Page 15 - World Religions I - Islam

According to Muslim tradition, the Qur'an began with a single divine revelation delivered to Muhammad at the age
of 40.

• Muhammad's revelations began in AD 610.
o His first revelation - Surah 96:1-5 - was presented to Muhammad during the month of Ramadan by an
angelic being while he was sleeping in the cave of Hira'. Tradition states that Muhammad was meditating at
Hira' for a period of one month.119
 1. "Read in the name of thy Lord who createth, createth man from a clot. Read, and thy Lord is
the Most Bounteous, who teacheth by the pen, teacheth man that which he knew not." Al-Alaq
(The Clot) 96:1-5 (Trans. Pickthall) Some translations use "Recite in the name of thy Lord..."
rather than "Read in the name of thy Lord..." The former makes sense as the term qur'an means
"recitation" and Muhammad's revelations were exclusively transmitted orally throughout his
lifetime.
• According to Muhammad, the angel Gabriel (Arabic: Jabra'il or Jibril) revealed the Qur'anic revelation to him.
o Gabriel is believed by Muslims to have brought a divine message to most-if not all-the prophets, revealing
their obligations.14
o Gabriel is named only twice in the Qur'an, and only once as the medium of inspiration for Muhammad.
 1. "Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel - for he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by
Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those
who believe." - Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:97 (Trans. Yusuf Ali) Gabriel is mentioned by name in
Surahs 2:92-96 and 66:4. Both of these verses were not revealed until the Medinan period,
more than 12 years after Muhammad's first revelation.117
o The terms "Spirit of God (ar-Ruh Allah)" and "Holy Spirit (ar-Ruh al-Quds)" are mentioned several times in
the Qur'an and are interpreted by many Muslims to be referring to the angel Gabriel. The traditions most
often speak of the heavenly messenger as an angel, sometimes called Gabriel, but often nameless. Since
the Qur'an's explanation of Muhammad's revelatory encounters conflates the term "angel" and "spirit" and
identifies Gabriel and the Holy Spirit as performing the same mediatorial function, it seems clear that
Muhammad confused the two and compressed what are distinct entities in the Bible into one being.
 "They ask thee concerning the Spirit (of Inspiration). Say: 'The Spirit (cometh) by command of my
Lord, and of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men)!'" - Al-Isra' (The Night
Journey) 17:85 (Trans. Yusuf Ali)
 Say, the Holy Spirit has delivered [revelation] from thy Lord with truth, that it may confirm (the
faith of) those who believe, and as guidance and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to
Allah)." - An-Nahl (The Bee) 16:102 (Trans. Pickthall)
o Exegesis narrates that Muhammad saw Gabriel in his full angelic splendor only twice, the first time
being when he received his first revelation. At other times Gabriel appeared to Muhammad in the
form of a man.15 Surah 53:4-11 describes he who taught revelations to Muhammad but is not
named. Muslim commentators unanimously accept this to have been Gabriel.118
• The initial revelation was very violent and caused Muhammad to have "trepidation of heart."
o According to Muhammad's testimony, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I
could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, 'I do not know
how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it
anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, '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) has created man from a clot.
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.'"16 Muhammad's answer "ma aqra'u" is also translated as "I do
not know how to recite." This translation is the more natural meaning. It is almost certain that the later
traditionalists avoided the natural translation in order to find support for the dogma that Muhammad

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