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Seeratul Mustafaa (321)
All the Muhadditheen and Historians are unanimous on the fact that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was bestowed with the mantle of prophethood on a Monday. However, there is a difference of opinion regarding the actual month in which he was blessed with nubuwwah.
Haafiz ibnu ‘Abdil Barr (rahimahullah) says that he was blessed with prophethood on the eighth of Rabee’-ul’Awwal. Hence, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was exactly forty years old when he became the Nabi of Allah Ta‘ala.
According to Muhammed bin Ishaaq (rahimahullah), Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was blessed with prophethood on the 17th of Ramadhaan. According to this view, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was forty years and six months at the time of receiving prophethood.
Haafiz ibnul Hajar (rahimahullah) has mentioned in Fat-hul Baari that the latter view is the preferred view and correct view, as it was in Ramadhaan that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would remain in i’tikaaf in the cave of Hiraa’ (and it was during the i’tikaaf in Hiraa’ that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was blessed with prophethood).
(Extracted from Seeratul Mustafa 1/145)
On one occasion, Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) requested Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying, “If possible, then definitely inform me when the angel comes to you again.” Hence, when Hazrat Jibreel (‘alaihis salaam) again arrived, then as promised, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) informed her of his arrival.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned home after meeting Waraqah bin Nawfal. Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) did not receive wahi for some time. The purpose of wahi being withheld was so that the initial fear that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had perceived could cease and the desire of wahi could further increase.
Subsequent to going to Waraqah bin Nawfal alone, Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) took Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with her to see him. She addressed Waraqah saying, “O my cousin! Why don’t you hear what happened to your nephew (in his own words)?”
Waraqah then addressed Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying, “O nephew! Tell me, what did you observe?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) then narrated the entire incident.
According to some narrations, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) gave Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) a detailed account of what had transpired. She responded, “By Allah! Accept glad tidings! Allah Ta‘ala will never deal with you with anything but goodness. Accept the position which Allah Ta‘ala has conferred upon you for it is undoubtedly the haq. Glad tidings to you as you are truly the messenger of Allah.”
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned home, he informed Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) of what transpired. He also mentioned that he feared losing his life. Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) consoled him saying, “Glad tidings to you! Do not fear! By Allah! He will never disgrace you. You maintain family ties, and your efforts to maintain family ties are absolutely definite. You always speak the truth. You bear the burdens of others (you shoulder the debts of others). You look after those who are poor. You are trustworthy and always return whatever has been entrusted to you. You always fulfill the rights of the guests. You can be trusted and always assist in good works.”
If Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) received divine revelation whilst mounted upon a camel, the camel would be forced to sit due to the weight of the wahi. Hazrat Zaid bin Thaabit (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates, “On one occasion, the blessed thigh of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was on my thigh when he started receiving divine revelation. His thigh became so heavy that I was afraid of my thigh being crushed.”
Thereafter, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) returned home trembling in anxiety. The moment he entered, he requested Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) to cover him in a blanket. When his anxiety and agitation subsided, he related the entire incident to Hazrat Khadijah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) saying, “I feared that I would lose my life.”
When Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) reached forty and entered the cave of Hira, as per his blessed habit, an angel suddenly entered the cave and greeted him with salaam. The angel then said, “Read!” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “I am unable to read.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) recounts, “Upon this, the angel embraced me so forcefully that there was no limit to my difficulty. He then released me saying, “Read!” Yet again, I responded:
ما أنا بقارئ
“I am unable to read.”
Hazrat ‘Aa’ishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) further relates:
ثم حبب إليه الخلاء وكان يخلو بغار حراء
“Thereafter, solitude was made dear to him. He would often go into seclusion in the cave of Hira.”
When Allah Ta‘ala intends to shower His special mercy upon a person, He instills the yearning for solitude and seclusion within this person’s heart.
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Imaam Bukhaari (rahimahullah) and Imaam Muslim (rahimahullah) narrate that Hazrat ‘Aa’ishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) said:
أول ما بدئ به رسول اللّٰه صلى اللّٰه عليه وسلم من الوحي الرؤيا الصالحة في النوم فكان لا يرى رؤيا إلا جاءت مثل فلق الصبح
“The commencement of divine revelation upon Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was with pious dreams. He would not see any dream except that it would come to pass as true as clearly as the crack of dawn.”
On one occasion, the Quriash placed some food before Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Zaid bin ‘Amr bin Nufail was also present in this gathering. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) refused to partake of the food. Subsequently, Zaid also declined to eat this food saying, “I refuse to consume the meat of an animal slaughtered in the name of idols and food dedicated to idols. I will only consume food upon which the name of Allah Ta‘ala is taken exclusively.”
Imaam Bukhaari (rahimahullah) and Imaam Muslim (rahimahullah) narrate on the authority of Hazrat Jaabir (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that during the reconstruction of the Ka‘bah, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) also carried boulders to the site.
His uncle, Hazrat ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), advised him, “Son! Undo your lower garment and place it on your shoulder so that your shoulder will be protected from being abraded by the boulders.” On the advice of his uncle, he began to open his lower garment when he immediately fell unconscious.
It is reported from Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) that he heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying:
(In the days of Jaahiliyyah, prior to Islam,) the thought of participating in any custom of Jaahiliyyah never occurred to me, except on two occasions. However, on these two occasions, Allah Ta‘ala saved me and protected me from participating in these customs.