my faith
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ISLAM
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purpose and role in life? What does
the creator require of us, as His ser-
vants?
On the twelfth of February, 610
C.E., Muhammad, now forty years
of age, went to the Cave of Hira
near the top of Jabal al-Nur to
spend Ramadan, the traditional
month of retreat. He was sitting all
alone in this cave, when he had an
extraordinary experience.
After many days of meditation, sud-
denly the Archangel Jibrail [a]
appeared before Muhammad.
“
Read!
” commanded the angel.
“
But I cannot read,
” Muhammad
replied. So the angel held
Muhammad tightly and commanded
him, again and again, to read.
