1678—Abū Muhammad Yahyā ibn Muhammad ibn Sāʿid narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn Sahl ibn ʿAskar, Muhammad ibn ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Zanjawayh, al-Hasan ibn Abī al-Rabīʿ, and Ahmad ibn Mansūr narrated to us—the wording is that of Ibn ʿAskar—who said: ʿAbd al-Razzāq narrated to us, saying: Maʿmar informed us, from al-Zuhrī, who said: ʿUrwa ibn al-Zubayr narrated to me, from ʿĀʾisha—may Allah be pleased with her—who said:

“The first form of revelation with which Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was initiated was truthful dreams in his sleep. He would never have a dream without it coming true as plainly as the break of dawn. Then solitude was made beloved to him. He would go to Hirāʾ and devote himself there to worship for a number of nights, taking provisions with him for that purpose. He would then return to Khadīja, who would provide him with supplies for another similar period.

“This continued until the Truth came upon him suddenly while he was in the cave of Hirāʾ. The angel came to him there and said, ‘Read!’ Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: ‘I replied, “I cannot read.” He seized me and pressed me until I could bear no more, then released me and said, “Read!” I replied, “I cannot read.” He seized me and pressed me a second time until I could bear no more, then released me and said, “Read!” I replied, “I cannot read.” He then pressed me a third time until I could bear no more, then released me and said:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created—created man from a clinging substance. Read, for your Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the pen—taught man what he did not know.” [al-ʿAlaq: 2]’

“He returned with his limbs trembling and entered upon Khadīja—may Allah be pleased with her—saying, ‘Cover me! Cover me!’ They covered him until his terror subsided. He then said, ‘Khadīja, what is wrong with me?’ and told her what had happened. He asked, ‘Were you afraid for me?’ She replied, ‘Never! Be of good cheer. By Allah, Allah—Glorious and Majestic—will never disgrace you. You uphold ties of kinship, speak truthfully, bear the burdens of those in need, honor the guest, and assist people when calamities befall them in a just cause.’”