In the beginning...

In the beginning, revelation manifested themselves for the Prophet in the form of true visions. These visions were as bright as the light of dawn. Afterwards, an interest in solitude and seclusion emerged in him. He spent many nights in the cave of Hera 227 worshipping, and every once in a while he would return home to procure the provisions needed during his seclusion and after doing so he would return to the cave. The Prophet lived in this way until suddenly one day he cam upon "The Lord".

Gabriel came to him and said: "O Mohammad you are the Messenger of God". The Prophet said: "I was standing and then suddenly fell to my knees". This meeting ended there and afterwards I started to go home even though my whole body had commenced to tremble, and I went to khadijeh saying: "Cover me, cover me, Cover me!" It took a while for the fear and disturbance of mind brought on by that initial meeting to be remedied.

It was then that Gabriel appeared to me once more saying: "Mohammad, you are the Messenger of God". In those moments I decided to throw myself off of a mountain cliff!! And at the very moment of my decision Gabriel appeared to me for the third time saying; "O Mohammad, I am Gabriel and you are the messenger of God". Then he said: "Read". I replied: "What should I read?" He took me and pressed me hard three times. The pressure was so severe that I was close to fainting.

Then he said: "Read, in the name of you lord who created" I read, and at the end of this meeting went to Khadijeh saying: "I am extremely afraid for myself". Then I related for her the events which had occured. Khadijeh said: These are good-tidings for you. I swear by God that the Lord will not render you inferior. You are good to your family, truthful and trustworthy, and you bear the peoples burden of suffering while supporting them.

Afterwards she took me to see Varagheh-t-ibn Nufel and said to him: "Listen to your cousins words". Varagheh asked me: "What's the story?" I then repeated for him what had happened. Varagheh then said: This is the tiding which was revealed to Moses (a.s).

Oh, how I wish I could have a part in this movement (which will be founded by you)....228 The second historical narrative is related from a man named Obaidullah Ibn Shaddad and in it the reason for the Prophets' fear (mentioned in the previous narrative) is clarified.