Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
2. The Life of the Prophet Muhammad
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The angel said to him “Read.”
The Prophet replied, “I do not know how to read.”
Then Muhammad felt that his body was being squeezed hard.
Then the angel released him and repeated the same command.
Again Muhammad replied that he did not know how to recite.
Then the angel again squeezed him and then released him for the
third time and said: Read!”
Then a change came over him and he was able to repeat the
divine words. Then Gabriel revealed to him the chapter Al-Alaq.
“Recite in the name of your Lord, who created; who
created man from a clot of blood; Recite, and your
Lord is the most Gracious. It is He who has taught man
by the pen that which he did not know.” (96:1-5)
Muhammad recited these verses repeating them after the angel.
Then he found that these words were written on his heart (Ibn
Ishaq).
The Prophet trembled in fear of what he had seen and heard in
the cave. The revelation was totally a new experience for him. He
set off for his house immediately after the disappearance of the
angel.
On reaching home the Prophet asked Khadijah to wrap him in
blankets. He was shivering from high fever. When he calmed down,
he related the whole incident to her.
