Seerah
The first revelation and the first Muslims
He came down the mountain shaking. His wife believed him first.
5 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 4
Muhammad is alone in the cave of Hira. A command comes: "Read!" He answers that he cannot read. Three times he is pressed. Then he hears the first five ayat of surah al-'Alaq.
Qur'an 96:1-5
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ١ خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ ٢ ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ ٣ ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ ٤ عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ ٥
1 Read in the name of your Lord Who created, 2 created man from a clinging clot. 3 Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous, 4 Who taught by the pen, 5 taught man what he did not know.
Lesson
The first revelation began with a single command. Read.
Part 2 of 4
Muhammad comes home shaking. Khadijah calms him: you keep family ties, carry the weak, help the poor, honour guests. Then she takes him to her cousin Waraqah. This, Waraqah says, is the same angel who came to Moses.
Lesson
Khadijah believed first. Her reason was his character.
Part 3 of 4
Khadijah was first. After her came 'Ali, his young cousin. Zayd, his freed slave and adopted son. Abu Bakr, his friend, who brought others. For about three years the message was shared in private.
Lesson
Islam began among family, friends and the powerless.
Part 4 of 4
After the quiet years comes the command to warn his nearest relatives. The Prophet climbs the hill of Safa and calls the clans of Quraysh. His own uncle, Abu Lahab, curses him. The opposition has begun.
Qur'an 26:214
وَأَنذِرۡ عَشِيرَتَكَ ٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ ٢١٤
214 And warn [starting with] the nearest kinsfolk,
Lesson
He opened by reminding Quraysh they had never known him to lie.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
He came down the mountain shaking. His wife believed him first.