Up to the age of forty, Muhammad was not known as a statesman, a
preacher or an orator. He was never seen discussing the principles of
metaphysics, ethics, law, politics, economics or sociology. No doubt he
possessed an excellent character, charming manners and was highly cultured. Yet
there was nothing so deeply striking and so radically extraordinary in him that
would make men expect something great and revolutionary from him in the future.
Muhammad believed that there was only one God, Creator of the sun,
the moon, the earth, the sky, and of all living things, and that all people
should worship only the true God. Muhammad would often leave the crowded city
and go to the cave in Mount Hira. He liked to be alone there, away from all
thoughts of the world and daily life, eating and drinking little. In his
fortieth year, Muhammad left Mecca to spend Ramadan, the traditional holy
religious month of retreat, in the cave. In the second half of Ramadan, God
began to reveal His message for mankind through Muhammad. This first Revelation
occurred as follows.
The Archangel Gabriel came to Muhammad in the cave and said:
“Read: In the Name of your Lord who created, Created man from a
clot. Read: And thy Lord is the Most Generous Who taught by the pen, Taught man
that which he knew not. (Quran 96:1-5) Muhammad repeated these verses, just as
the Archangel had said them, then the Archangel went away. He was terribly
afraid and rushed out of the cave. He was stopped by a voice from heaven which
said; 'O Muhammad you are the Messenger of Allah, and I am Gabriel.' He looked
up at the sky and wherever he turned he saw the Archangel Gabriel.
In a state of confusion he returned home to Khadijah. When his wife saw him she became very worried as he began to shiver, as though in a fever. He asked her to wrap him in blankets. After a while he recovered sufficiently to tell her what had happened at cave Hira. Khadijah believed all that he told her and with great respect said: 'Be happy, O son of my uncle and be confident. Truly I swear by God who has my soul in His hands, that you will be our people's Prophet. Muhammad was eased by her faith in him, but after all that had happened he was exhausted and felt fast asleep. Khadijah went to see her cousin, Waraqah Ibn Nawfal, to ask him what he thought about all that had happened. Waraqah was a very wise man who had read many books and had become a Christian after studying the Bible. He told Khadijah that Muhammad had been chosen by God to be His Messenger. Just as the Archangel Gabriel had come to Moses before and had ordered him to guide his people, so, too, would Muhammad be the Prophet of his people. But Waraqah warned that all the people would not listen to the Prophet and some would mistreat his followers. He must, however, be patient because he had a great message for all the world. From that day on, the Archangel Gabriel came often to the Prophet and the verses he taught him, the message from God to man, were later written down, and are known to us as the Holy Quran.
In a state of confusion he returned home to Khadijah. When his wife saw him she became very worried as he began to shiver, as though in a fever. He asked her to wrap him in blankets. After a while he recovered sufficiently to tell her what had happened at cave Hira. Khadijah believed all that he told her and with great respect said: 'Be happy, O son of my uncle and be confident. Truly I swear by God who has my soul in His hands, that you will be our people's Prophet. Muhammad was eased by her faith in him, but after all that had happened he was exhausted and felt fast asleep. Khadijah went to see her cousin, Waraqah Ibn Nawfal, to ask him what he thought about all that had happened. Waraqah was a very wise man who had read many books and had become a Christian after studying the Bible. He told Khadijah that Muhammad had been chosen by God to be His Messenger. Just as the Archangel Gabriel had come to Moses before and had ordered him to guide his people, so, too, would Muhammad be the Prophet of his people. But Waraqah warned that all the people would not listen to the Prophet and some would mistreat his followers. He must, however, be patient because he had a great message for all the world. From that day on, the Archangel Gabriel came often to the Prophet and the verses he taught him, the message from God to man, were later written down, and are known to us as the Holy Quran.
The mission of Prophet Muhammad (s) was to restore the worship of
the One True God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, as taught by
Prophet Ibrahim and all Prophets of God, and to demonstrate and complete the
laws of moral, ethical, legal, and social conduct and all other matters of
significance for the humanity at large.
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