I asked Abu Salama what was revealed first from the Qur'an. He said:" 0, the shrouded one." I said: Or" Recite." Jabir said: I am narrating to you what was narrated to us by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: I stayed in Hira' for one month and when my stay was completed, I come down and went into the heart of the valley. Somebody called me aloud. I looked in front of me, behind me, on the right of my side and on my left, but I did not see any body. I was again called and I looked about but saw nothing. I was called again and raised my head, and there on the Throne in the open atmosphere he, i. e. Gabriel (peace be upon him) was sitting. I began to tremble on account of fear. I came to Khadija and said: Wrap me up. They wrapped me up and threw water on me and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, sent down this: you who are shrouded! arise and deliver warning, your Lord magnify, your clothes cleanse."
The Book of Faith - Sahih Muslim 161 d
This narration from Jabir ibn Abdullah recounts the profound spiritual experience of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) following the initial revelation. The tradition clarifies that Surah al-Muddaththir (The Enshrouded One) was revealed after the first five verses of Surah al-Alaq, providing important chronological context for understanding the revelation sequence.
Scholarly Commentary on the Spiritual Experience
The Prophet's retreat to Mount Hira' for spiritual contemplation reflects the pre-Islamic practice of tahannuth, demonstrating his innate inclination toward monotheistic worship before prophethood. His physical reaction - trembling and requesting to be wrapped - illustrates the immense spiritual weight of encountering the angelic realm.
Gabriel's appearance "on the Throne in the open atmosphere" signifies the divine origin of the revelation, connecting the earthly experience with the heavenly realm. The command "arise and deliver warning" marks the transition from personal spiritual experience to public prophethood, establishing the dual responsibility of purifying oneself while calling others to righteousness.
Exegesis of the Revealed Verses
"O you who are shrouded" addresses the Prophet in his current physical and spiritual state, while "arise and deliver warning" initiates his mission as warner to humanity. "Your Lord magnify" establishes tawhid (divine unity) as the foundation of the message, and "your clothes cleanse" symbolizes both physical purity and spiritual purification from polytheistic practices.
Classical scholars note that the sequence - spiritual experience followed by divine command - establishes the pattern of prophethood: direct communion with Allah through revelation, followed by practical implementation and propagation of the message to transform society.