rapidly) conveys intense physical trembling from awe, not fear of falsehood. Khadija's response—"أَبْشِرْ" (rejoice)—reflects her unwavering trust. Waraqa ibn Nawfal, described as a "Christian convert" who read the Gospels in Arabic (likely from the Syriac or Hebrew tradition), recognized the phenomenon as "الناموس" (the secret/angel of revelation), a term rooted in Greek "nomos" (law), signifying the divine law-bringer. His words, "That is the same angel whom Allah sent to Moses," affirm the unity of prophetic experience across time.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • Theological confirmation that all true prophets received revelation from the same source—Jibril (AS)—establishing the unbroken chain of monotheistic guidance and the finality of Muhammad's (ﷺ) prophethood.
  • Ethical principle of seeking counsel from knowledgeable and righteous individuals during times of uncertainty; Khadija's (RA) action demonstrates the virtue of consulting experts, even from the People of the Book, for verification without compromising one's faith.
  • Jurisprudential benefit: The hadith implicitly supports the permissibility of learning from and engaging with scholars of previous scriptures when their knowledge aligns with Islamic truths, as Waraqa's testimony reinforced the Prophet's (ﷺ) mission.
"Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Fath al-Bari: 'This hadith contains a great sign of prophethood, for Waraqa's testimony came from the People of the Book, and his confirmation was a source of strength for the Prophet (ﷺ) at the outset of revelation, just as Musa (AS) was strengthened by the support of his brother Harun.'"

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

In daily life, this hadith teaches us to turn to trusted companions and knowledgeable mentors when faced with spiritual or existential uncertainties. It encourages spouses to be sources of comfort and affirmation, as Khadija (RA) was, and to actively seek verification of truth through sound scholarship. The believer is reminded that moments of intense spiritual awareness may overwhelm the heart, but they should be met with patience and consultation, not panic. Furthermore, the hadith inspires steadfastness: Waraqa's declaration "I will support you strongly" models the duty of every Muslim to defend and aid the truth, even when the path ahead is arduous. By internalizing this, we transform fear into faith, doubt into conviction, and isolation into community—mirroring the Prophet's (ﷺ) journey from trembling heart to unshakable mission.