Seerah | Lecture 6 | The First Revelation

The life of the Prophet Muhammad is characterized by his innate perfection, physical beauty, and unwavering integrity, even prior to the formal declaration of his prophethood. He was known among the people of Makkah as Al-Amin (the Trustworthy) and As-Sadiq (the Truthful), titles earned through his consistent honesty in business and his role as a fair arbiter in disputes. His marriage to Sayyida Khadija bint Khuwaylid occurred when he was twenty-five, following her proposal and her consultation with others regarding his character. This union was marked by mutual support, and he maintained a deep, enduring love for her throughout his life, frequently praising her loyalty and sacrifice.

In his late thirties, the Prophet began to withdraw from the worldly affairs of Makkah, which were rife with gambling, alcohol, and deception, to contemplate and worship in the cave of Hira. At the age of forty, he received the first revelation of the Qur'an through the angel Jibril. This encounter involved a physical embrace and the command to recite, which the Prophet initially met with hesitation. Following this event, he sought the comfort of his wife, who provided immediate support and reassurance, affirming that his virtuous deeds and service to humanity would ensure that Allah would never let him fail.

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Key topics & takeaways

Physical and moral character

• Physical appearance — The Prophet was of moderate height, neither tall nor short, and possessed a beauty that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah described as resembling the sun roaming across his face (▸1:51, ▸2:51).
• Walking pace — He was naturally fast when walking, moving with such ease and speed that his companions often found it difficult to keep pace with him ▸2:22.
• Freedom from faults — He was kept free from all defects and faults by Allah, even before his prophethood, ensuring his character remained beyond reproach (▸14:46, ▸24:56).
• Emotional restraint — He never became angry over worldly affairs or sought revenge for personal matters, reserving his anger only for violations of the rights of Allah (▸5:44, ▸6:07).
• Honesty in transactions — He once waited three days at a meeting place for a business partner who had forgotten to return with the remainder of a payment, showing no anger upon the man's eventual arrival ▸5:17.

Marriage to Sayyida Khadija

• Proposal — Sayyida Khadija proposed to the Prophet through her friend Safiyya bint Umayya after verifying his exceptional character with others ▸3:29.
• Marriage ceremony — The marriage was arranged after consultation with his uncle Abu Talib, who delivered a speech highlighting the virtues of the Quraish and the Prophet's own integrity ▸6:16.
• Mahr — The marriage gift consisted of twenty camels and a specific amount of gold provided by Abu Talib ▸6:50.
• Status — While the Prophet’s status in the eyes of the people of Makkah was raised by the marriage, Sayyida Khadija’s spiritual rank in the court of Allah was elevated through her connection to him ▸11:28.
• Virtues of Sayyida Khadija — She was the mother of all the Prophet's children except Sayyiduna Ibrahim and was regarded by him as the best of all women (▸8:49, ▸9:28).
• Enduring affection — Even after her passing, the Prophet continued to honor her memory by sending gifts of meat to her friends and frequently speaking of her support during the early days of his mission ▸10:08.

The rebuilding of the Kaaba

• Structural damage — A massive flood caused by rain in the mountains damaged the walls of the Kaaba, necessitating a reconstruction by the tribes of Makkah ▸12:40.
• Participation — The Prophet personally assisted in carrying heavy stones for the construction, during which Allah prevented him from exposing his satr (private areas) ▸13:49.
• Conflict over the Black Stone — Tribes nearly engaged in bloodshed over the honor of placing the Hajare-Aswad back into the Kaaba ▸15:12.
• Resolution — The tribes agreed to accept the decision of the first person to enter the Haram at dawn, who proved to be the Prophet ▸17:12.
• The Prophet's strategy — He placed the stone on his own shawl and had representatives from each tribe lift the edges of the cloth together, after which he placed the stone into its position with his own hands ▸18:40.

The first revelation

• Seclusion — The Prophet spent his time in the cave of Hira, engaging in ta'abbud (worship) and contemplation, avoiding the vices of Makkah ▸22:03.
• The encounter with Jibril — At age forty, the angel Jibril appeared and commanded him to recite, squeezing him with great strength three times before revealing the first verses of Surah al-Alaq ▸29:36.
• Meaning of "Ma ana bi qari" — The Prophet's response is interpreted not as an inability to read, but as a question of "what" he should recite, or a statement that he was not a reciter of poetry among his people ▸30:15.
• Reaction to revelation — Upon returning home, he felt extreme cold and requested to be covered with a shawl, subsequently sharing the event with Sayyida Khadija ▸36:36.
• Interpretation of fear — The Prophet's expression of fear (khashya) is understood by scholars as a concern for the ummah he was tasked to lead, rather than fear for his own safety ▸37:47.
• Support of Sayyida Khadija — She comforted him by swearing that Allah would never let him down, citing his history of helping the poor, resolving disputes, and hosting guests ▸39:12.
• Waraqa bin Nawfal — Sayyida Khadija took the Prophet to her cousin Waraqa, an expert in the Bible who translated it into Arabic, to seek further understanding of the incident ▸40:05.