Mukhtasar Muslim

‘Urwah bin Zubair narrates, and he was informed by Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her), she said: The first thing with which revelation began for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was that his dreams began to come true. Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw a dream, it would appear as clear as the break of dawn. Then seclusion became dear to him. He used to stay alone in the cave of Hira, worshipping there for several nights in a row, not returning home, and he would take provisions with him. Then he would return to Umm al-Mu’minin Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), and she would prepare more provisions for him, until suddenly the revelation came to him (and he had not expected the revelation). He was in the cave of Hira when the angel came to him and said: “Read!” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I am not a reader.” (The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:) The angel took hold of me and squeezed me until I was exhausted or he was exhausted, then he released me and said: “Read!” I said: “I am not a reader.” He took hold of me and squeezed me again until I was exhausted, then released me and said: “Read!” I said: “I am not a reader.” He took hold of me and squeezed me a third time until I was exhausted, then released me and said: “Read! In the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous. Who taught by the pen. Taught man that which he knew not.” When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) heard this, he returned, and the flesh between his shoulders and neck was trembling (from fear and awe, as this was the first stage of revelation and he was not accustomed to it, so awe overtook him), until he reached Umm al-Mu’minin Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) and said: “Cover me! Cover me!” So they covered him until his fear subsided. Then Umm al-Mu’minin Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “O Khadijah, what has happened to me?” and he told her everything that had happened and said: “I fear for my life.” Umm al-Mu’minin Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “Never! Be happy. By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you or make you sad. By Allah, you maintain family ties, speak the truth, bear the burdens of others (that is, you help the dependents, children, orphans, and the needy, and bear their burdens), earn for the poor, honor the guest, and help people in true calamities (such as if someone is in debt, has become destitute, or has suffered some other disaster).” Then Umm al-Mu’minin Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) took him to Waraqah bin Nawfal, who was her paternal cousin (because Waraqah was the son of Nawfal, and Nawfal was the son of Asad, and Umm al-Mu’minin Khadijah was the daughter of Khuwaylid, and Khuwaylid was the son of Asad, so Waraqah and Khadijah’s fathers were brothers), and in the time of ignorance he had become a Christian and knew how to write in Arabic, so as much as Allah willed, he would write the Gospel in Arabic, and he was very old and had lost his eyesight (due to old age). Umm al-Mu’minin Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) said to him: “O uncle!” (He was her cousin, but out of respect she called him uncle, and in another narration, he is called cousin), “listen to your nephew.” Waraqah said: “O my nephew! What have you seen?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) described everything he had experienced, and Waraqah said: “This is the Namus (the angel) who came to Musa (peace be upon him).” (By Namus is meant Jibreel, peace be upon him.) “Would that I were young at that time, would that I were alive when your people will drive you out.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Will they drive me out?” Waraqah said: “Yes! No one has ever brought what you have brought (i.e., the Shari’ah and religion) except that people became his enemies, and if I live to see that day, I will support you strongly.”

Yahya says that I asked Abu Salamah, "What was the first thing revealed from the Qur'an?" He said, "(O you who covers himself [with a cloak] - Surah Al-Muddathir)." I said, "Or was it (Read - Surah Al-‘Alaq) that was revealed first?" He said, "I asked Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), 'What was the first thing revealed from the Qur'an?' He said, '(O you who covers himself [with a cloak] - Surah Al-Muddathir).' I said, 'Or was it (Read - Surah Al-‘Alaq) that was revealed first?' Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said, 'I will narrate to you the hadith that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) narrated to us.' He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, 'I stayed in the cave of Hira for a month. When my stay ended, I descended and entered the valley. Someone called out to me. I looked in front of me, behind me, to my right, and to my left, but saw no one. Then someone called out to me again. I looked but found no one. Then someone called out to me again, so I raised my head and saw him in the air on a throne, meaning Jibreel (peace be upon him). Seeing this, I was seized with great trembling (from awe). Then I came to Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) and said, "Cover me with a cloth!" She covered me and poured water over me (to remove the awe). Then Allah Almighty revealed these verses: "O you who covers himself [with a cloak], arise and warn, and magnify your Lord, and purify your garments..." (Surah Al-Muddathir: 1-4).'