Lesson 89Lesson 89The MessageThe Message

[[1313 ] ]The beginning of the RevelationThe beginning of the Revelation

  When the Prophet When the Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) was 40 years old, was 40 years old, the age of full maturity, Allah bestowed on the age of full maturity, Allah bestowed on

him to be a Prophet and a Messenger, as mercy him to be a Prophet and a Messenger, as mercy to mankindto mankind

During his isolation in Cave Hirâ' during what is During his isolation in Cave Hirâ' during what is beleived to be the month of Ramadan, Allah beleived to be the month of Ramadan, Allah sent Jibrîl sent Jibrîl ((SAWSSAWS) ) to inform him of Allah’s to inform him of Allah’s

messagemessage

Jibrîl Jibrîl ((SAWSSAWS) ) appeared as a man, and he appeared as a man, and he ordered Muhammadordered Muhammad: : “Read“Read””

The Prophet The Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) repliedreplied: : “I can not read” “I can not read” ((because he was illiterate and did not learn because he was illiterate and did not learn

how to readhow to read))

Jibrîl Jibrîl ((SAWSSAWS) ) squeezed him severely then he squeezed him severely then he released him and asked him again to read, and released him and asked him again to read, and

the Prophet the Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) replied, “I cannot readreplied, “I cannot read””

  Jibrîl Jibrîl ((SAWSSAWS) ) squeezed him again and released squeezed him again and released him for the third time and told him what can him for the third time and told him what can be translated asbe translated as, , ""ReadRead: : In the Name of your In the Name of your

Lord Who created, Created man fromLord Who created, Created man from `̀AlaqAlaq ( (a a clinging mass, leechclinging mass, leech--like clot)like clot)

ReadRead: : And your Lord is The Most Honorable, And your Lord is The Most Honorable, Who taught by the penWho taught by the pen. . He taught man what he He taught man what he

did not knowdid not know. ." (. ." (TMQ, AlTMQ, Al--`Alaq`Alaq: : 1-5[1].1-5[1].))

The Prophet The Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) read these words, then read these words, then Jibril Jibril ((SAWSSAWS) ) told him as he was leaving told him as he was leaving

“Muhammad you are the messenger of Allah “Muhammad you are the messenger of Allah and I am Jibriland I am Jibril.”.”

The Messenger The Messenger ((SAWSSAWS) ) of Allah returned home of Allah returned home trembling from the horror he had felt when he trembling from the horror he had felt when he saw the angel and the severe squeezing that he saw the angel and the severe squeezing that he

experiencedexperienced..

When the Prophet When the Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) entered his home, he entered his home, he asked his wife to cover him in order to feel asked his wife to cover him in order to feel

safesafe..

When he calmed down, he told Khadîjah all that When he calmed down, he told Khadîjah all that has happened, and she said, “cheer up and has happened, and she said, “cheer up and

calm down, I wish you will be the Prophet of calm down, I wish you will be the Prophet of this nationthis nation.”.”

Khadîjah Khadîjah ((may allah be pleased with hermay allah be pleased with her) ) went went with the Prophet with the Prophet ((SAWSSAWS))  to her cousin   to her cousin

Waraqah ibn NawfalWaraqah ibn Nawfal,, who was an old man who was an old man who knew the Gospel well and the stories of who knew the Gospel well and the stories of

the Messengersthe Messengers..

The Prophet The Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) informed him of what he informed him of what he had seenhad seen . .

Waraqah told him that Jibr îl Waraqah told him that Jibr îl ((SAWSSAWS) ) is the is the messenger of Allah to His Prophets, and he messenger of Allah to His Prophets, and he was the one who Allah sent to His Prophet was the one who Allah sent to His Prophet

Mûsâ Mûsâ ((SAWS)SAWS)..

Then Waraqah wished that he were a young man Then Waraqah wished that he were a young man to support the Prophet to support the Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) against his against his

enemies, because he knew from the history of enemies, because he knew from the history of the Prophets that their people usually fight the Prophets that their people usually fight

them at the beginning of their messagesthem at the beginning of their messages . .

However, Waraqah died soon after thatHowever, Waraqah died soon after that..

[[1414 ] ]The suspension of Revelation and its The suspension of Revelation and its returnreturn

After this incident, the revelation ceased for at After this incident, the revelation ceased for at least 40 daysleast 40 days. . The Prophet The Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) missed the missed the

revelation so much, and its suspension was revelation so much, and its suspension was hard for himhard for him..

He also feared the cessation of this great He also feared the cessation of this great blessing, which is being the Messenger of blessing, which is being the Messenger of Allah to His servants, to guide them to the Allah to His servants, to guide them to the

straight pathstraight path..

While the Prophet While the Prophet ((SAWSSAWS) ) was walking in was walking in Makkah, he heard a voice coming from the Makkah, he heard a voice coming from the

skysky . .

When he looked up, he saw the angel that When he looked up, he saw the angel that appeared to him in Cave Hirâ', who is Jibrîl appeared to him in Cave Hirâ', who is Jibrîl

((SAWS)SAWS)..

He felt the same fright that he experienced when He felt the same fright that he experienced when he first received the revelation, and he hurried he first received the revelation, and he hurried

homehome..

He told his wife to cover him upHe told his wife to cover him up. . Then Allah Then Allah revealed to himrevealed to him, , ""O you shrouded O you shrouded ((in your in your

mantlemantle)), Rise up , Rise up ((andand) ) so warnso warn!!

((ii..ee. . warn the peoplewarn the people: : from Allah's punishment if from Allah's punishment if they do not worship Himthey do not worship Him ( (SWTSWT) ) alonealone))  ,  ,And And

so your Lord magnify so your Lord magnify ))ii..ee. . feel the feel the greatness and majesty of Allah alone.(greatness and majesty of Allah alone.(,,

And so your clothes purify And so your clothes purify ((ii..ee. . take care of your take care of your personal cleanliness and hygienepersonal cleanliness and hygiene.).), And so , And so

defilement forsakedefilement forsake! (! (ii..ee. . abandon your sins and abandon your sins and mistakes)mistakes)..

And be not bountiful, And be not bountiful, ((hopinghoping) ) to gain more to gain more ((ii..ee. . avoid expecting a reward of what you have avoid expecting a reward of what you have

givengiven.).), And to your Lord , And to your Lord ((endureendure) ) patientlypatiently!! ((ii..ee. . be patient when you face the obstacles be patient when you face the obstacles

while informing people of Allah's messagewhile informing people of Allah's message.)" .)" ((TMQ, AlTMQ, Al--MuddathirMuddathir: : 1-7)1-7)..

This was the first order from Allah to him This was the first order from Allah to him ((SAWSSAWS) ) to make Da`wah to make Da`wah ((call peoplecall people) ) to to

IslamIslam. . After that, the revelation never ceasedAfter that, the revelation never ceased..

Forms of Revelation Forms of Revelation [[1515]]

The revelation occurred in many forms, one of The revelation occurred in many forms, one of which is true vision. The visions and dreams which is true vision. The visions and dreams

of Prophets (SAWS) are one form of of Prophets (SAWS) are one form of revelationrevelation . .

Another form was the appearance of the angel to Another form was the appearance of the angel to the Prophet in the shape of a human being who the Prophet in the shape of a human being who

addresses him to inform him of what he is addresses him to inform him of what he is supposed to saysupposed to say . .

In this case, he could be seen by people, as it In this case, he could be seen by people, as it happened in many situations with our Prophet happened in many situations with our Prophet

(SAWS)(SAWS) . .

  Another form of revelation was that the angel Another form of revelation was that the angel appeared to the Prophet in his original shape as appeared to the Prophet in his original shape as

Allah has created himAllah has created him . .

The Prophet was able to see him in that image, The Prophet was able to see him in that image, and the angel related what Allah wished to and the angel related what Allah wished to

reveal to himreveal to him . .

This method did not happen very often to our This method did not happen very often to our Prophet (SAWS)Prophet (SAWS)   .   .

Another form of revelation was that the angel Another form of revelation was that the angel inspired in the mind and heart of the Prophet inspired in the mind and heart of the Prophet what Allah wanted to reveal to him, without what Allah wanted to reveal to him, without

being seenbeing seen . .

This method also happened to our Prophet This method also happened to our Prophet (SAWS)(SAWS) . .

  In some instances, the angel spoke to the In some instances, the angel spoke to the Prophet with a sound and speech similar to the Prophet with a sound and speech similar to the

sound of bellssound of bells . .

This form took the hardest impact on the This form took the hardest impact on the ProphetProphet . .

When he received revelation in this form, the When he received revelation in this form, the Prophet (SAWS) would sweat extensively Prophet (SAWS) would sweat extensively

even in a cold dayeven in a cold day..

If he received this revelation while ridding a If he received this revelation while ridding a camel, the animal would kneel down from the camel, the animal would kneel down from the

weightweight . .

The revelation took place also without an angel, The revelation took place also without an angel, by the direct speech of Allah (by the direct speech of Allah (SWTSWT) from ) from

behind a screenbehind a screen . .

This happened to the Prophet Muhammad This happened to the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) on the night of Al-Isrâ(SAWS) on the night of Al-Isrâ .' .'