scholars. It has also been said that the first revelation was:

“O you wrapped in your cloak.”

This was reported from Jābir. The first view, however, is more sound. The hadith of ‘Ā’ishah in the two Sahīh collections makes clear that the first revelation was “Read in the name of your Lord,” which was revealed to him while he was in the cave of Hirā’, and that “The Cloaked One” was revealed later. This is indeed the fitting sequence, for His words “Read” command recitation, not the conveyance of the message; through this he became a prophet. His words “Arise and warn” command him to warn; through this he became a messenger charged with warning.

The two Sahīh collections relate, through al-Zuhrī, from ‘Urwah, that ‘Ā’ishah said:

“The revelation to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, began with true dreams during sleep. Every dream he saw would come true as clearly as the break of dawn. Then solitude was made dear to him. He would go to the cave of Hirā’ and devote himself to worship there for several nights before returning to his family, taking provisions for that purpose. Then he would return to Khadījah and replenish his provisions for a similar stay, until the truth came to him while he was in the cave of Hirā’.

“The angel came to him and said, ‘Read.’ He replied, ‘I cannot read.’ He related: ‘Then he seized me and squeezed me until I could bear no more. Then he released me and said, “Read.”