After Prophethood of Muhammad (sAW) : A Journey from Cave Hira to Prophethood

After Prophethood of Muhammad (sAW) : A Journey from Cave Hira to Prophethood

INTIMATIONS OF PROPHETHOOD:

When Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) was forty years old, he saw for the first time the light of his prophethood and the radiance of the joy of his coming. The time of his prophethood was approaching. This was Allah’s hearing that when the darkness becomes limitless and the sins prevail, a prophet is sent.

For Allah’s Messenger (pbuh), hatred for the environment of that time had reached its peak. It seemed as if he was being guided towards a golden destination. He liked to stay alone. Whenever he found himself alone, he got solace. He would walk away from Mecca and reach a place which was away from the sight of his houses. He had known all the paths, resources and valleys around Mecca. Whenever he passed near a stone or tree, he would hear a voice saying, “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah!” But whenever he would look around, he would only see stones and trees.

The first sign of his destiny came in the form of a dream. These dreams are so clear and bright like the morning light.

THE CAVE OF HIRA:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ often used to visit the house of Hira. He would stay there for several days and would take with him so much food that it was sufficient for those days. He would pray and pray there, following the path of his ancestor Ibrahim (AS), who was a Hanif. He would turn towards Allah through his spiritual feelings.

THE MISSION BEGINS:

Rasoolullah ﷺ was alone in Ghar-e-Hira when the time of the beginning of his revelation came. He was twenty-four years old and it was the 17th day of Ramadan, which was exactly the 6th August 610 C.E.

Suddenly an angel appeared and said, “Read!”

Rasoolullah ﷺ replied, “I cannot read.”

He said about himself, “He caught me and pressed me with as much force as I could bear, then released me and said:

‘Read!’

I said, ‘I cannot read.’

He pressed me again and let me go, and said:

‘Read!’

I said again, ‘I cannot read.’

He pressed me hard for the third time, let me go and said:

‘Read in the name of your Lord, who created man from a single drop. Read and your Lord is the one who does all the work. Who taught knowledge through the pen, taught man those things which he did not know.’ (Surah Alaq: 1-5)

This was the first day of Nabuwat and the revelation of the first verses of the Qur’an.

Kaaba Sharif : Makkah or Mecca
Kaaba Sharif or Masjid al-Haram: Makkah or Mecca

KHADIJAH’S REACTION:

Rasoolullah ﷺ was scared of this incident and came to his house. He was trembling and said, “Hide me! Hide me! I am afraid of myself.”

When Hazrat Khadijah (RA) asked the reason, she narrated the whole incident. Hazrat Khadijah was an intelligent and wise woman, who knew about the prophets, angels and prophets. She used to go to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who was a Christian scholar.

Hazrat Khadijah (RA) had the best knowledge about the power of her husband. He rebuked Rasoolullah ﷺ and said:

“No! Allah will never dishonour you. You maintain good relations with your relatives, carry people’s burdens, help the needy, are hospitable and help with justice.”

WARAQAH IBN NAWFAL:

Hazrat Khadijah took him to Waraqah. After listening to everything, Waraqah said:

“I swear by the one who has my life in his possession, you are the prophet of this community. The same spirit has come to you which came to Musa (AS). Your community will drive you out, will become your enemy and will fight you.”

Rasoolullah ﷺ was surprised and asked, “Will they drive me out?”

Waraqah replied, “Yes, there is no doubt. Whoever brought a message like yours, his command opposed it. If I were alive at that time, I would definitely fight with you.”

KHADIJAH’S ISLAM AND HER CHARACTER:

Hazrat Khadijah (RA) hated the wrong conduct of the people of Mecca. Anyone who was intelligent would have been fed up of their black deeds. She was the first person to believe in Allah and His Rasool ﷺ. She supported her husband in every difficult time. She tried to lighten the burden of Rasoolullah ﷺ and gave him the assurance that he is absolutely right in his message.

ALI IBN ABI TALIB AND ZAYD IBN HARITHAH ACCEPT ISLAM:

Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) accepted Islam after Hazrat Khadijah (RA). At that time he was only 10 years old and lived in the house of Rasoolullah ﷺ. When Abu Talib faced difficulties during the times of Qahat, Rasoolullah ﷺ took his son Ali into his house and raised him.

Zayd ibn Harithah (RA), who was the freed slave of Rasoolullah ﷺ, also accepted Islam. Rasoolullah ﷺ made him his son. The proof of all these people accepting Islam was their closeness which they had spent with Rasoolullah ﷺ. They had personally witnessed his truthfulness, generosity and good character.

Madinah : Al-Masjid an-Nabawi
Madinah : Al-Masjid an-Nabawi

ABU BAKR IBN ABI QUHAFAH ACCEPTS ISLAM:

Abu Bakr ibn Abi Quhafah (RA) also accepted Islam. He was counted among the best people of Quraysh, he was famous for his intelligence, justice and fairness. He revealed his Islam in front of everyone. His temperament was sweet and he was aware of the complete way of Quraysh. He was a philosopher who was famous for his good methods and honesty.

Abu Bakr (RA) started preaching the God of Allah and started preaching Islam to his believers.

QURAYSH NOBLEMEN ACCEPT ISLAM:

On the advice of Abu Bakr (RA) many Quraysh followers also became Muslims. These include Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan, Zubayr ibn al-Awwam, Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf, Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas and Talhah ibn Ubaydullah.

After them other Quraysh followers also accepted Islam. Hazrat Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah, al-Arqam ibn Abi’l-Arqam, Uthman ibn Maz’un, Ubaydah ibn al-Harith ibn al-Muttalib, Sa’id ibn Zayd, Khabbab ibn al-Aratt, Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, Ammar ibn Yasir and Suhayb (RA) also became Muslims.

Ultimately all sides of Islam failed in Makkah.

THE CALL TO ISLAM ON MOUNT SAFA:

Rasoolullah ﷺ kept his mission secret for three years. Then Allah ordered that now you should declare your command openly. Allah said:

“Whatever you have been commanded, declare it with force and keep away from the mushrikeen.” (Surah Al-Hijr: 94)

And said:

“Fear your close relatives and lower your head for those who believe in you who support you.” (Surah Ash-Shu’ara: 214-215)

Rasoolullah ﷺ climbed on Jabal Safa and called out in a very loud voice, “Ya Sabahah!”

This was a famous call which was given in the form of any protective threat or attack. The people of Quraysh immediately gathered.

He said, “O Banu Abdul-Muttalib! O Banu Fihr! O Banu Ka’b! If I tell you that there are horses behind this mountain who are going to attack you, will you believe my words?”

All the people who were wise and aware said, “Yes.”

Then Rasoolullah ﷺ said, “I am threatening you with a severe punishment.”

On hearing this, everyone became silent, but Abu Lahab said, “May you perish! Was that why you were called?”

ENMITY OF THE QURAYSH AND ABU TALIB’S CONCERN:

When Allah’s Rasool ﷺ started preaching the message of Islam publicly and told the truth according to the orders of Allah, his community did not distance themselves from him nor did they immediately abandon him. But when he criticised their gods and goddesses, they considered him a threat and united against him.

His uncle, Abu Talib, who was worried about Rasool ﷺ, always defended him and supported him. Rasool ﷺ kept spreading his message with full force. Nothing could stop them from their mission and Abu Talib kept helping them.

There came a time when some Quraysh people came to Abu Talib and threatened him: “Abu Talib! Your nephew has cursed our gods, criticised our religion, ridiculed our traditions and called our fathers misguided. Either hand him over to us, otherwise there will be a rift between us and you. You believe in our religion and beliefs.”

Abu Talib gave them leave and they went back. But the people of Quraysh kept talking about Rasool ﷺ and kept misleading each other. Once again they came to Abu Talib and said, “Abu Talib! You are intelligent and dignified, and we had hoped that you would stop your nephew, but you did not do so. By Allah, we cannot tolerate any more. Either give them to us, otherwise we will put you and them in such a situation in which each other will perish.”

He said “Oh my nephew, your people have come to me with threats, so protect me and yourself, and do not burden me with what I cannot bear.”

“If the sun is placed in my right hand and the moon in my left hand…”

Rasool ﷺ of Allah saw that Abu Talib was very troubled by these things and it was becoming difficult for him to support them. Rasool ﷺ said, “Uncle, I swear by Allah, if he puts the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand, then I will leave my work with this condition, even then I will not leave it until Allah makes it successful or I give up my life in it.”

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, wept, then he stood up and turned away. Abu Talib called out to him: Go back, my nephew. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went back, and Abu Talib said to him: My nephew, go and say whatever you want. By Allah, I will never hand you over to anyone.

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