Editing Muhammad ﷺ (section)

=== Beginnings of the Quran ===
{{See also|Muhammad's first revelation|History of the Quran|Wahy}}

[[File:Cave Hira.jpg|right|upright|thumb|The cave [[Cave of Hira|Hira]] in the mountain [[Jabal al-Nour]] where, according to Muslim belief, Muhammad received his first revelation]]

The financial security Muhammad enjoyed from [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid|Khadija]], his wealthy wife, gave him plenty of free time to spend in solitude in the [[Jabal al-Nour|cave of Hira]].{{sfn|Rodgers|2012|p=35}}{{sfn|Netton|2013|p=235}} According to Islamic tradition, one day in 610 CE, when he was 40 years old, the angel [[Gabriel]] appeared to him during his visit to the cave. The angel showed him a cloth with [[Āyah|Quranic verses]] on it and instructed him to read. When Muhammad confessed his illiteracy, Gabriel choked him forcefully, nearly suffocating him, and repeated the command. As Muhammad reiterated his inability to read, Gabriel choked him again in a similar manner. This sequence took place once more before Gabriel finally recited the verses, allowing Muhammad to memorize them.{{Sfn|Peterson|2007|p=51}}{{sfn|Klein|1906|p=7}}{{sfn|Wensinck|Rippen|2002}} These verses later constituted [[Quran 96:1-5]].{{sfn|Rosenwein|2018|p=148}}

When Muhammad came to his senses, he felt scared; he started to think that after all of this spiritual struggle, he had been visited by a [[jinn]], which made him no longer want to live. In desperation, Muhammad fled from the cave and began climbing up towards the top of the mountain to [[Suicide by jumping from height|jump to his death]]. But when he reached the summit, he experienced another [[Vision (spirituality)|vision]], this time seeing a mighty being that engulfed the horizon and stared back at Muhammad even when he turned to face a different direction. This was the [[Revelation in Islam|spirit of revelation]] (''[[rūḥ]]''), which Muhammad later referred to as [[Gabriel in Islam|Gabriel]]; it was not a naturalistic [[Angels in Islam|angel]], but rather a [[Transcendence (religion)#Islam|transcendent presence]] that resisted the ordinary limits of humanity and space.{{sfn|Armstrong|2013|p=30|loc=Chapter One: Mecca}}<ref>[[Quran 53]]:5–9</ref><ref>[[Ibn Ishaq]], ''[[Sirat Rasul Allah]]'', 153, in Guillaume, ''Life of Muhammad''</ref>

Frightened and unable to understand the experience, Muhammad hurriedly staggered down the mountain to his wife [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid|Khadijah]]. By the time he got to her, he was already crawling on his hands and knees, shaking wildly and crying "Cover me!", as he thrusted himself onto her lap. Khadijah wrapped him in a cloak and tucked him in her arms until his fears dissipated. She had absolutely no doubts about his revelation; she insisted it was real and not a jinn.{{sfn|Armstrong|2013|p=30|loc=Chapter One: Mecca}} Muhammad was also reassured by Khadija's Christian cousin [[Waraqah ibn Nawfal|Waraqa ibn Nawfal]],{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=73}} who jubilantly exclaimed "Holy! Holy! If you have spoken the truth to me, O Khadijah, there has come to him the great divinity who came to Moses aforetime, and lo, he is the prophet of his people."{{sfn|Armstrong|2013|p=31|loc=Chapter One: Mecca}}<ref>[[Ibn Ishaq]], ''[[Sirat Rasul Allah]]'', 154, in Guillaume, ''Life of Muhammad''</ref> Khadija instructed Muhammad to let her know if Gabriel returned. When he appeared during their private time, Khadija conducted tests by having Muhammad sit on her left thigh, right thigh, and lap, inquiring Muhammad if the being was still present each time. After Khadija removed her clothes with Muhammad on her lap, he reported that Gabriel left at that moment. Khadija thus told him to rejoice as she concluded it was not [[Satan]] but an angel visiting him.{{Sfn|Phipps|2016|p=37}}{{sfn|Rosenwein|2018|p=146}}{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=73}}

Muhammad's demeanor during his moments of inspiration frequently led to allegations from his contemporaries that he was under the influence of a [[jinn]], a soothsayer, or a magician, suggesting that his experiences during these events bore resemblance to those associated with such figures widely recognized in ancient Arabia. Nonetheless, these enigmatic seizure events might have served as persuasive evidence for his followers regarding the divine origin of his revelations. Some historians posit that the graphic descriptions of Muhammad's condition in these instances are likely genuine, as they are improbable to have been concocted by later Muslims.{{sfn|Buhl|Welch|1993|p=363}}{{Sfn|Peterson|2007|p=53–4}}

[[File:Miniatura_Maometto.jpg|thumb|left|A 16th-century [[Siyer-i Nebi]] image of angel [[Gabriel]] visiting Muhammad]]

Shortly after Waraqa's death, the revelations ceased for a period, causing Muhammad great distress and thoughts of suicide.{{sfn|Wensinck|Rippen|2002}}{{efn|''See:''
* Emory C. Bogle (1998), p. 7.
* Rodinson (2002), p. 71.}} On one occasion, he reportedly climbed a mountain intending to jump off. However, upon reaching the peak, Gabriel appeared to him, affirming his status as the true Messenger of God. This encounter soothed Muhammad, and he returned home. Later, when there was another long break between revelations, he repeated this action, but Gabriel intervened similarly, calming him and causing him to return home.{{Sfn|Murray|2011|p=552}}{{Sfn|Rāshid|2015|p=11}}

Muhammad was confident that he could distinguish his own thoughts from these messages.<ref>Watt, ''The Cambridge History of Islam'' (1977), p. 31.</ref> The early Quranic revelations utilized approaches of cautioning non-believers with divine punishment, while promising rewards to believers. They conveyed potential consequences like famine and killing for those who rejected Muhammad's God and alluded to past and future calamities. The verses also stressed the imminent final judgment and the threat of hellfire for skeptics.{{sfn|Brockopp|2010|p=40–2}} Due to the complexity of the experience, Muhammad was initially very reluctant to tell others about his revelations;{{sfn|Armstrong|2013|p=32|loc=Chapter One: Mecca}} at first, he confided in only a few select family members and friends.{{sfn|Armstrong|2013|p=1|loc=Chapter Two: Jahiliyyah}} According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad's wife [[Khadija bint Khuwaylid|Khadija]] was the first to believe he was a prophet.{{sfn|Watt|1953|p=86}} She was followed by Muhammad's ten-year-old cousin [[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]], close friend [[Abu Bakr]], and adopted son [[Zayd ibn Harithah|Zaid]].{{sfn|Watt|1953|p=86}} As word of Muhammad's revelations continued to spread throughout the rest of his family, they became increasingly divided on the matter, with the youth and women generally believing in him, while most of the men in the elder generations were staunchly opposed.{{sfn|Armstrong|2013|p=2|loc=Chapter Two: Jahiliyyah}}