English translation
4953. Narrated 'Aishah رضي الله عنها the wife of the Prophet ﷺ: The commencement (of the Divine Revelation) to Allāh's Messenger ﷺ was in the form of true dreams in his sleep, for he never had a dream but it turned out to be true and clear as the bright daylight. Then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him, so he used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira' where he used to worship (Allāh Alone) continuously for many nights before returning to his family to take the necessary provision (of food) for the stay. He would come back to (his wife) Khadija again to take his provision (of food) likewise, till one day he received the Guidance while he was in the cave of Hira'. An angel came to him and asked him to read. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ replied, "I do not know how to read." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Then the angel held me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I felt distressed (could not bear it any more). He then released me and again asked me to read, and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he held me again and pressed me a second time till I felt distressed (could not bear it any more). He then released me and asked me to read, but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he held me for the third time and pressed me till I felt distressed (could not bear it any more), and then he released me and said, 'Read in the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen. Has taught man that which he knew not.'" (V.96:1-5) Then Allāh's Messenger ﷺ returned with that (the Revelation) and his (heart severely beating; and the) muscles between his neck and shoulders were trembling till he came upon Khadija (his wife) and said, 'Cover me!' They covered him, till his fear was over, and after that he said to Khadija, "O Khadija! What is wrong with me? I was afraid that something bad might happen to me." Then he told her all that had happened. Khadija said, "Nay! But receive the good tidings! By Allāh, Allāh will never disgrace you, for by Allāh, you keep good relations with your kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, entertain your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-stricken." Khadija then took him to Waraqa bin Naufal, the son of Khadija's paternal uncle. Waraqa who become a Christian in the pre-Islāmic period and used to write Arabic and also write some portion of the Injeel (Gospel) in Arabic as much as Allāh wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said (to Waraqa), "O my cousin! Listen to what your nephew has to say." Waraqa said, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" The Prophet ﷺ then described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same angel Jibrīl (Gabriel) who was sent to Mūsā (Moses). I wish I were young or could live..." or said some other words. Allāh's Messenger ﷺ asked, "Will these people drive me out?" He replied in the affirmative and said, "Any one (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility." If I were to remain alive till your day (when you start preaching), then I would support you strongly." But a short while later Waraqa died and the Divine Revelation was paused (stopped) for a while so that Allāh's Messenger ﷺ was much grieved.