|
Muhammad (s.a.w.), though endeared and respected by Meccans for his wisdom and virtues, preferred solitude and kept his distance from the polytheist society. Disgusted with the corruption all around, he used to retire to the, Cave Hera , in a mountain a few kilometers from Mecca, meditating Allah's Majesty and worshipping Him. Initially he used to remain in the cave for a day or two and sometimes even 10 nights or more but the next few years saw him spending a whole month in that cave, praying to Allah a nd contemplating guidance for the deviated people. Finally the day dawned which was to change the history of the world. When he had reached the age of 40 and was engrossed as usual in praying to Allah at his retreat of cave Hera., suddenly that harbinger of Divine tidings, the Archangel Gabriel, appeared with the first verses of the Holy Qur'an: "Recite in the name of your Lord Who created, Created man from a clot. Recite and your Lord is most Generous, Who taught (to write) with the pen. Taught man what he knew not." Holy Qur'an (96: 1-5) With these verses, Gabriel (a.s.) announced to Muhammad (s.a.w.) that Almighty Allah had formally chosen him to be His last and final Messenger to humankind. It was in the month of Rajab.
THURSDAY July. 23, 2009 |