The First Revelation

Laylat al-Qadr — The Night of Power

In 610 CE, during the month of Ramadan, Muhammad ﷺ was in his customary retreat in Cave Hira when the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) ﷺ appeared to him. The angel commanded: "Iqra!" (Read/Recite!). Muhammad ﷺ replied that he could not read. The angel embraced him tightly three times, each time repeating the command, until the first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq were revealed:

Khadijah's Support

Shaken and frightened, Muhammad ﷺ returned home and told Khadijah what had happened. Her response was immediate and steadfast: "By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep ties with your relatives, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously, and assist those stricken with calamities." She was the first to believe in his prophethood — the first Muslim.

Waraqah ibn Nawfal

Khadijah took Muhammad ﷺ to her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal, an elderly scholar of the Bible and the Torah. After hearing the account of the revelation, Waraqah affirmed that what came to Muhammad ﷺ was the same divine revelation (An-Namus) that had descended upon Moses. He warned that the Prophet would be called a liar, harmed, and driven from his home — but that if he lived long enough, he would support him.

The Pause in Revelation (Fatrah)

After the first revelation, there was a period of pause known as the Fatrah, during which no revelation came. This was a time of uncertainty and concern for Muhammad ﷺ. Then the revelation resumed with Surah Ad-Duha — bringing reassurance that Allah had not forsaken him and that his future was brighter than his present.