Beginning of Revelation upon Muhammad

Sir William Muir, in his “Life of Mahomet” remarks: The idolatry and moral degradation of his people, pressed heavily upon him and the dim and imperfect shadows of Judaism and Christianity excited doubts without satisfying them; and his mind was perplexed with uncertainty as to what was the true religion. 

The Prophet added, “The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.” [96: 1-3] Then Allâh's Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, “I fear that something may happen to me.” Khadija replied, “Never! By Allâh, Allâh will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.”

Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during the PreIslamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allâh wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, “Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!” Waraqa asked, “O my nephew! What have you seen?” Allâh's Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, “This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allâh had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.” Allâh's Apostle asked, “Will they drive me out?” Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, “Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly.” But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Al-Ansari while talking about the period of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet “While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira' sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in blankets).’ And then Allâh revealed the following Glorious  Verses (of Quran): ‘O thou (i.e. Muhammad)! Enveloped in thy cloak’ Arise and warn! (The people against Allâh's Punishment)... up to ‘and desert the idols.’ [74.1-5]. after this, the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly.” [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth number 3]

And he arose and engaged himself in the work to which he was called. Khadija was the first to accept his mission. She was to believe in the revelation, to abandon the idolatry of her people and to join him in purity of heart in offering up prayers to the Almighty God.

“Some details pertinent to the successive stages of Revelation, I would like to get my readers acquainted with the stages of the Revelation which constituted the main source of the Message and the subject-matter of the Call. Ibn Al-Qayyim, mentioning the stages of the Revelation, said:

1)    The period of true vision. It was the starting point of the Revelation to the Messenger of God.

2)    What the Angel invisibly cast in the Prophet’s mind and heart.

3)    The Angel used to visit the Messenger of God in the form of a human being and would speak to him directly. This would enable him to fully understand what the Angel said. The Angel was sometimes seen in this form by the Prophet’s companions.

4)    The Angel came to him like the toll of a bell and this was the most difficult form because the Angel used to seize him tightly and sweat would stream from his forehead even on the coldest day. If the Prophet was on his camel, the camel would not withstand the weight, so it would immediately kneel down on the ground.

5)  The Prophet saw the Angel in his actual form. The Angel would reveal to him what God had ordered him to reveal. This, as mentioned in [Qur’ân], in [Chapter 53 - The Star [ happened twice.

6)    What God Himself revealed to him in heaven i.e. when he ascended to heaven and received God’s behest of Salât [prayer].

7)    God’s Words to His Messenger at first hand without the mediation of an angel. It was a privilege granted to Moses - Peace be upon him - and clearly attested in the Qur’ân, as it is attested to the Prophet in the [Chapter 17 - The Journey by Night [ of the Noble Qur’ân.”[1]