One Verse a Day: Journey Through the Qur’an | #12
As-salamu alaykum everyone!
Today’s reflection is different. We will not analyze a new verse. Instead, we will look at a hadith narrated by Aisha r.a., who transmitted what she heard from the Prophet ﷺ regarding the first revelation and the role of Khadijah r.a. in comforting and supporting him. Khadijah r.a. stands as a timeless role model for every Muslim woman, embodying unwavering faith, wisdom, and support in the most pivotal moment of history.
After the first five verses of Surah Al-‘Alaq were revealed, verses that we have reflected upon over the past few days, Jibril departed, leaving the Prophet ﷺ alone in the cave, carrying a burden unlike anything imaginable.
Jibril a.s. had come with words from Allah, but he had come with something else as well—a weight, a burden unlike anything imaginable. A burden so immense that, had it been placed upon the mountains, they would have crumbled under its force.
لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍۢ لَّرَأَيْتَهُۥ خَـٰشِعًۭا مُّتَصَدِّعًۭا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَتِلْكَ ٱلْأَمْثَـٰلُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
(Had We sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and torn apart from the fear of Allah. Such are the parables We put forward to humanity, so that they may reflect.)
(Surah Al-Hashr, 59:21)
But this weight was not placed upon mountains. It was placed upon one man.
Jibril a.s. had not merely commanded him to read. In those brief moments, he had introduced the Messenger ﷺ to three profound truths.
He introduced him to his Lord."Read, in the name of your Lord who created." He was not alone. The One who created him had chosen him.
He introduced him to his mission."Taught man what he did not know." The world was in darkness, and he had been sent to bring light.
And finally, he introduced him to himself."O Muhammad! You are indeed the Messenger of Allah!"
Jibril had given him his message. He had told him who he was. And then, he was gone.
Stumbling out of the cave, shaken to his very core, Muhammad ﷺ made his way down the mountain.
Every shadow seemed to move, every gust of wind carried an echo of what had just happened. Then, as he reached the valley below, he stopped in his tracks.
The figure was there again. But this time, he was not in the cave. He was across the entire horizon. No matter where he turned, the figure remained, standing between the heavens and the earth.
"O Muhammad! You are indeed the Messenger of Allah!"
The words surrounded him, filled the air, pressed upon his heart. This was real. It was not a dream, not an illusion. It had happened.
Terrified, he ran. His feet carried him not to the crowds of Mecca, not to the Ka’bah, but to the one person he knew would understand. His home. His wife. His comfort.
Bursting through the door, his voice trembled as he spoke.
"Cover me! Cover me!"
His body shook, cold with fear. Khadijah r.a. rushed to him, wrapping him in a cloak, holding him close until his breathing slowed, his heart steadied. Then, when the words finally came, they came in a whisper.
"What has happened to me?"
He told her everything. The cave, the figure, the words, the weight pressing down upon him. His voice wavered.
"Have I gone mad?"
But Khadijah r.a. did not waver. She held his hands, looked him in the eyes, and with all the certainty of her heart, she said:
"By Allah, He will never disgrace you. You uphold family ties, you help the poor, you honor your guests, and you stand for justice. Allah would never allow harm to come to you."
She did not hesitate. She did not doubt. She believed in him before anyone else in the world.
But she knew they needed answers. She took him to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, a man who had studied the scriptures of the past, who knew of the prophets before. As soon as he heard what had happened, his eyes filled with recognition.
"This is the same angel who came to Musa. You have been chosen as the Messenger of Allah."
(In some narrations, it is mentioned that Waraqah also referred to Isa, but the most authentic reports confirm Musa)
The words hung in the air, heavier than anything he had ever heard.
But Waraqah was not done. His face grew somber, and his voice dropped.
"I wish I were a young man so that I could stand beside you when your people drive you out."
Muhammad ﷺ was stunned.
"Will they really drive me out?"
Waraqah nodded.
"No one has ever come with what you are bringing except that his own people opposed him."
A warning. A prophecy. A glimpse into the storm that was coming.
And then, silence.
No more revelations. No more visits from Jibril. No new verses. Nothing. Days passed. Weeks. The weight of the night in the cave pressed upon him, but there was no further guidance.
And then, when he least expected it, revelation finally resumed. this time with verses that would forever shape the mission of the Prophet ﷺ...
To be continued…