The beginning of the revelation to the messenger of Allah (saws) Sahih Muslim 161 a
Arabic hadith text
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي يُونُسُ، قَالَ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الأَنْصَارِيَّ، - وَكَانَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُحَدِّثُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ فَتْرَةِ الْوَحْىِ - قَالَ فِي حَدِيثِهِ "فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي سَمِعْتُ صَوْتًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَإِذَا الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي جَاءَنِي بِحِرَاءٍ جَالِسًا عَلَى كُرْسِيٍّ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ " قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَجُئِثْتُ مِنْهُ فَرَقًا فَرَجَعْتُ فَقُلْتُ زَمِّلُونِي زَمِّلُونِي . فَدَثَّرُونِي فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى { يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ * قُمْ فَأَنْذِرْ * وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ * وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ * وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ} وَهِيَ الأَوْثَانُ قَالَ ثُمَّ تَتَابَعَ الْوَحْىُ .
Translation
Jabir b. 'Abdullah al-Ansari who was one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) reportedThe Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told about the intermission of revelation and narrated While I was walking I heard a voice from the sky, and raising my head I saw the angel who had come to me in Hira', sitting on a Throne between heaven and earth I was terror-stricken on that account and came back (to my family) and said
Wrap me up, wrap me up! So they wrapped me up, and the Blessed and Most Exalted Allah sent down:" You who are shrouded, arise and deliver warning, your Lord magnify, your clothes cleanse, and defilement shun," and" defilement" means idols; and then the revelation was followed continuously.
The Book of Faith - Sahih Muslim 161 a
This narration from Sahih Muslim describes the initial revelation experience where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was wrapped in garments during his first encounter with divine revelation. The subsequent verses from Surah Al-Muddathir (74:1-5) marked the beginning of his public prophethood.
Classical Scholarly Commentary
The phrase "wrap me up" indicates the Prophet's state of awe and seeking comfort after the overwhelming first revelation. Scholars explain this as a natural human response to divine encounter.
"Arise and deliver warning" signifies the transition from private spiritual experience to public mission. Classical commentators note this establishes the fundamental duty of prophethood: warning humanity against disbelief.
"Your Lord magnify" refers to establishing Tawhid (divine unity) and perfecting one's understanding of Allah's greatness before calling others.
"Your clothes cleanse" has been interpreted both literally as maintaining physical purity and metaphorically as purifying one's character and intentions.
"Defilement shun" explicitly identifies idols as spiritual pollution that must be completely abandoned, establishing the Islamic position against shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Historical Context & Significance
This revelation marked the beginning of the public phase of prophethood after the initial private revelations. Classical scholars emphasize this moment as the formal commissioning of the Final Prophet.
The "continuous revelation" mentioned indicates the establishment of regular divine communication that would continue for 23 years, gradually revealing the complete Islamic guidance.