The First Revelation at Cave Hira – Story of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Contemplation, the Revelation at Hira, and the Early Call of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

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Arabia before Guidance

In those days many Arab tribes were nomadic. Where water springs, green pastures and groves of palms appeared, people set up temporary camps; when the season changed they would load their belongings on camels and move on. This was the harsh reality of Arabia, but similar scenes of ignorance existed across many parts of the world at that time. People worshipped fire, idols of love and hatred, even animals and trees — snakes, monkeys, stones, the moon, the sun and stars — and in some places people fell into the worship of insects or other created things. Darkness of ignorance and idolatry had covered the earth, and the straight path was lost for many.

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A Heart that Pondered

Against this background, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ often withdrew into solitude. He reflected deeply on life, the cosmos, and the Creator: Who made the sun, moon and stars? Why were we created? Who is responsible for the origin of life? These sincere contemplations drew him to seek seclusion and worship.

The Cave of Hira and the First Revelation

Each year during Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ would retreat to the cave of Hira, located on Jabal al-Nur about three miles northeast of the Ka‘bah. There, in calm and isolation, he would devote himself to prayer, feed the poor who came by, and spend long hours in remembrance of Allah.

One night, while in the cave, the Angel Jibril (Gabriel) came and said the first command of Revelation: “اقْرَأْ” — “Read!” The Prophet ﷺ replied, “I cannot read.” The angel embraced him strongly and repeated the command. On the third embrace the angel revealed the opening verses of Surah al-‘Alaq:

Arabic (Sūrah al-‘Alaq 96:1–5):

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ

خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ

اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ

الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ

عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

English translation (approx.):

“Read in the name of your Lord who created —

He created man from a clot.

Read — and your Lord is the Most Generous —

Who taught by the pen —

Taught man that which he knew not.”

Terrified and trembling, the Prophet ﷺ returned to Makkah and asked Khadijah (RA) to cover him and comfort him. After recovering, he told her what had happened and expressed fear. Khadijah reassured him and said, “By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You help the poor, honor the guest, and support the weak.”

Waraqah ibn Nawfal’s Confirmation

Khadijah then took him to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal — a learned Christian who knew the scriptures. Waraqah confirmed that the vision and the angel the Prophet described resembled what had been sent to earlier messengers. He warned, however, that the message would bring opposition: no prophet had come without enemies. Waraqah promised help if he lived long enough, but soon after he passed away.

The Pause and the Resumed Expectation

After that, Revelation temporarily paused. This brought sorrow to the Prophet ﷺ, but also allowed him to understand the nature of his mission and to grow in spiritual readiness. He returned to Hira and awaited the return of Revelation with both patience and longing.

The Second Command — “O You Who Are Wrapped Up”

When the next stage of Revelation came, Allah addressed him with the words of Surah al-Muddathir:

Arabic (Sūrah al-Muddathir 74:1–5):

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ

قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ

وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ

وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ

وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ

English translation (approx.):

“O you who are wrapped (in garments)!

Arise and warn!

And magnify your Lord;

And purify your garments;

And shun impurity.”

These verses ushered in the beginning of the prophetic mission. For the first three years the call remained largely secret and the new community met quietly — at the house of Al-Arqam near the foot of Mount Safa — before the message was proclaimed more openly.

Early Believers

Those who believed first were close to him: Lady Khadijah (RA), his freed servant Zayd ibn Harithah (RA), Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (RA), and Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) among others. The secret dawah continued for nearly three years, with the small band of believers worshipping and praying in homes and the valleys around Makkah. In the next article we will continue the story of how the message spread and how the early believers endured trials.

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