The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received his first revelation at the age of forty, following a life of forty years spent among his people, which established him as a perfect role model and a man of impeccable character. This mission, centered in Makkah, was the most difficult of all prophetic missions, as it required the propagation of Allah’s message among a people known for their harshness and ignorance. The first revelation, consisting of the opening verses of Surah al-Alaq, emphasized the importance of knowledge, reading, and writing, signaling the eradication of the era of ignorance. The Prophet ﷺ was taught directly by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, and his status as ummi signifies that he required no human teacher.
Revelation reached the Prophet ﷺ through various means, including direct communication from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, the mediation of Jibril عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ, and true dreams. The experience of receiving revelation, particularly when it came in the form of the sound of ringing bells, was physically intense and severe, often causing the Prophet ﷺ to sweat even in cold weather. His heart was prepared for this burden through the shaqqe sadr (the opening of the chest), which occurred four times, during which his heart was washed with the water of Zamzam to manifest his honor and exalted status. Following the initial revelation, the Prophet ﷺ consulted Waraqa bin Naufal, who confirmed that he had received the same angel that came to Musa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ and identified him as the final Prophet.
The nature of the Prophet ﷺ
- Humanity and status — The Prophet ﷺ was sent as a human being to serve as a role model for humanity, ensuring that no one could claim on the Day of Judgment that they could not follow his example because he was an angel ▸26:11.
- The nature of his light — The Prophet ﷺ was created from noor (light), which explains why he cast no shadow; his light was so powerful that it eradicated the shadows of the clothing he wore ▸27:49.
- The meaning of ummi — The term signifies that the Prophet ﷺ was taught solely by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, rendering him independent of any human instruction ▸9:19.
- State during rest — While the Prophet ﷺ appeared to be sleeping, his heart remained awake, and therefore his wudu (ablution) did not break while he was resting ▸14:57.
Revelation and Prophethood
- Methods of revelation — There were six or seven ways in which revelation was delivered, including direct communication from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, the mediation of Jibril عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ, and ruya saliha (true dreams) ▸14:57.
- The role of Jibril عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ — Jibril عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ acted as a messenger to deliver the revelation, but he was not the teacher of the Prophet ﷺ, as the Prophet ﷺ would often understand the message before Jibril عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ had fully grasped it ▸10:49.
- Physical impact of revelation — The weight of the Quran was so immense that it caused the Prophet ﷺ to sweat and feel intense pressure, and it is noted that if the Quran were revealed upon a mountain, it would have crumbled into dust ▸16:18.
- The period of fatratul wahi — A period of time passed after the first revelation where no further revelation came, allowing the Prophet ﷺ to prepare for the subsequent messages ▸30:46.
- The command to preach — After the initial revelation, the Prophet ﷺ was later commanded by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى to begin warning his family and close friends, as revealed in Surah al-Muddaththir ▸33:29.
The Companions and early believers
- First to accept Islam — The first individuals to accept the message were Sayyida Khadija رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, Sayyiduna Ali رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ, and Sayyiduna Zaid رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ▸34:54.
- The faith of Abu Bakr Siddiq رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ — Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ accepted the Prophet’s account of the revelation without any hesitation, and his faith is described as being heavier than the combined faith of all other believers ▸34:54.
- Support for the Prophet ﷺ — Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ supported the Prophet ﷺ with his entire wealth and his own life, a devotion the Prophet ﷺ acknowledged as unparalleled ▸36:14.
- Pre-Islamic friendships — Before the announcement of prophethood, the Prophet ﷺ maintained friendships with individuals like Hakim ibn Hizam, Qais bin Sa'ib, and Dimad bin Tha'laba al-Azdi, all of whom shared a common aversion to idol worship and injustice ▸32:12.