6.

Musnad of the Companions Who Narrated Abundantly

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مسند المكثرين من الصحابة

Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: I heard the Prophet saying, "While I was walking, (after a period of suspension of Revelation) I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira'. He was sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came to Khadija and said, 'Cover me! Cover me!' They covered me till my fear was over and then I said, 'O Khadija, what is wrong with me?' Then I told her everything (that I had seen) and said, 'By Allah, I fear that something may befall me.' Khadija said, 'Never! Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.' Khadija then took me to Waraqah bin Naufal (Khadija's cousin who was a Christian scholar). Waraqah had been blind and used to read the Gospel in Hebrew. Waraqah asked (the Prophet), 'What do you see, O my nephew?' The Prophet described whatever he had seen. Waraqah said, 'This is the same angel who was sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.' The Prophet asked, 'Will they drive me out?' Waraqah replied in the affirmative and said, 'Never did a man come with something similar to what you have brought but was treated as an enemy. If I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly.'" The Prophet, used to go there (i.e., the cave of Hira') for one month every year in Allah's service (i.e., used to worship Allah there). (And that was the month of Ramadan) Then he would return home for the provision till the next year as the tradesmen do. So, he went there (in the cave of Hira') and stayed there for a few nights. Then the angel came to him and ordered him to read. The Prophet said, 'I don't know how to read.' The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again ordered me to read and I said, 'I do not know how to read.' So he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again ordered me to read but again I said, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), created man from a clot of blood. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous... (96.1, 96.2,96.3). Then Allah's Apostle returned with the Inspiration, his neck muscles twitching with terror, until he entered upon Khadija. He said, 'Cover me! Cover me!" They (his household) covered him till his fear was over and after that he told Khadija everything that had happened and said, 'I fear that something may befall me.' Khadija replied, 'Never! Be optimistic. Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.' (Ibn Shihab said that the Verse: 'O you wrapped up in clothes! Arise and warn! ...(74.1,74.2) was revealed and the orders for (the Prophet's) mission were completed in full in the last year (of his life) i.e., in the tenth year (of his Prophethood.) Then the Prophet (returned from the cave of Hira') to (Makkah). So whenever he used to hear a sound he used to look behind him, thinking that it was the angel. This state of his lasted for a while and (during that period; Gabriel did not appear to him. Then) one day while he was walking, he raised his eyes towards the sky and saw the same angel (Gabriel) sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. The Prophet stared at him. The angel greeted (the Prophet) and said, 'O Muhammad! You are Allah's Apostle in truth, and I am Gabriel.' On that the Prophet stood for a while. He neither advanced further nor retreated. Then he turned back to go to his family, but (to his surprise) he found Gabriel in front of him blocking his way. Again he (the Prophet) tried to go to the right side but again he found Gabriel confronting him. Again he (the Prophet) tried to go to the left side but again he found Gabriel confronting him. Finally, he (the Prophet) returned back (home) and said, 'Wrap me (in the clothes).' He was shivering with fever. Then Allah Almighty revealed: "O you (Muhammad) enveloped (in garments)! Arise and warn ...(74.1) (The Prophet) stayed (at home) for a short while and then came out (and started preaching Islam.)"