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There were several aspects
of preparation for Muhammad to receive the revelation. |
Little is reported about how Muhammad lived after
his marriage, up to the time when he started to receive divine revelations.
It is certain, however, that his marriage was a very happy one. Moreover,
his marriage provided him with a comfortable life.
Although there is no direct reference to the type of work Muhammad did in
this period, it is reasonable to assume that he continued to manage his
wife's business. Since the work was mainly done through the caravan trade,
the work itself was not very demanding.
None of the old biographers of the Prophet mentioned that he traveled on
Khadijah's trade missions after their marriage, but, most probably, he
spared her the need to attend to the business herself.
He might have selected the men to travel on her behalf and supervised the
preparations of the shipment before the caravan set off and the sale of the
imported goods when it came back.
Nor are there detailed reports on Muhammad's social activity in Makkah. It
is known that the Arabs of Makkah had their meeting places round the Ka`bah
where they spent some time in the morning and the afternoon in a pleasant
atmosphere.
Although Muhammad had a likeable personality and everyone seemed to enjoy
his company, he did not appear to care much for such gatherings, most
probably because the chatting would inevitably have turned to the worship of
idols and promiscuous pursuits.
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Up
there in the mountain there was a little cave where Muhammad stayed for
several days at a time. |
These were normal topics of conversation, unless
something more serious imposed itself on such Meetings. But neither topic
interested Muhammad. He had disliked idols since childhood. Moreover, he was
protected by God against indulging in wanton pleasures.
Indeed there was clearly a wide
intellectual gap between Muhammad and the people of Makkah. This gap
continued to increase as the years went by. It did not deprive him, however,
of enjoying his people's respect for his honest, serious and amiable
character. (Ibn Hisham)
It was probably because of this gap that Muhammad began to take himself away
from Makkah for a period of total seclusion. In the month of Ramadan, each
year, he went to a mountain called Hira', which was only a few miles away,
but offered him complete seclusion.
Up there in the mountain there was a little cave where Muhammad stayed for
several days at a time. When his supply of food and drink was exhausted he
would go back home for a fresh supply and come back for another few days.
When the month was over, he went back home, starting with a visit ot the
Ka`bah, where he did tawaf, walking around the Ka`bah seven times before he
went home to his wife.
In the Cave
To get to the cave, Muhammad had to climb right to the top of the mountain
and descend a short distance down the other side. The cave is a small one
with an entrance that is wide enough to admit one person comfortable, but
does not easily accommodate two people standing to pray.
The entrance narrows at the top and is just about two meters high. Although
the ground of the cave is flat, the ceiling slopes down as you go inside
until it becomes very low towards the end, where there is a little opining
which ensures good ventilation.
There is not much space in the cave altogether. It has just about enough
room to accommodate one person to sit, stand or sleep.
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Muhammad realized that
there is a force of truth beyond this world which must have power and
control over the whole universe. |
What is worth mentioning is that if one stands to offer prayers at the
entrance of the cave and looks through the opining at its end, one can see
the Ka`bah on the far horizon. Just before the entrance there are two great
rocks shielding the cave and giving the place an air of complete isolation.
Alongside it, the great rocks form a little
open space looking over an almost vertical side of the mountain. Only
mountaineering experts with full equipment can attempt to climb that side.
That little space next to the cave must have given Muhammad all that he
needed to be absorbed in contemplating human life nearby and the universal
expanse all around him.
Secluded Contemplation
Muhammad spent his days and nights in contemplation and worship. He
addressed his worship to the Creator of the universe. He did not follow any
particular method of worship because he was not aware of any, but he
realized that the beliefs of his people were absurd.
In those days of seclusion, Muhammad found comfort which lasted him through
the rest of the year. He realized that there is a force of truth beyond this
world which must have power and control over the whole universe.
The world around him could not have come into
being by coincidence. But how that truth manifested itself, he could not
tell. (Duwaydar)
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He
was soon to realize that every dream in his sleep was soon to come true
exactly. |
It is easy to read too much into Muhammad's period of seclusion and his
contemplation. Modern authors and biographers in particular have tried to
show him trying to find a way out of the total darkness that enshrouded his
people. This may bring us very close to saying that Muhammad was in search
of an idea or a belief.
This is true only in as much as it means that Muhammad rejected all beliefs
which were known to him and were practiced in Makkan society. He certainly
did not aspire to the role that was later assigned to him.
Preparing for Revelation
Addressing the Prophet, God says in the Qur'an:
[You had not entertained any hope that Scriptures would be given you, but
this was an act of grace by Your Lord.] (Al-Qasas
28:86)
Nevertheless, this regular period of seclusion helped to prepare Muhammad
for receiving God's revelations.
There were other aspects of preparation. It was necessary that Muhammad
should understand and realize that the unique relationship which was soon to
be established between him and the Angel Gabriel is both real and truthful.
He was soon to realize that every dream in his sleep was soon to come true
exactly. When he was alone, he might see a light or hear a sound, someone
invisible might address him by his name.
Yet these matters did not worry him much. When he felt such worry, he told
his wife Khadijah, expressing his fears to her. She would reassure him and
say that God would not allow anything evil to happen to him.
"By God," she said, "you are faithful to your trust, kind to your kinsfolk
and you always tell the truth."
She, however, went to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, the old Christian
scholar, asking him about what Muhammad saw and heard. He also reassured her
and sent Muhammad word telling him to be reassured.
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