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Muhammad's first revelation was the event that initiated the development of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. The exact date is disputed, but it is generally believed to have occurred in 610 CE. According to the Islamic narrative, Muhammad sought solitude after repeatedly experiencing transcendental dreams in which he was told of his upcoming responsibility as a messenger of God, and thus retreated to Jabal al-Nour near Mecca. While isolating at the Cave of Hira within Jabal al-Nour, he was visited by the angel Gabriel, who revealed to him the beginnings of what would become known as the Quran.^[1] At the age of 40, Muhammad's religious career as the "Seal of the Prophets" had begun.

Date of the Revelation

The exact date and time of the revelation is not mentioned anywhere. As a result, the exact date is disputed.

The Calendar's State During the First Revelation

To stop the calendar months from rotating through the seasons, intercalation was employed. This involved the occasional insertion of an extra month (announced at the pilgrimage), ideally seven times in nineteen years. Intercalation was said to have been introduced in 412 CE, and it was borrowed from the Jews. The Jewish official controlling the practice was known as Nasīʾ.^[2]

When the Arabs adopted the procedure they used this word nasīʾ to denote the whole system. It was operated similarly to the way the Jews operated it – the beginning of the year (Muharram) was tied to the spring season.^[3]

Identifying the Date of the First Revelation

According to Mubarak Puri, the exact date of this event was Monday, the 21st of Ramadan just before sunrise, i.e. August 10, 610 CE – when Muhammad was 40 lunar years, 6 months and 12 days of age, i.e. 39 solar years, 3 months and 22 days.^[4]

Others establish the day by projecting the fixed (i.e. non-intercalated) calendar backwards, providing a date of the night of Sunday to Monday, 13 to 14 December 610.

Summary

According to biographies of Muhammad, while on retreat in a mountain cave near Mecca (the cave of Hira), where Muhammad used to go and ponder upon the evil deeds of his community. Gabriel appears before him and commands him to "Read!". He responded, "I cannot read!". (This happens 2 more times). Then the angel Gabriel embraced him tightly and then revealed to him the first lines of chapter 96 of the Qur'an, "Read: In the name of your Lord Who created, (1) Created man from a clot. (2) Read: And Allah is the Most Generous, (3) Who taught by the pen, (4) Taught man that which he knew not.(5)" (Bukhari 4953).

Before the Revelation

Muhammad was born and raised in Mecca. When he was nearly 40, he used to spend many hours alone in prayer and speculating over the aspects of creation.^[5]^{[page needed]} He was concerned with the ignorance of divine guidance (Jahiliyyah), social unrest, injustice, widespread discrimination (particularly against women)^{[citation needed]}, fighting among tribes and abuse of tribal authorities prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia.^[6] The moral degeneration of his fellow people, and his own quest for a true religion further lent fuel to this, with the result that he now began to withdraw periodically to a cave named Mount Hira, three miles north of Mecca, for contemplation and reflection.^[7] Islamic tradition holds that Muhammad during this period began to have dreams replete with spiritual significance which were fulfilled according to their true import; and this was the commencement of his divine revelation.^[5]^{[page needed]}

The First Revelation

According to Islamic tradition, during one such occasion while he was in contemplation, the angel Gabriel appeared before him in the year 610 CE and said, "Read", upon which he replied, "I am unable to read". Thereupon the angel caught hold of him and embraced him heavily. This happened two more times after which the angel commanded Muhammad to recite the following verses:^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]

"Read in the name of your Lord who created

Created man from a clinging substance.

Read, and your Lord is most Generous,–

He who taught by the pen–

Taught man that which he knew not."^{[Quran 96:1–5]}^{[citation needed]}

After the Revelation

Perplexed by this new experience, Muhammad made his way to home where he was consoled by his wife Khadijah, who also took him to her Nestorian Christian cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal. Islamic tradition holds that Waraqah, upon hearing the description, testified to Muhammad's prophethood,^[5]^{[page needed]}^[15] and convinced Muhammad that the revelation was from God.^[16] Waraqah said: "O my nephew! What did you see?" When Muhammad told him what had happened to him, Waraqah replied: "This is Namus (meaning Gabriel) that Allah sent to Moses. I wish I were younger. I wish I could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Muhammad asked: "Will they drive me out?" Waraqah answered in the affirmative and said: "Anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should be alive until that day, then I would support you strongly." A few days later Waraqah died.^[17]

The initial revelation was followed by a pause and a second encounter with Gabriel when Muhammad heard a voice from the sky and saw the same angel "sitting between the sky and the earth" and the revelations resumed with the first verses of chapter 74.

Al-Tabari and Ibn Hisham reported that Muhammad left the cave of Hira after being surprised by the revelation, but later on, returned to the cave and continued his solitude, though subsequently he returned to Mecca. Tabari and Ibn Ishaq write that Muhammad told Zubayr:^[17]

"when I was midway on the mountain, I heard a voice from heaven saying "O Muhammad! you are the apostle of Allah and I am Gabriel." I raised my head towards heaven to see who was speaking, and Gabriel in the form of a man with feet astride the horizon, saying, "O Muhammad! you are the apostle of Allah and I am Gabriel." I stood gazing at him moving neither forward nor backward, then I began to turn my face away from him, but towards whatever region of the sky I looked, I saw him as before."

Biographers disagree about the period of time between Muhammad's first and second experiences of revelation. Ibn Ishaq writes that three years elapsed from the time that Muhammad received the first revelation until he started to preach publicly. Bukhari takes chapter 74 as the second revelation however chapter 68 has strong claims to be the second revelation.^[18]

References

^ Weir, T.H.; Watt, W. Montgomery (2012-04-24). "Ḥirāʾ". In Bearman, P.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C.E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W.P. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). Brill Online. Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
^ Bab. Talmud, Sanhedrin, p. 11^a: "the intercalation of the year may only be done with the approval of the nasī."
^ Peters, F E (1994). Muhammad and the origins of Islam. New York. p. 252. ISBN 0-7914-1875-8. Archived from the original on 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2020-09-12. The Hajj fell on March 10, in the intercalated year 632 A.D., the vernal equinox in the Julian calendar then in use, and if the traditionalists were correct, in that year it coincided with the Passover and Easter tides. With intercalation, which annually tied the Hajj to the spring season, that must not have been a rare occurrence, but Muhammad's abolition of the practice ensured that that coincidence would not soon happen again: henceforward the Hajj would occur according to the lunar cycle and thus annually retrogress, along with all other Muslim festivals, eleven days against the solar calendar.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) Having ordered intercalations in 630 and 631 (proved by reports of the interval between the birth and death of Ibrahim and a solar eclipse on the morning of his death) the Nasīʾ did not order another one in 632. At that time the vernal equinox was occurring about 19 March.
^ Mubārakpūrī, Ṣafī R. (1998). When the Moon Split (A Biography of the Prophet Muhammad). Riyadh: Darussalam. p. 32.
^ ^a ^b ^c Shibli Nomani. Sirat-un-Nabi. Vol 1 Lahore
^ Husayn Haykal, Muhammad (2008). The Life of Muhammad. Selangor: Islamic Book Trust. pp. 79–80. ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7.
^ Bogle, Emory C. (1998). Islam: Origin and Belief. Texas University Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-292-70862-9.
^ Muhammad Mustafa Al-A'zami (2003), The History of The Qur'anic Text: From Revelation to Compilation: A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments, pp. 25, 47–8. UK Islamic Academy. ISBN 978-1872531656.
^ Brown (2003), pp. 72–3.
^ Sell (1913), p. 29.
^ "Bukhari volume 1, book 1, number 3". Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
^ Sahih al-Bukhari 3392; In-book reference: Book 60, Hadith 66l USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 605.
^ Sahih Muslim 160 a; In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 310; USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 1, Hadith 301.
^ Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, p. 106.
^ Sell (1913), p. 30.
^ Juan E. Campo (2009). "Muhammad". Encyclopedia of Islam. New York. p. 492. ISBN 978-0-8160-5454-1. Archived from the original on 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2020-12-01.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ ^a ^b
*Translated by Alfred Guillaume (1967). The life of Muhammad (sira of ibn ishaq). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0196360331.
- At-Tabari 2/207
- The Sealed Nectar Archived 2001-12-14 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
^ Bennett, Clinton (1998). In Search of Muhammad. Cassell. pp. 41. ISBN 0826435769.

[Weir-1] Weir, T.H.; Watt, W. Montgomery (2012-04-24). "Ḥirāʾ". In Bearman, P.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C.E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W.P. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.). Brill Online. Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 7 October 2013.

[2] Bab. Talmud, Sanhedrin, p. 11^a: "the intercalation of the year may only be done with the approval of the nasī."

[3] Peters, F E (1994). Muhammad and the origins of Islam. New York. p. 252. ISBN 0-7914-1875-8. Archived from the original on 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2020-09-12. The Hajj fell on March 10, in the intercalated year 632 A.D., the vernal equinox in the Julian calendar then in use, and if the traditionalists were correct, in that year it coincided with the Passover and Easter tides. With intercalation, which annually tied the Hajj to the spring season, that must not have been a rare occurrence, but Muhammad's abolition of the practice ensured that that coincidence would not soon happen again: henceforward the Hajj would occur according to the lunar cycle and thus annually retrogress, along with all other Muslim festivals, eleven days against the solar calendar.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) Having ordered intercalations in 630 and 631 (proved by reports of the interval between the birth and death of Ibrahim and a solar eclipse on the morning of his death) the Nasīʾ did not order another one in 632. At that time the vernal equinox was occurring about 19 March.

[Mubarakpuri1998-4] Mubārakpūrī, Ṣafī R. (1998). When the Moon Split (A Biography of the Prophet Muhammad). Riyadh: Darussalam. p. 32.

[Shibli1-5] Shibli Nomani. Sirat-un-Nabi. Vol 1 Lahore

[6] Husayn Haykal, Muhammad (2008). The Life of Muhammad. Selangor: Islamic Book Trust. pp. 79–80. ISBN 978-983-9154-17-7.

[7] Bogle, Emory C. (1998). Islam: Origin and Belief. Texas University Press. p. 6. ISBN 0-292-70862-9.

[Al-A'zami-8] Muhammad Mustafa Al-A'zami (2003), The History of The Qur'anic Text: From Revelation to Compilation: A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments, pp. 25, 47–8. UK Islamic Academy. ISBN 978-1872531656.

[9] Brown (2003), pp. 72–3.

[10] Sell (1913), p. 29.

[bukhari-11] "Bukhari volume 1, book 1, number 3". Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2013-08-25.

[12] Sahih al-Bukhari 3392; In-book reference: Book 60, Hadith 66l USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 605.

[13] Sahih Muslim 160 a; In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 310; USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 1, Hadith 301.

[14] Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, p. 106.

[15] Sell (1913), p. 30.

[16] Juan E. Campo (2009). "Muhammad". Encyclopedia of Islam. New York. p. 492. ISBN 978-0-8160-5454-1. Archived from the original on 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2020-12-01.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[tabari-17] *Translated by Alfred Guillaume (1967). The life of Muhammad (sira of ibn ishaq). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0196360331.
At-Tabari 2/207

The Sealed Nectar Archived 2001-12-14 at the Library of Congress Web Archives

[18] At-Tabari 2/207

[19] The Sealed Nectar Archived 2001-12-14 at the Library of Congress Web Archives

[18] Bennett, Clinton (1998). In Search of Muhammad. Cassell. pp. 41. ISBN 0826435769.

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+{{Short description|Foundational event in the Islamic religion}}
 {{Muhammad}}
-'''Muhammad's first revelation''' was an event described in [[Islam]] as taking place in 610 AC, during which the Islamic prophet, [[Muhammad in Islam|Muhammad]] was visited by the angel [[Gabriel#Islam|Jibrīl]], known as Gabriel in English, who revealed to him the beginnings of what would later become the [[Quran|Qur’an]]. The event took place in a cave called [[Cave of Hira|Hira]], located on the mountain [[Jabal al-Nour|Jabal an-Nour]], near [[Mecca]]. As for the exact date of this event, it has been calculated to be on Friday, the 17th of [[Ramadan]] at night, i.e. [[August 6]], 610 [[Common Era|C.E.]] – when Muhammad was 40 lunar years, 6 months and 12 days of age, i.e. 39 [[Gregorian calendar]] years, 3 months and 22 days.<ref name=Mubarakpuri1998>{{cite book |url=http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/When%20The%20Moon%20Split.pdf|last=Mubārakpūrī |first=Ṣafī-ur Rahman |title=When the Moon Split |place=Riyadh |date=1998 |page=32}}</ref> <ref name=Weir>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Weir |first1=T.H. |last2=Watt |first2=W. Montgomery |title=Ḥirāʾ |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam |edition=2nd |editor-first1=P. |editor-last1=Bearman |editor-first2=Th. |editor-last2=Bianquis |editor-first3=C.E. |editor-last3=Bosworth |editor-first4=E. |editor-last4=van Donzel |editor-first5=W.P. |editor-last5=Heinrichs |publisher=Brill Online |accessdate=7 October 2013 |url=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/hira-SIM_2890|date=2012-04-24 }}</ref> 6 August 610 ([[Julian calendar|Julian]]) was actually a Thursday. The [[proleptic Gregorian calendar]] is two days ahead in the sixth century and three days ahead in the seventh.
+'''Muhammad's first revelation''' was the event that initiated the development of [[Islam]] in the [[Arabian Peninsula]]. The exact date is disputed, but it is generally believed to have occurred in 610 CE. According to the Islamic narrative, [[Muhammad]] sought solitude after repeatedly experiencing transcendental dreams in which he was told of his upcoming responsibility as a [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|messenger of God]], and thus retreated to [[Jabal al-Nour]] near [[Mecca]]. While isolating at the [[Cave of Hira]] within Jabal al-Nour, he was visited by the angel [[Gabriel]], who revealed to him the beginnings of what would become known as the [[Quran]].<ref name="Weir">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Ḥirāʾ |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam |publisher=Brill Online |url=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/hira-SIM_2890 |access-date=7 October 2013 |date=2012-04-24 |editor-last1=Bearman |editor-first1=P. |edition=2nd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017045557/http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/hira-SIM_2890 |archive-date=2013-10-17 |last2=Watt |first2=W. Montgomery |last1=Weir |first1=T.H. |editor-first2=Th. |editor-last2=Bianquis |editor-first3=C.E. |editor-last3=Bosworth |editor-first4=E. |editor-last4=van Donzel |editor-first5=W.P. |editor-last5=Heinrichs |url-status=live}}</ref> At the age of 40, [[Muhammad in Islam|Muhammad's religious career]] as the "[[Seal of the Prophets]]" had begun.
+==Date of the Revelation==
-In his 1998 book Mubarakpuri sets the event as "Late one Monday night, just before sunrise on the twenty-first of Ramadan (August 10, 610 C.E.)" 10 August 610 was a Monday, the phrase "Late one Monday night, just before sunrise" translating as "early one Monday morning".   In ''The Sealed Nectar'' Mubarakpuri gives preference to the 21st, noting "Then they differ over the day that the Revelation began."
+The exact date and time of the revelation is not mentioned anywhere. As a result, the exact date is disputed.
-All these versions are wrong.   We can establish the day of the Islamic month (but not the month itself) corresponding to a given Julian date by projecting the fixed (i.e. non-[[Intercalation (timekeeping)|intercalated]]) calendar backwards.   When we do, we find that 6 August 610 corresponds to 11 Ramadan and 10 August to 15 Ramadan. The equivalence of 40 lunar years, 6 months and 12 days to 39 Gregorian calendar years, 3 months and 22 days is also incorrect. 39 Julian calendar years, 3 months and 22 days takes us back from 10 August 610 to 19 April 571. This is 14,367 days. Taking the average length of an Islamic month as 29.53059 days, this equates to 486.51 months, which in the fixed calendar is 40 years, 6 months and 15 days.
+===The Calendar's State During the First Revelation===
-April 571 is taken as Muhammad's birth date. But his birth date is reliably reported to be Monday, 12 Rabi'I 570. Projecting the fixed calendar backwards 19 April 571 is found to be the 9th day of an Islamic month. Also, the calendar was intercalated throughout the period. Under intercalation 12 Rabi'I might fall in May or June, but never in April. Under intercalation also 23 Ramadan might fall in November or December, but never in August. Had the fixed calendar been in use in 610 21 Ramadan would have been 16 August, a Sunday. [[Ibn Abbas]] (and indeed Muhammad himself) stated that the dates of both Muhammad's birth and the first revelation were Mondays. Ibn Abbas also stated that the first revelation occurred on the 23rd. With knowledge of the year, date and day of the week we are in a position to fix both dates exactly. Muhammad's birth occurred just after sunset on Sunday, 11 Rabi'I (Sunday 1 June 570). The first revelation occurred on the night of 23 Ramadan, Sunday 13 to Monday 14 December 610. We can confirm this by cross-referencing the other information provided (the intervals within a year) because these are the same whether the year is intercalated or not.
+To stop the calendar months from rotating through the seasons, [[intercalation (timekeeping)|intercalation]] was employed. This involved the occasional insertion of an extra month (announced at the pilgrimage), ideally seven times in nineteen years. Intercalation was said to have been introduced in 412 CE, and it was borrowed from the Jews. The Jewish official controlling the practice was known as ''Nasīʾ''.<ref>Bab. Talmud, ''Sanhedrin'', p. 11<sup>a</sup>: "the intercalation of the year may only be done with the approval of the nasī." </ref>
+When the Arabs adopted the procedure they used this word ''nasīʾ'' to denote the whole system. It was operated similarly to the way the Jews operated it – the beginning of the year (Muharram) was tied to the spring season.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0OrCo4VyvGkC&pg=PA252|last=Peters|first=F E|title=Muhammad and the origins of Islam|location=New York|date=1994|page=252|isbn=0-7914-1875-8|quote=The ''Hajj'' fell on March 10, in the intercalated year 632 A.D., the vernal equinox in the Julian calendar then in use, and if the traditionalists were correct, in that year it coincided with the Passover and Easter tides. With intercalation, which annually tied the ''Hajj'' to the spring season, that must not have been a rare occurrence, but Muhammad's abolition of the practice ensured that that coincidence would not soon happen again: henceforward the ''Hajj'' would occur according to the lunar cycle and thus annually retrogress, along with all other Muslim festivals, eleven days against the solar calendar.|access-date=2020-09-12|archive-date=2023-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414185450/https://books.google.com/books?id=0OrCo4VyvGkC&pg=PA252|url-status=live}} Having ordered intercalations in 630 and 631 (proved by reports of the interval between the birth and death of Ibrahim and a solar eclipse on the morning of his death) the ''Nasīʾ'' did not order another one in 632. At that time the vernal equinox was occurring about 19 March.</ref>
-For the birth date, we have the astronomically-calculated 6 months and 15 days before the first revelation. From the Sunni date (27 Ramadan) back to 12 Rabi'I is 6 months and 15 days. We also have the reported interval of 6 months and 12 days. From the Shia date (23 Ramadan) back to 11 Rabi'I is 6 months and 12 days. As final confirmation it is reported that Muhammad died four days after his birthday. He died on 14 Rabi'I AH 11 (Monday 8 June 632).
+===Identifying the Date of the First Revelation===
-According to [[Prophetic biography|biographies of Muhammad]], while on retreat in a mountain cave near Mecca (the cave of Hira), Gabriel appears before him and commands him to “Read!”. He responded, “But I cannot read!”. Then the angel Gabriel embraced him tightly and then revealed to him the first lines of chapter 96 of the Qur’an, “Read: In the name of your Lord Who created, (1) Created man from a clot. (2) Read: And your Lord is the Most Generous, (3) Who thought by the pen, (4) Thought man that which he knew not.” (Bukhari 4953).
+According to [[Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri|Mubarak Puri]], the exact date of this event was Monday, the 21st of [[Ramadan]] just before sunrise, i.e. August 10, 610 CE – when Muhammad was 40 lunar years, 6 months and 12 days of age, i.e. 39 solar years, 3 months and 22 days.<ref name=Mubarakpuri1998>{{cite book |last=Mubārakpūrī |first=Ṣafī R. |title=When the Moon Split (A Biography of the Prophet Muhammad) |publisher=Darussalam |place=Riyadh |date=1998 |url=https://archive.org/details/when-the-moon-split-a-biography-of-proph |pages=32}}</ref>
+Others establish the day by projecting the fixed (i.e. non-intercalated) calendar backwards, providing a date of the night of Sunday to Monday, 13 to 14 December 610.
-==Before the revelation==
+==Summary==
+According to [[Prophetic biography|biographies of Muhammad]], while on retreat in a mountain cave near Mecca (the cave of Hira), where Muhammad used to go and ponder upon the evil deeds of his community. Gabriel appears before him and commands him to "Read!". He responded, "I cannot read!". (This happens 2 more times). Then the angel Gabriel embraced him tightly and then revealed to him the first lines of [[Al-Alaq|chapter 96 of the Qur'an]], "Read: In the name of your Lord Who created, (1) Created man from a clot. (2) Read: And Allah is the Most Generous, (3) Who taught by the pen, (4) Taught man that which he knew not.(5)" (Bukhari 4953).
+===Before the Revelation===
 {{main|Muhammad}}
-Muhammad was born and raised in Mecca. When he was nearly 40, he used to spend many hours alone in prayer and speculating over the aspects of creation.<ref name="Shibli1">[[Shibli Nomani]]. [[Sirat-un-Nabi]]. Vol 1 [[Lahore]]</ref>{{page needed|date=April 2016}} He was concerned with the "ignorance of divine guidance" ([[Jahiliyyah]]), social unrest, injustice, widespread discrimination (particularly [[Women in Arab societies|against women]]), fighting among [[tribe]]s and abuse of tribal authorities prevalent in [[pre-Islamic Arabia]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Husayn Haykal|first=Muhammad|authorlink=Muhammad Husayn Haykal|title=The Life of Muhammad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fOyO-TSo5nEC&pg=PA79|year=2008|publisher=Islamic Book Trust|location=[[Selangor]]|isbn=978-983-9154-17-7|pages=79–80}}</ref> The moral degeneration of his fellow people, and his own quest for a true religion further lent fuel to this, with the result that he now began to withdraw periodically to a cave named [[Cave of Hira|Mount Hira]], three miles north of Mecca, for contemplation and reflection.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bogle|first=Emory C.|title=Islam: Origin and Belief|year=1998|publisher=Texas University Press|location=|isbn=0-292-70862-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/islam00emor/page/6 6]|url=https://archive.org/details/islam00emor/page/6}}</ref> Islamic tradition holds that Muhammad during this period began to have dreams replete with spiritual significance which were fulfilled according to their true import; and this was the commencement of his divine revelation.<ref name="Shibli1"/>{{page needed|date=April 2016}}
+Muhammad was born and raised in Mecca. When he was nearly 40, he used to spend many hours alone in prayer and speculating over the aspects of creation.<ref name="Shibli1">[[Shibli Nomani]]. [[Sirat-un-Nabi]]. Vol 1 [[Lahore]]</ref>{{page needed|date=April 2016}} He was concerned with the ignorance of divine guidance ([[Jahiliyyah]]), social unrest, injustice, widespread discrimination (particularly [[Women in Arab societies|against women]]){{citation needed|date=May 2022}}, fighting among [[tribe]]s and abuse of tribal authorities prevalent in [[pre-Islamic Arabia]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Husayn Haykal|first=Muhammad|author-link=Muhammad Husayn Haykal|title=The Life of Muhammad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fOyO-TSo5nEC&pg=PA79|year=2008|publisher=Islamic Book Trust|location=[[Selangor]]|isbn=978-983-9154-17-7|pages=79–80}}</ref> The moral degeneration of his fellow people, and his own quest for a true religion further lent fuel to this, with the result that he now began to withdraw periodically to a cave named [[Cave of Hira|Mount Hira]], three miles north of Mecca, for contemplation and reflection.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bogle|first=Emory C.|title=Islam: Origin and Belief|year=1998|publisher=Texas University Press|isbn=0-292-70862-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/islam00emor/page/6 6]|url=https://archive.org/details/islam00emor/page/6}}</ref> Islamic tradition holds that Muhammad during this period began to have dreams replete with spiritual significance which were fulfilled according to their true import; and this was the commencement of his divine revelation.<ref name="Shibli1"/>{{page needed|date=April 2016}}
-==The first revelation==
+===The First Revelation===
-[[Image:Entrance of Hira cave.jpg|thumb|The entrance to the Hira cave.]]
+[[File:Cave Hira.jpg|thumb|The entrance to the Hira cave]]
-According to Sunni tradition, during one such occasion while he was in contemplation, the angel [[Gabriel]] appeared before him in the year AD 610 and said, "Read", upon which he replied, "I am unable to read". Thereupon the angel caught hold of him and embraced him heavily. This happened two more times after which the angel commanded Muhammad to recite the following verses:<ref name="Al-A'zami">[[Muhammad Mustafa Al-A'zami]] (2003), ''The History of The Qur'anic Text: From Revelation to Compilation: A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments'', pp. 25, 47–8. UK Islamic Academy. {{ISBN|978-1872531656}}.</ref><ref>Brown (2003), pp. 72–3.</ref><ref>Sell (1913), p. 29.</ref><ref name=bukhari>[http://www.sahih-bukhari.com/Pages/Bukhari_1_01.php Bukhari volume 1, book 1, number 3]</ref><ref>[[Sahih al-Bukhari]] 3392; In-book reference: Book 60, Hadith 66l USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 605.</ref><ref>[[Sahih Muslim]] 160 a; In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 310; USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 1, Hadith 301.</ref><ref>[[Ibn Ishaq]], ''[[Sirat Rasul Allah]]'', p. 106.</ref>
+According to Islamic tradition, during one such occasion while he was in contemplation, the angel [[Gabriel]] appeared before him in the year 610 CE and said, "Read", upon which he replied, "I am unable to read". Thereupon the angel caught hold of him and embraced him heavily. This happened two more times after which the angel commanded Muhammad to recite the following verses:<ref name="Al-A'zami">[[Muhammad Mustafa Al-A'zami]] (2003), ''The History of The Qur'anic Text: From Revelation to Compilation: A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments'', pp. 25, 47–8. UK Islamic Academy. {{ISBN|978-1872531656}}.</ref><ref>Brown (2003), pp. 72–3.</ref><ref>Sell (1913), p. 29.</ref><ref name=bukhari>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sahih-bukhari.com/Pages/Bukhari_1_01.php |title=Bukhari volume 1, book 1, number 3 |access-date=2013-08-25 |archive-date=2013-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802081010/http://www.sahih-bukhari.com/Pages/Bukhari_1_01.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[[Sahih al-Bukhari]] 3392; In-book reference: Book 60, Hadith 66l USC-MSA web (English) reference: Vol. 4, Book 55, Hadith 605.</ref><ref>[[Sahih Muslim]] 160 a; In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 310; USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 1, Hadith 301.</ref><ref>[[Ibn Ishaq]], ''[[Sirat Rasul Allah]]'', p. 106.</ref>
 :{{Cite quran|96|1|end=5
-|quote=Read! in the name of your Lord who created
+|quote=Read in the name of your Lord who created
-:Man from a clinging substance.
+:Created man from a clinging substance.
-:Read: Your Lord is most Generous,–
+:Read, and your Lord is most Generous,–
 :He who taught by the pen–
 :Taught man that which he knew not.
 }}{{Citation needed|reason=quoting primary sources need secondary source interpretation per wiki guidelines|date=September 2018}}
-==After the revelation==
+===After the Revelation===
-Perplexed by this new experience, Muhammad made his way to home where he was consoled by his wife [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid|Khadijah]], who also took him to her Ebionite cousin [[Waraqah ibn Nawfal]]. Waraqah was a Christian. Islamic tradition holds that Waraqah, upon hearing the description, testified to Muhammad's prophethood,<ref name="Shibli1"/>{{page needed|date=April 2016}}<ref>Sell (1913), p. 30.</ref> and convinced Muhammad that the revelation was from God.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZbyz_Hr-eIC&lpg=PP1&dq=isbn%3A1438126964&pg=PA492#v=onepage&q&f=false|last=Juan E. Campo |title=Muhammad |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Islam |location= New York |year=2009 |page=492 |isbn=978-0-8160-5454-1}}</ref> Waraqah said: "O my nephew! What did you see?"  When Muhammad told him what had happened to him, Waraqah replied: "This is [[Namus]] (meaning Gabriel) that Allah sent to [[Moses in Islam|Moses]]. I wish I were younger. I wish I could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Muhammad asked: "Will they drive me out?" Waraqah answered in the affirmative and said: "Anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should be alive until that day, then I would support you strongly." A few days later Waraqah died.<ref name=tabari/>
+Perplexed by this new experience, Muhammad made his way to home where he was consoled by his wife [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid|Khadijah]], who also took him to her [[Church of the East|Nestorian Christian]] cousin [[Waraqah ibn Nawfal]]. Islamic tradition holds that Waraqah, upon hearing the description, testified to Muhammad's prophethood,<ref name="Shibli1"/>{{page needed|date=April 2016}}<ref>Sell (1913), p. 30.</ref> and convinced Muhammad that the revelation was from God.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OZbyz_Hr-eIC&pg=PA492 |last=Juan E. Campo |title=Muhammad |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Islam |location=New York |year=2009 |page=492 |isbn=978-0-8160-5454-1 |access-date=2020-12-01 |archive-date=2023-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414185458/https://books.google.com/books?id=OZbyz_Hr-eIC&pg=PA492 |url-status=live }}</ref> Waraqah said: "O my nephew! What did you see?"  When Muhammad told him what had happened to him, Waraqah replied: "This is [[Namus]] (meaning Gabriel) that Allah sent to [[Moses in Islam|Moses]]. I wish I were younger. I wish I could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Muhammad asked: "Will they drive me out?" Waraqah answered in the affirmative and said: "Anyone who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should be alive until that day, then I would support you strongly." A few days later Waraqah died.<ref name=tabari/>
-The initial revelation was followed by a pause and a second encounter with Gabriel when Muhammad heard a voice from the sky and saw the same angel "sitting between the sky and the earth" and the revelations resumed with the first verses of chapter 74.
+The initial revelation was followed by a pause and a second encounter with Gabriel when Muhammad heard a voice from the sky and saw the same angel "sitting between the sky and the earth" and the revelations resumed with the first verses of [[Al-Muddaththir|chapter 74]].
-[[At-Tabari]] and [[Ibn Hisham]] reported that Muhammad left the cave of Hira after being surprised by the revelation, but later on, returned to the cave and continued his solitude, though subsequently he returned to Mecca. Tabari and Ibn Ishaq write that Muhammad told Zubayr:<ref name=tabari/>
+[[Al-Tabari]] and [[Ibn Hisham]] reported that Muhammad left the cave of Hira after being surprised by the revelation, but later on, returned to the cave and continued his solitude, though subsequently he returned to Mecca. Tabari and Ibn Ishaq write that Muhammad told Zubayr:<ref name=tabari/>
-:"when I was midway on the mountain, I heard a voice from heaven saying "O Muhammad! you are the apostle of Allah and I am Gabriel." I raised my head towards heaven to see who was speaking, and Gabriel in the form of a man with feet astride the horizon, saying, "O Muhammad! you are the apostle of Allah and I am Gabriel." I stood gazing at him moving neither forward nor backward, then I began to turn my face away from him, but towards whatever region of the sky I looked, I saw him as before."
+{{quote|"when I was midway on the mountain, I heard a voice from heaven saying "O Muhammad! you are the apostle of Allah and I am Gabriel." I raised my head towards heaven to see who was speaking, and Gabriel in the form of a man with feet astride the horizon, saying, "O Muhammad! you are the apostle of Allah and I am Gabriel." I stood gazing at him moving neither forward nor backward, then I began to turn my face away from him, but towards whatever region of the sky I looked, I saw him as before."}}
-Biographers disagree about the period of time between Muhammad's first and second experiences of revelation. Ibn Ishaq writes that three years elapsed from the time that Muhammad received the first revelation until he started to preach publicly. Bukhari takes chapter 74 as the second revelation however chapter 68 has strong claims to be the second revelation.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bennett|first=Clinton|title=In Search of Muhammad|url=https://archive.org/details/insearchofmuhamm00benn|url-access=registration|year=1998|publisher=Cassell|isbn=0826435769|pages=[https://archive.org/details/insearchofmuhamm00benn/page/41 41]}}</ref>
+Biographers disagree about the period of time between Muhammad's first and second experiences of revelation. Ibn Ishaq writes that three years elapsed from the time that Muhammad received the first revelation until he started to preach publicly. Bukhari takes chapter 74 as the second revelation however [[Al-Qalam|chapter 68]] has strong claims to be the second revelation.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bennett|first=Clinton|title=In Search of Muhammad|url=https://archive.org/details/insearchofmuhamm00benn|url-access=registration|year=1998|publisher=Cassell|isbn=0826435769|pages=[https://archive.org/details/insearchofmuhamm00benn/page/41 41]}}</ref>
 ==References==
 {{reflist|refs=
+<ref name=tabari>*{{cite book|last=Translated by Alfred Guillaume|title=The life of Muhammad (sira of ibn ishaq)|year=1967|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0196360331}}
-<ref name=tabari>
-*{{cite book|last=Translated by Alfred Guillaume|title=The life of Muhammad (sira of ibn ishaq)|year=1967|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0196360331}}
 *At-Tabari 2/207
-*[http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/index.htm The Sealed Nectar]
+*[http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/SM_tsn/index.htm The Sealed Nectar] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011214185113/http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/books/sm_tsn/index.htm |date=2001-12-14 }}</ref>
-</ref>
 }}
+{{commons category}}
 [[Category:Life of Muhammad]]