Luminosity of Dawn — Seal of the Prophets Vol. 1

Introduction

In this discourse from The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1), Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) details the historical events and scholarly insights surrounding Luminosity of Dawn.

Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: IV-Early Life
Pages: Book pp. 154–159 (PDF pp. 178–183)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [‘Ali bin Abī Talib Taken Into the Care of Muhammad (sa)] | Next: [A Paucity of Narrations] »

Historical Account

Muḥammadsa had now reached the ripe age of 40 years. The time had come for the light of dawn to manifest itself upon the Eastern horizon. Muḥammadsa never intermingled with the general society of Makkah. For he was one who desired solitude and during this time, his disposition was such as day and night, he would remain in seclusion longing for Allāh the Exalted, diligently occupied in his remembrance. At a distance of three miles from Makkah towards Minā, in the left is the mountain of Ḥirā, wherein is a cave, famously known as the Cave of Ḥirā. During this time, it was the general practice of Muḥammadsa to retreat to this cave and would occupy himself in deep meditation and rememberance of God. Ordinarily, he would take sufficient food with him and would not return to Makkah for many days. Sometimes, Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra also accompanied him. It is this very time period, which has been referred to as ‘the era of the search for truth’ in the Noble Qur’ān. Therefore, God Almighty states:

dawned upon Muḥammadsa, which are mentioned to have lasted for a period of six months. It was as if the primary stage of the prophethood of the Holy Prophetsa. Therefore, Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishahra narrates:

[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 1, pp. 386, Bābu Mab‘athin-Nabīsa, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]

اَوَّلُ مَا بُدِیٴَ بِهٖ رَسُ وْلُ اللّٰهِ صَ لَّی اللّٰهُ عَلَیْهِ وَ اٰلِهٖ وَسَ لَّمَ مِنَ الْوَحْ یِ اَلرُّوٴْیَا الصَّ الِحَ ةُ فِی

النَّوْمِ۔ وَكَانَ لَا یَرٰی رُوٴْیًا اِلَّا جَ اءَتْ مِثْلَ فَلَقِ الصُّ بْحِ وَحُ بِّبَ اِلَیْهِ الْخَ لَاءُ فَكَ انَ یَخْ لُوْ

بِغَارِ حِ رَاءَ فَیَتَحَ نَّثُ فِیْهِ وَھُوَ التَّعَبُّدُ اللَّیَالِیْ ذَوَاتِ الْعَدَدِ قَبْلَ اَنْ یَنْزِعَ اِلٰی اَھْلِهٖ وَیَتَزَوَّدُ

لِذَالِكَ ثُمَّ یَرْجِ عُ اِلٰی خَ دِیْجَ ةَ۔ فَتَزَوَّدُ لِمِثْلِھَا حَ تّٰی جَ اءَہُ الْحَ قُّ وَھُوَ فِیْ غَارِحِ رَاءَ

The commencement of (Divine) Revelation to Allāh’s Messengersa was in the form of righteous (true) dreams which he would see during his sleep. Every dream came true like bright daylight. During that time period, solitude and seclusion had become very dear to him. He used to go to the cave of Ḥirā where he would worship (Allāh alone) and continuously engage himself in worship for many nights. Then he would come back and take more food with him. Upon its exhaustion he would return to Khadījahra and take his food again. He was still in this state when suddenly the truth from God descended upon him. At that time he was in the cave of Ḥirā.

[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Ḥadīth No. 3]

V

A Glance at the Early Life

V A Glance at the Early Life

Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: IV-Early Life | Navigation: « Previous: [‘Ali bin Abī Talib Taken Into the Care of Muhammad (sa)] | Next: [A Paucity of Narrations] »