The Divine Inspirations

And then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him, He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Mount Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) for many days before his return back to see his family. He used to take with him food for the stay and then come back to khadija (his wife) to take his food likewise again,

Till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The prophet (SAW) replied, "I am not reader."

The Prophet (SAW) added, "The angel embrace me forcefully and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, "I am not a reader."

Thereupon he embraced me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, "I am not a reader (or what shall I read?)"

Thereupon he embraced me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said,

Then Allah's Messenger returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said. "Cover me! Cover me!" She covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened.

And said, "I fear that something may happen to me." 

Khadija replied. "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kin, help the poor and the destitute, severe your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."

Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul "Uzza, who, during the pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah (SWT) wished him to write.

He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" 

Allah's Messenger described whatever he had seen.

Waraqa said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets  (angel Gabriel) whom Allah (SWT) had sent to Prophet Moses (SAW) I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." 

The Prophet (SAW) asked, "Will they drive me out?" 

Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." 

Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari narrated while talking about the period of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet (SAW) "While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, "wrap me (in blankets)."

And then Allah (SWT) revealed the following Verse (of Quran): O you (Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!