and in the two Sahīh collections, the hadith concerning the beginning of revelation relates that when Gabriel came to him and said, “Read,” he said: “I replied, ‘I cannot read.’ Then he took hold of me and squeezed me until I could bear no more. He then released me and said, ‘Read.’ I replied, ‘I cannot read.’ He took hold of me and squeezed me a second time until I could bear no more. He then released me and said, ‘Read.’ I replied, ‘I cannot read.’ He took hold of me and squeezed me a third time until I could bear no more. Then he released me.”

Such squeezing resembles choking and involves physical contact with him. As for his seeing his Lord in a dream—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and His asking him, “What is the highest assembly disputing about?”—that is,