Sahih al-Bukhari 3

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Yahya ibn Bukayr narrated to us. He said: Al-Layth narrated to us, from Uqayl, from Ibn Shihab, from Urwa ibn al-Zubayr, from Aisha, Mother of the Believers, who said: The first thing with which the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) began to receive revelation was true dreams in sleep. He would see no dream except that it came like the breaking of dawn. Then seclusion was made beloved to him, and he would withdraw to the cave of Hira and devote himself there to worship—that is, devotional practice—for a number of nights before returning to his family. He would take provisions for that, then return to Khadija and take provisions for another such stay, until the Truth came to him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and said, ‘Read!’ He replied, ‘I am not one who reads.’ He said: ‘Then he seized me and pressed me until I reached the limit of my strength, then released me and said, “Read!” I said, “I am not one who reads.” He seized me and pressed me a second time until I reached the limit of my strength, then released me and said, “Read!” I said, “I am not one who reads.” He seized me and pressed me a third time, then released me and said: “Read in the name of your Lord who created; He created the human being from a clinging clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous.”’

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) returned with it, his heart trembling. He went in to Khadija bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her) and said, ‘Cover me, cover me!’ They covered him until the alarm had left him. He told Khadija what had happened and said, ‘I feared for myself.’ Khadija said: ‘Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You maintain ties of kinship, bear the burden of those in need, provide for those who have nothing, host the guest, and help people through the hardships that arise in the cause of what is right.’

Khadija set out with him and brought him to her cousin Waraqa ibn Nawfal ibn Asad ibn Abd al-Uzza. He had become a Christian in the pre-Islamic period; he wrote in Hebrew and copied from the Gospel in Hebrew whatever Allah willed him to write. He was an old man who had gone blind. Khadija said to him, ‘Cousin, listen to your nephew.’ Waraqa said, ‘Nephew, what have you seen?’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told him what he had seen. Waraqa said: ‘This is the Namus that Allah sent down to Moses. If only I were a young man then! If only I were alive when your people drive you out!’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Will they drive me out?’ He replied, ‘Yes. No man has ever brought anything like what you have brought without being treated with hostility. If I live to see your day, I will support you with all my strength.’ Waraqa soon died, and revelation paused.