Part 25

3) Revelation That Would Come To Him Like The Ringing Of A Bell

Of all the different ways in which the Prophet #¢ received revelation, this was hardest upon him. ‘Aishah % related that AlHaarith # once asked the Messenger of Allah 2%, “How does revelation come to you?” He #% said, “Sometimes, it comes to me like the ringing of a bell, and this is the hardest for me (to endure). When it (the loud ringing noise) ceases, I remember what he (Jibreel) said. And sometimes the Angel Jibreel comes to me in the form of a man; he speaks to me, and I then understand and remember what he says.’””}

4) Revelation That Is Inspired To The Prophet 2, Not By Way Of Jibreel %, But Directly From Allah 3%

Allah 4% spoke directly to the Prophet #%, just as He # spoke directly to Moosa ibn ‘Imraan 3%. The latter is mentioned in the Qur’an, and the former is established in the Sunnah, and it occurred when the Prophet #@ made his miraculous night journey to the heavens.

5) The Prophet #4 Would See Jibreel # In The Form Upon Which He Was Created

The Prophet # saw Jibreel 32% twice in his original form, the form upon which he 3 was created - with 600 wings - Once, shortly after receiving revelation for the first time, and once when he 2 made his miraculous night journey to the heavens.

6) Jibreel % Would Sometimes Come To The Prophet 2 In The Form Of A Man

On some of the occasions that this occurred, the Prophet's Companions # saw Jibreel #%, such as when he ¥% came in the form of a Bedouin and asked the Prophet #% a number of questions - about Islam, Eemaan, Ihsaan, the signs of the Hour.

The coming down of revelation to the Messenger of Allah 2% signaled a new era in the history of human beings, the previous era being one during which revelation had ceased to descend for hundreds of years (the previous Prophet 3% being ‘Eesa 2), so that the world had become engulfed in darkness and ignorance.

We know from his biography that the Prophet #, was the bravest of people and the strongest of them in heart and spirit. Nonetheless, as we have hitherto mentioned, the process of receiving revelation was very hard upon the Prophet 2%. This is because of the weightiness of the Message he # was receiving; furthermore, he #, was not conversing with another human

Revelation descends to the Prophet for the first time 143

being; to the contrary, he # was being addressed by the greatest of the angels, who was carrying with him Allah’s speech. The act of receiving revelation was frightening in that it represented a tremendous responsibility, one that could be fulfilled by no human being except for one whom Allah # had chosen for the task of carrying and conveying the message of Islam.

We can gain some sense of the terrifying impact that revelation had the first time it descended upon the Prophet # by remembering what the Prophet 2% said when he 2% returned to Khadeejah 4: “I indeed fear for myself (i.e., I fear that I have gone mad).” And ‘Aishah % said: “His heart trembling, the Messenger of Allah # returned with them (with these revealed Verses in his heart). He #% entered upon Khadeejah bint Khuwailid % and said, ‘Cover me! Cover me!’ And so they covered him and, when the terror (of what had happened) left him, he informed Khadeejah. % about what had taken place.”

The following Hadeeth also informs us of how severe the process of receiving revelation was for the Messenger of Allah 2. Bukhaaree and Muslim - may Allah have mercy on them both - related that ‘Aishah % said, “I was watching him (ie., the Messenger of Allah #%) when revelation was descending upon him on a particularly cold day. When it ceased coming down, sweat was oozing from his forehead.” In another narration, ‘Ubaadah ibn As-Saamit 4 said, “When revelation would descend upon the Prophet of Allah #, he would in consequence be overcome by distress, and the colour of his face would change from white to black (from the weightiness of the Message he i was receiving).

"I Saheeh Bukhaaree, “The Beginning of Revelation.” Hadeeth number: 2. Muslim related it as well in the “Book of Virtues”; chapter, “The Sweating of the Prophet #4 in Cold Weather.” Hadeeth number: 2333.

The Positive Impact, A Righteous Woman Can Have In Serving The Religion

“His heart trembling, the Messenger of Allah # returned with them (with these revealed Verses in his heart). He #% entered upon Khadeejah bint Khuwailid % and said, ‘Cover me! Cover me!’ And so they covered him and, when the terror (of what had happened) left him, he informed Khadeejah % about what had happened, (after which he said), ‘I fear for myself (i.e., I fear that I have gone mad).’ Khadeejah %% said, ‘Never! By Allah, Allah will never forsake you, for you join ties of family relation, you bear the burdens of the weak, you give to people what no one else is able to give (in terms of benefits and good manners), you hospitably entertain your guests, and you help people who are afflicted with calamities.”

Khadeejah’s attitude and reaction upon hearing the Prophet’s account of his first encounter with Jibreel %% points to her profound wisdom, understanding, and strength of heart. She was not frightened or startled; rather, she was the opposite: relaxed and calm. In her mind, she compared what she was hearing with the reality of the Prophet’s character and manners. Then she arrived at the only possible correct conclusion: if one, by his very nature, is possessed of all good qualities, characteristics, and manners, then Allah 3€ will never forsake him. She reminded him about how good he #% was to his relatives, which was an apt remark, for if a person is successful in keeping good relations with his relatives - who are the closest of people to him - then it is only natural that he will be successful in doing the same with other people. This was particularly appropriate since the Prophet 2% was being prepared to convey the divine message of Islam to all of mankind. After reminding the Prophet # about his many good qualities, Khadeejah % wisely took him to the one person she knew who could advise him - her cousin, Waragah 4%, who had become a Christian and who had told her that he was waiting for the coming of a Prophet in Arabia.