Musnad Ahmad

Umm al-Mu’minin Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the first form of revelation to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) began with true dreams; whatever dream he saw would come true as clearly as the bright morning. After that, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became fond of seclusion and would go to the cave of Hira and adopt solitude. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would remain there engaged in worship for several days at a time, not coming home at all during that period. But when his food and drink would run out, he would return home, take provisions for the same number of days, and go back. Eventually, revelation descended upon him in that very cave of Hira. An angel came and said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), "Read!" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "I am not learned." (The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, says) Upon hearing this, the angel seized me and pressed me so hard that I became exhausted, then released me and said, "Read!" I said, "I am not learned." He again seized me and pressed me so hard that I lost all strength, then released me and said, "Read!" I said, "I am not learned." For the third time, he pressed me so forcefully that I became helpless, and finally released me and said, "Read in the name of your Lord who created (everything), created man from a clot of blood. Read, and your Lord is Most Generous." (Umm al-Mu’minin narrates) When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) returned home reciting these words, his heart was trembling. He went to Hazrat Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) and said, "Cover me with a blanket." Hazrat Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) covered him with a cloth. When his restlessness subsided and his heart was at ease, he narrated the entire incident to Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) and said, "I fear for my life." Hazrat Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) replied, "By Allah! This can never happen. You should not worry at all. Allah will never forsake you, for you maintain good relations with your relatives, help the needy, support the weak, are hospitable to guests, and assist people in their rightful needs." After this, Hazrat Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) took the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Waraqah bin Nawfal. Waraqah had adopted Christianity during the period of ignorance and used to write the Gospel in Hebrew, having translated it from Syriac. He was very old and blind. Hazrat Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) said to him, "O cousin, listen to your nephew’s condition!" Waraqah asked, "Nephew, what has happened?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) narrated to him what he had seen. When Waraqah had heard everything, he said, "This is the same angel (Namūs) whom Allah sent to Musa (peace be upon him). I wish I were young in the time of your prophethood! I wish I were alive when your people will drive you out!" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqah replied, "Yes! No one has ever brought what you have brought without being opposed. If I am alive at that time, I will give you strong support." But a few days later, Waraqah passed away, and the chain of revelation ceased. Due to the cessation of revelation, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became so grieved that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of mountains. But whenever he would reach the peak with this intention, Jibreel (peace be upon him) would appear before him and say, "O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)! You are indeed the true Messenger of Allah." At this, the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) passion would subside, his heart would be at peace, and he would return. When a long period would pass, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would do the same again, and Jibreel (peace be upon him) would comfort him.