Part-1:The Early Light: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s First Revelation

The Early Light: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s First Revelation

Introduction: When Light First Broke the Silence

In the barren stillness of the Arabian desert, amid the hills of Makkah, a man would climb alone into the darkened folds of Cave Hira. He was not a poet seeking verses, nor a leader plotting power, but a soul in search of truth. The man was Muhammad ibn Abdullah ﷺ, and what happened in that cave one quiet night would forever alter the course of humanity. It was there, in complete isolation, that the veil between the heavens and earth parted for the first time—and the divine message descended.

But before light, there was silence. And that silence was heavy.

1. The Age of Jahiliyyah: Shadows Before the Dawn

The world into which the Prophet ﷺ was born was steeped in Jahiliyyah (ignorance). It was a time marked by idolatry, tribalism, oppression of the weak, and spiritual emptiness. The Arabs revered poets more than prophets, worshipped idols sculpted from stone and dates, and buried their daughters alive in fear and shame.

Makkah, the heart of this chaotic world, was paradoxically the home of the Kaaba—a House once built by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Ismail (AS) for the worship of one God. But over centuries, this house had become surrounded by 360 idols, each a symbol of deviation from monotheism. Truth was hidden beneath layers of ritual, profit, and pride.

Yet, amid this darkness, Muhammad ﷺ stood out. Known as Al-Amin (the trustworthy), he lived a life of honesty, justice, and deep contemplation. His heart ached at the injustices around him: the cries of the orphans, the deceit in trade, the silence of the pious.

2. A Soul in Solitude: The Prophet's Retreat to Hira

By the time he reached forty, the Prophet ﷺ had begun retreating regularly to the Cave of Hira on Mount Nur. It was here he found peace in silence, where he could detach from the noise of Makkah and reflect on the Creator, the creation, and the cries of a broken world.

He would spend days in solitude, taking provisions from Khadijah (RA), his devoted wife, and returning only briefly. There were no rituals, no idols, no distractions—only the open sky, jagged rocks, and a heart longing for truth.

This intense period of reflection wasn’t escapism. It was divine preparation.

3. The Moment: Jibreel Descends

Then came the night. A night like no other.

In the darkness of Hira, while Muhammad ﷺ sat deep in thought, the Angel Jibreel (AS) appeared, filling the cave with light and presence. He gripped the Prophet and said in a voice that echoed across the cosmos:

“Iqra!” (Read!)

Terrified and confused, the Prophet replied:

“I am not one who reads.”

Jibreel embraced him tightly again, repeating:

“Iqra!”

This continued three times until the words began to etch themselves into the soul of Muhammad ﷺ:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clinging clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous.” (Surah Al-Alaq 96:1-3)

Shaken, sweating, and bewildered, the Prophet ﷺ ran down the mountain, heart pounding. The world as he knew it had changed.

4. The Comfort of Khadijah (RA): First to Believe

He reached home and cried out to his beloved wife:

“Cover me, cover me!”

Khadijah (RA), noble and wise, wrapped him gently and listened intently. As his trembling ceased, he recounted every detail. There was no mockery, no doubt in her eyes. Instead, she responded with words that would become the foundation of the Ummah:

“By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You uphold the ties of kinship, bear the burden of the weak, help the poor and needy, honor the guests, and assist those in calamity.”

With unwavering love, she took him to Warqa bin Nawfal, her Christian cousin and a scholar of the previous scriptures. Upon hearing the account, Warqa's eyes filled with tears:

“This is the same angel who came to Musa (AS). Would that I were young and alive when your people cast you out!”

The Prophet was astonished:

“Will they drive me out?”

Warqa confirmed:

“Never has a man brought what you have brought except he was met with enmity.”

 

5. The Silent Gap: Revelation Pauses

After this first powerful encounter, there came a pause. No revelation descended for days or even weeks. The Prophet ﷺ felt isolated, uncertain, and in anguish.

This period, known as Fatrat al-Wahy, tested his patience and deepened his longing. Some narrations mention he climbed the hills of Makkah again, hoping to see Jibreel, to hear the voice of his Lord once more.

And then, suddenly, revelation returned:

“O you who is wrapped in garments, arise and warn!” (Surah Al-Muddaththir 74:1-2)

The mission had begun. The pause was over. The Prophet was now the Messenger.

6. The First Believers: Seeds of a New World

From that moment on, a quiet revolution began. The first to believe included:

• Khadijah (RA) – his unwavering support

• Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) – his young cousin

• Zayd ibn Harithah (RA) – his adopted son

• Abu Bakr (RA) – his closest friend

Abu Bakr would go on to bring others into the fold: Uthman (RA), Talha (RA), Zubair (RA), and more. These were not just followers. They were the foundations of a new spiritual civilization.

7. Whispering Truth: Secret Da‘wah Begins

For the first three years, the Prophet ﷺ called people quietly. Meetings were held in secret, prayers performed in solitude. The early Muslims faced insults, boycotts, and torture.

Yet, their hearts were anchored by revelation. These weren’t just words; they were divine oxygen. They transformed slaves into leaders, outcasts into scholars, and the oppressed into beacons of hope.

8. Rising Opposition: The Quraysh React

When the Prophet ﷺ finally proclaimed the message publicly, the Quraysh mocked, attacked, and plotted. But no force could erase the truth he carried.

The man they once called Al-Amin was now accused of sorcery. His family was boycotted. His companions tortured. Yet he never wavered. His strength was not from sword or wealth, but from revelation.

“Indeed, We will reveal to you a heavy word.” (Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:5)

9. The Light That Still Shines

The cave of Hira remains. The mountain still stands. But more importantly, the light that descended that night still flickers in hearts.

Each time a believer recites Iqra, each time a child reads the Quran for the first time, each time truth is spoken in the face of falsehood—the cave echoes again.

That first revelation was not just for Makkah, or for Muhammad ﷺ. It was for all of us.

Conclusion: The Beginning of a Mercy to the Worlds

The night of the first revelation marks the moment heaven touched earth, and the final Prophet of God began his mission to rescue humanity from darkness.

From a cave of silence rose a voice that continues to call hearts across continents and centuries. That voice invites not to domination, but to liberation. Not to power, but to purpose.

“We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:107)

And in that mercy began the greatest story ever told: a man, a mountain, and a message that changed the world.

May our hearts never stop echoing, Iqra.