The Prophet of Mercy Website

The Makkan Period - The first signs of prophethood came in the form of dreams, which inevitably came true shortly after their occurrence. Then, at the age of forty, while he was alone as usual in the cave, the angel Gabriel[1] appeared before him, commanding him to recite. Muhammad replied truthfully, "I am not one who can recite." He had never indulged in the recitation of poetry, a favorite pastime of his contemporaries among the Arabs. The Prophet related that the angel pressed him forcefully, after which he released him and said again, "Recite".[2] He replied a second time, “I am not one who can recite.” The angel again pressed him as before and on releasing him said, "Recite." When Muhammad replied once again that he could not recite, the angel pressed him even more forcefully in the same manner. He then released him and delivered the first of the revelations from Allah which he was to receive in portions over a period of twenty-three years:

"Recite in the name of your Lord who created­ -

Created man from a clinging clot.

Recite, and your Lord is most generous,

Who taught by the pen -

Taught man that which he knew not."[3]

The Prophet recited these verses and the angel departed. This event took place in the middle of the lunar month of Ramadhan in the year 610 CE. Terrified at what he had experienced, Muhammad fled to the comfort of his wife, Khadijah, who reassured him that because of his kindness, generosity and righteousness, Allah would never harm him. She was the first to believe in his prophethood. She then took him to her aged cousin, Waraqah bin Nawfal, who had become a Christian and had knowledge of the earlier scriptures. When he heard about the extraordinary occurrence he realized that Muhammad was the long awaited Prophet of God. He said, "That is the angel Allah sent to Moses. If only I was younger and could be alive when your people drive you out." "Will they drive me out?" asked Muhammad. "Yes", replied Waraqah, "For no man has ever come with anything like what You have brought but that he was harmed. If I should live to see that day, I will support you vigorously." But he died shortly afterward.

After the initial revelation there was a period of pause. Commentators suggest that the interruption was in order to allow the fear in the Prophet's heart to subside. There are reports to the effect that after that first experience he doubted his sanity and considered throwing himself from the peak of a mountain. But the angel Gabriel would appear to him, saying, "Muhammad, you are truly the Messenger of Allah."[4]

Once his anxiety had diminished, Muhammad began to await return of the revelation and then even to long for it. He related to his companions how it resumed: "While I was walking I heard a voice from the heaven. I lifted my head and there was the angel that had come to me in Hiraa, seated on a chair between the heaven and earth. I was terrified of him and returned home. I told them, 'Wrap me up! Wrap me up!' so they wrapped me [in garments]. But then Allah, the Exalted, sent down the words: O you who covers himself, arise and warn. And your Lord glorify, and your clothing purify, and contamination avoid. After that the revelation began to come more frequently and in succession."[5]

These preliminary instructions were given to the Prophet at the commencement of his mission. He was told what to do and what kind of life to adopt. He was to forsake the comforts of ordinary life, dedicate himself to Allah and arise to the awesome task ahead of him. From that moment on, Prophet Muhammad's life was never to be the same; it would be a continuous struggle to fulfill the trust placed upon him by his Lord.

The message he was to impart was that of every prophet before him: that there is nothing worthy of worship and obedience except the Mighty and Majestic God who created this universe and maintains everything in existence. The Prophet was ordered to issue a warning, which meant ignorance could no longer be justification for wrongdoing, and that those warned would be held fully accountable for their actions. He invited people to belief in Allah as their true God, their Creator and Sustainer, and to believe in resurrection after death, the final account and just recompense in an eternal life. This religion, called "Islam", meant submission to the will of God by all people, without any distinction between them. It was a universal call - all believers were to be brothers and equals.

The Messenger of Allah began with discretion by imparting the message privately to those close to him who knew him best and trusted him most. The first Muslim believer was Khadijah, followed by Zayd, a slave boy he had freed and adopted as a son, and his young cousin Ali, who had also been raised in his home. Next was his closest friend Abu Bakr, through whose efforts a number of others were convinced of the truth of Islam. These enthusiastic forerunners of the religion soon became over forty in number. The word began to spread within the city that Muhammad was teaching some sort of new faith. The number of Muslims continued to increase to the point that curiosity was aroused among the people of Makkah. But most of them were yet unconcerned and continued to view the Prophet and his followers with indifference.

He would meet with them and teach them regularly as more and more verses of the Qur'an were revealed in a fascinating and powerful language. The lives of these men and women were completely transformed and they became examples of the highest degree of virtue and courage. The group of early believers also shared a strong bond of brotherhood based on the new consciousness of Allah and their common effort to spread and teach His religion and way of life. Within three years the faith was firmly established in the hearts of the Prophet's companions, and the period of individual propagation was drawing to a close.

Through the Qur'an, Allah then ordered His Messenger to take the message to the public, saying: "And warn your closest kindred."[6] This was a reference to his tribe, the Quraysh, who inhabited Makkah and the surrounding areas, but it was also an order to make himself known to all peoples of the world. Given the tribal mentality of the Makkans, it was not only natural but prudent to begin public propagation with his closest kindred, for they were the ones who would be most likely to support him or at least defend him as their sense of honor prescribed. It did not mean, however, that the message was restricted to the Quraysh, but only that informing them was a logical first step toward the realization of a long term goal. It was clear from many verses revealed, even early ones, that the Prophet's mission was to be a global one. Several of them which mention the revelation conclude with: "And it is not but a reminder for the worlds."

After issuing a number of invitations in which he explained the religion and expressed concern for the people's destiny, the Prophet issued an alarm call, mounted the hill of Safa near the Ka`bah and addressed the crowd that had gathered: "If I was to inform you that horsemen were in the valley behind this hill ready to attack you, would you believe me?" The question was meant to obtain their confirmation of his honesty, credibility and reliability. They replied, "Yes, for we have never known you to lie". Having gained their vote of confidence, he continued, “Indeed, I am a warner to you of a severe punishment." But his uncle, Abu Lahab, replied, "May you be ruined for the rest of the day. Is this what you gathered us for?" And he got up and left.[7]

The Prophet of Allah continued to address the Quraysh in obedience to the command of his Lord: "And say, "Indeed, I am the clear warner."[8] He would invite them to the mercy of Allah and warn them to save themselves from the Hellfire, adding that his kinship would not benefit them before Allah at all, due to the fact that every individual is accountable for his deeds. His concern for them was evident in the sadness he felt upon their rejection of his message, and he increased his efforts to speak whenever the opportunity arose.

The Qur'anic revelation came frequently with vivid descriptions of Paradise and Hellfire, with encouragement and warning to all those it was to reach. Allah's Messenger instructed his followers to learn the verses by heart and those who were skilled in writing to record them as soon as he recited them. Like his predecessors among the prophets, he lived and taught total commitment to the conviction that Allah, the Creator, was to be worshipped alone, without equals or associates. He firmly rejected the worship of any created being and was saddened by the degradation of humanity resulting from such practices.

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[1] Arabic: Jibreel.

[2] The word "iqra" can be translated as either "recite" or "read". Some commentators prefer the latter as it is known that the Prophet was illiterate.

[3] Qur'an - 96:1-5.

[4] Narrated by al-Bukhari.

[5] Narrated by al-Bukhari. The Qur'anic verses quoted are 74:1-5. "Contamination" here refers to spiritual as well as physical impurity and alludes to polytheism and idol worship.

[6] Qur'an - 26:214.

[7] Thereupon a short chapter of the Qur'an was revealed which begins: "May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he." (111:1)

[8] Qur'an - 15:89.

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