Rise of the Sun — 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 Rise of the Sun.
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)
Section: VI-Commencement of Prophethood
Pages: Book pp. 167–169 (PDF pp. 191–193)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: [The Prophet’s (sa) Virtues and Manners] | Next: [Fatrat-e-Wahi] »
Historical Account
The light of dawn was about to manifest itself upon the eastern horizon and the sun which was to illuminate the whole world was about to rise. The Holy Prophetsa would regularely retreat to the Cave of Ḥirā, and would engage himself in the worship of God in a manner of his own. The commencement of true dreams had begun and the Holy Prophetsa spent six months in this very state.
[Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az- Zarqānī, Volume 1, p. 386, Bābu Mab‘athin-Nabīsa, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)]
It was now that the Holy Prophetsa had reached the age of forty and his disposition had attained the maturity of prophethood and apostleship. It was among the last ten days of the blessed month of Ramaḍān and a Monday. As per custom, the Holy Prophetsa was in the Cave of Ḥirā, and was engaged in the worship of God, when suddenly an unfamiliar being appeared before him. This divine messenger, who was Gabrielas, the angel of God, addressed the Holy Prophetsa and said, اِقْرَāأ, “read”, in other words, ‘speak’ or ‘convey to the people’. The Holy Prophetsa responded, ٍمَ ا اَنَا بِقَ ارِئ , “I cannot read”, meaning, ‘I cannot bear this responsibility’. When the angel heard this reply he took hold of the Holy Prophetsa and tightly pressed him against his breast and after releasing him said, اِقْرَāأ but the response of the Holy Prophetsa remained the same. The angel took hold of him again and firmly squeezed him and after releasing him said,
[This response was similar to that given by Ḥaḍrat Mosesas that ‘I am not capable of prophethood, this task should be assigned to someone else’, but who is more aware of the one who is capable of prophethood than Allāh himself. (Author)]
اِقْرَāأ but the same hesitation remained. Upon this, the divine messenger took hold of the Holy Prophetsa a third time and clinched him very tightly, such as by embracing the Holy Prophetsa he would leave an impression upon his heart. After having confirmed that the disposition of the Holy Prophetsa was ready to accept this message, he released the Holy Prophetsa and said:
“Read (i.e., speak or convey) thou in the name of thy Lord Who created. He created man from a clot of blood. Aye! Read! And thy Lord is most honourable and eminent. Who taught man by the pen. Taught man what he knew not.”
([In this case, according to syntax structure, the word ِاسْ م is the object of اِقْرَāَأ. In light of the rules of Arabic grammatical syntax, in some instances the letter بis added additionally to the object of اِقْرَāأ. Refer to Aqrabul-Mawārid, Volume 4, p. 296, under the word ( قَرَāَأAuthor)])
[In other words the time has now come when, through the pen, innovative sciences should be taught to mankind. (Author)]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 3 * Al-‘Alaq (96:2-6)]
After this dialogue the angel disappeared but the Holy Prophetsa was left in a state of deep anxiety and restlessness and his heart was panting, for only God knew what this matter was and what was about to take place. In this state, the Holy Prophetsa hurriedly left the Cave of Ḥirā, returned home, and said to Khadījahra, “ ,زَمِّلُونِی زَمِّلُونِیCover me with a mantle! Cover me with a mantle!” When Hadrat Khadījahra witnessed the state of her beloved husband, she became worried and quickly covered the Holy Prophetsa with a mantle. When he was somewhat calmed and his anxiety had lessened, the Holy Prophetsa related the entire event to Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra and in the end said, ْ“ ,لَقَ دْ خَ شِ یْتُ عَ لیٰ نَفْ سِ یI have begun to fear for my life”, but Khadījahra, who was well acquainted with the nature of the Holy Prophetsa, said:
ُكَلَّا اَبْشِ رْ فَوَاللّٰهِ لَا یُخْ زِیْكَ اللّٰهُ اَبَداً اِنَّكَ لَتَصِ لُ الرِّحْ مَ وَتَصْ دِقُ الْحَ دِیْثَ وَتَحْ مِل
ِّالْكَ لَّ وَتَكْ سِ بُ الْمَعْدُوْمَ وَتَقْرِی الضَّ یْفَ وَتُعِیْنَ عَلیٰ نَوَائِبِ الْحَ ق
“Nay, nay, such can never happen, rather glad tidings be to you. By God,
Allāh shall never disgrace you. You treat your kith and kin with love. You are truthful, and assist others in discharging their responsibilities, and have gathered within yourself lost virtues. You are hospitable, and a helper to others in the way of truth.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 3]
Then Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra took the Holy Prophetsa to her cousin Waraqah bin Nawfal, who had abandoned polytheism and become a follower of the Christian religion. He was somewhat acquainted with the scriptures of past prophets. He was now old and had lost his eyesight as well. When Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra reached there with the Holy Prophetsa, she said, “Brother! Would you kindly listen to your nephew?” He said, “Yes, what is the matter.” The Holy Prophetsa related the entire occurrence. When Waraqah heard the entire account, he said, “This is the same angel who brought revelation to Mosesas. O would that I had power. Would that I remain alive until your people banish you from your homeland.” The Holy Prophetsa inquired in amazement, ْاَوَمُ خْ رِجِ یَّ ھُ م, “Shall my people banish me?” “Yes,” responded Waraqah, “no prophet came with whom his people did not harbour enmity and if I remain alive until that time, I shall assist you to the utmost of my capability.” However, Waraqah could not witness that time, because he passed away shortly thereafter.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 3]
Book Series: The Life & Character of the Seal of the Prophets (Volume 1)
Section: VI-Commencement of Prophethood | Navigation: « Previous: [The Prophet’s (sa) Virtues and Manners] | Next: [Fatrat-e-Wahi] »