The first (form) with which was started the revelation to the Messenger of Allah was the true vision in sleep. And he did not see any vision but it came like the bright gleam of dawn. Thenceforth solitude became dear to him and he used to seclude himself in the cave of Hira', where he would engage in tahannuth (and that is a worship for a number of nights) before returning to his family and getting provisions again for this purpose. He would then return to Khadija and take provisions for a like period, till Truth came upon him while he was in the cave of Hira'. There came to him the angel and said: Recite, to which he replied: I am not lettered. He took hold of me [the Apostle said] and pressed me, till I was hard pressed; thereafter he let me off and said: Recite. I said: I am not lettered. He then again took hold of me and pressed me for the second time till I was hard pressed and then let me off and said: Recite, to which I replied: I am not lettered. He took hold of me and pressed me for the third time, till I was hard pressed and then let me go and said: Recite in the name of your Lord Who created, created man from a clot of blood. Recite. And your most bountiful Lord is He Who taught the use of pen, taught man what he knew not (al-Qur'an, xcvi. 1-4). Then the Prophet returned therewith, his heart was trembling, and he went to Khadija and said: Wrap me up, wrap me up! So they wrapped him till the fear had left him. He then said to Khadija: O Khadija! what has happened to me? and he informed her of the happening, saying: I fear for myself. She replied: It can't be. Be happy. I swear by Allah that He shall never humiliate you. By Allah, you join ties of relationship, you speak the truth, you bear people's burden, you help the destitute, you entertain guests, and you help against the vicissitudes which affect people. Khadija then took him to Waraqa b. Naufal b. Asad b. 'Abd al-'Uzza, and he was the son of Khadija's uncle, i. e., the brother of her father. And he was the man who had embraced Christianity in the Days of Ignorance (i. e. before Islam) and he used to write books in Arabic and, therefore, wrote Injil in Arabic as God willed that he should write. He was very old and had become blind Khadija said to him: O uncle! listen to the son of your brother. Waraqa b. Naufal said: O my nephew! what did you see? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), then, informed him what he had seen, and Waraqa said to him: It is namus that God sent down to Musa. Would that I were then (during your prophetic career) a young man. Would that I might be alive when your people would expel you! The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Will they drive me out? Waraqa said: Yes. Never came a man with a like of what you have brought but met hostilities. If I see your day I shall help you wholeheartedly.
The Commencement of Revelation
The narration describes the initial phase of revelation beginning with true visions in sleep, which manifested with the clarity of dawn. This prepared the Prophet's ﷺ heart for the weighty responsibility of prophethood.
His natural inclination toward solitude in the cave of Hira' reflects the divine preparation of his character through tahannuth - worship and devotion - preceding the monumental event of the first Quranic revelation.
The First Encounter with Jibril
The angel's command "Iqra" (Recite) came to an unlettered Prophet, demonstrating that this revelation was purely divine, beyond human capability. The physical pressure symbolized the weight of prophethood being placed upon him.
The repetition of the embrace emphasizes the seriousness of this divine commission and the need for complete submission to Allah's command, despite human limitations.
The Initial Revelation
The first verses revealed emphasize knowledge as the foundation of Islamic civilization - beginning with the Creator, moving to human creation, then to the means of preserving knowledge (the pen).
This sequence establishes that all true knowledge originates from Allah, who taught humanity what they knew not, positioning revelation as the ultimate source of guidance.
The Human Response to Divine Encounter
The Prophet's trembling and request to be wrapped shows the profound physical and spiritual impact of encountering the angelic realm, demonstrating the gravity of receiving revelation.
Khadija's immediate recognition of his truthfulness and enumeration of his noble qualities shows how his established character prepared those around him to accept his prophethood.
Confirmation by People of Previous Scriptures
Waraqa ibn Nawfal's identification of the revelation as "namus" (the same revelation given to Musa) provides early validation from someone knowledgeable in previous scriptures.
His prediction of persecution aligns with the established pattern throughout prophetic history, where truth-bearers face opposition from their communities.