The history of Islam
The revelation accounts
Muslim sources describe the first revelation in a cave near Mecca: a being commands Muhammad to recite, he returns terrified, and his wife and her Christian cousin reassure him.
Hira
Sahih al-Bukhari 3 (on the authority of Aisha) relates that the angel came to Muhammad in the cave of Hira and told him to read; he answered that he could not read; the angel pressed him hard three times and then recited the opening of Surah 96. Muhammad returned to Khadija trembling and afraid for himself. She took him to Waraqa ibn Nawfal, a Christian who knew the Scriptures, who said this was the same angel sent to Moses.
A pause in revelation followed. A report in Sahih al-Bukhari 6982 adds that during it he grieved so much that he went to throw himself from a mountain, and Gabriel appeared to stop him; scholars note this addition comes from al-Zuhri and is not connected to the Prophet by a full chain.
1Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth, 2Createth man from a clot. 3Read: And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous, 4Who teacheth by the pen, 5Teacheth man that which he knew not.
Quran 96:1-5 (Pickthall) · context
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمُدَّثِّرُ 1 قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ 2
1O thou enveloped in thy cloak, 2Arise and warn!
Quran 74:1-2 (Pickthall) · context
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلْهَوَىٰٓ 3 إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌ يُوحَىٰ 4
3Nor doth he speak of (his own) desire. 4It is naught save an inspiration that is inspired,
Quran 53:3-4 (Pickthall) · context
Sahih al-Bukhari 3 Summary, not a quotation
The first revelation at Hira and the visit to Waraqa ibn Nawfal.
Read the full text on sunnah.comSahih al-Bukhari 6982 Summary, not a quotation
The same account, with al-Zuhri's addition about the Prophet's distress during the pause.
Read the full text on sunnah.comHow it compares
The prophets of Israel were tested by public signs and fulfilled predictions, and the apostles proclaimed a resurrection seen by many. Here the only witness is the one who received the message.
21You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken?” 22When a prophet speaks in Yahweh’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 (WEB) · context
5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 (WEB) · context
Where scholars disagree
- The 6982 addition (the mountain episode) is disputed: many Muslim scholars regard it as al-Zuhri's unconnected report (balaghat).
Sources
- Earliest source Sahih al-Bukhari 3, 6982 (sunnah.com numbering).