Before knowing about the great event of the declaration of Prophethood, let’s know the definition of Prophethood in Islam. In Arabic, Prophethood means “Nubuwwah” and prophet means Nabi. The word ‘Nabi’ has derived from ‘Naba’ means news of the unseen. Therefore Nabi is a person who delivers the news of the unseen and commandments of Allah to the people. He receives it from Allah through revelations i.e. Wahi (Arabic: وَحْي)
Hence, Prophethood is a Holy Designation to reveal the unseen by Allah through revelations and deliver it to the people. Beleif in the prophets is the most important part of our Eman. The declaration means when a Prophet announces his Prophethood to the people so that they start following him. The Last and the Greatest Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had established the trust Makkah’s people regarding his truthfulness and trustworthiness before the declaration.
How Was The Life Of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Before the Declaration Of Prophethood?
The glorious Life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was full of the noble characteristics of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that were famous among the people of Makkah before the declaration. The truth is that the greatest Messenger of Allah had so eminent and numerous outstanding qualities and perfections that it is impossible for human beings to explain them in a row. There are thousands of books have been written individually on each glorious virtue or quality of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and still continue. But we will read briefly about his two famous titles among the people of Makkah before the revelation.
Why Was Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Called Sadiq And Ameen?
Before the declaration of Prophethood, all the forty years of the Prophet’s life were adorned with excellent habits and great ethics. He was well known for the perfections of politeness, empathy, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and faithfulness. His kindness for elders and compassion for children is unmatchable. He was habitual in maintaining ties in relationships, generous and helping needy people, serving the nation, and behaving kindly even with enemies.
Although the region of Arab was full of injustice, indecency, and ignorance but Noble Prophet ﷺ always kept himself exclusively pure of these deeds. He also always avoided the traditions of disbelievers regarding the different ways of worship of false gods.
He was well known for telling the truth, that’s why he had the title ‘Sadiq’ means truthful. The noble Prophet ﷺ was habitual of taking special care regarding the trust of the people, that’s why he was also famous with the title ‘Ameen’ means trustworthy. This eminent and flawless character became a bright sign of his Truthfulness among the disbelievers of Makkah when he declared his Prophethood and invited them towards Islam and worship of only one God.
What Is The Importance Of Cave Hira?
When the Last Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reached the fortieth year of his glorious and virtuous life, then he started spending more time in loneliness. In Makkah, a mountain named Mount Hira, also called Mount Noor, has a cave named Cave Hira. The Beloved Prophet ﷺ used to take the necessary food with him to pray to Allah in loneliness for several days in Hira cave. When the food finished, either he used to pick more from home or his faithful wife Hazrat Khadija used to bring more food for him.
This famous and sacred cave is still in Makkah, and Muslim visitors go to see this historical place and pray there to get blessings. One more characteristic of this cave is that the Holy Kaaba can be sighted from there easily. This cave is the blessed place where our beloved Prophet ﷺ received the first revelation from ALLAH.
What Was The First Revelation Of Prophithood To Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the seal of the prophets. He received his first revelation at the age of forty years. One day the Noble Prophet ﷺ was busy in the worship of Allah in cave Hira when angel Hazrat Jibraeel appeared in front of him and said to him, Read. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied, “I don’t know to read”. The angel Jibraeel embraced him warmly and released and again said, “Read”. The Prophet ﷺ replied, “I don’t know to read.” This same happened three times. Then again Jibraeel said to the Prophet ﷺ,
“Read with the name of your Lord who created (everything). He created human beings from a clot of blood. Read, and only your Lord is the Most Generous. The One Who taught to write with the pen. The One Who taught man what he knew not.”
It was the First Revelation of the Quran that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ received from Allah through Jibraeel in Cave Hira. These are the initial three verses of Surah al’Alaq’ in the Holy Quran.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ came home to his wife Hazrat Khadija and told her to cover him with a blanket because his heart was trembling due to an unusual event. When he started feeling relaxed, he told his wife about that cave incident and feared.
His supporting wife encouraged him by saying, “Your life is not in danger, and Allah will never cause you to be disgraced. You always treat your relatives nicely, ease the burden on weak people, and bestow upon the poor and needy. You are hospitable for travelers, promote justice and truth, and help everyone in need and trouble.”
Who Was Warqah bin Nawfil?
After receiving the first revelation in Cave Hira, Hazrat Khadija took her Noble beloved husband ﷺ to her paternal cousin named Warqah bin Nawfil. He was practicing monotheism following the holy book Injeel. It belongs to the second-last prophet Hazrat Isa.
He had become a Christian and was very old and blind. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told him the details of the angel’s arrival in Cave Hira.
Warqah bin Nawfil said, “This is the same angel Allah had sent to Hazrat Musa”.
I wish I would be healthy and young at the time of your prophecy and to be alive when your people will turn you out of Makkah.” Prophet ﷺ asked surprisingly about this behavior, and he affirmed. And told, “whoever declared the Prophethood, had faced the enmity from people”.
When Did Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Declared His Prophethood?
The Greatest Messenger ﷺ did not receive any revelation from Allah for some days after the first one but he was waiting for it. One day, on his way somewhere, he heard someone calling his blessed name. The Noble Messenger ﷺ saw that angel Jibraeel was sitting on a chair held between the earth and the sky. By seeing this, the Noble Prophet ﷺ felt fear in his heart and came home. He laid down and asked his wife to cover him with a blanket.
At this time, Allah the Almighty revealed the first four verses of Surah alMuddassir to his beloved Messenger ﷺ, commanding him to declare his Prophethood and start working on the task of preaching Islam with determination.
“O’ you who is enveloped in a cloak (i.e. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ). Stand up and then warn. And proclaim the purity of only your Lord. And keep your clothes pure.”
