The appointment of the Prophet ﷺ as a Prophet and Apostle was a major event in human history. After the first revelation came down in Hira’ Cave (Hira)which is the beginning of surah al-‘Alaq, the revelation stopped for a while which made him worried. In this article we will discuss the return of revelation, the revelation of al-Muddatstsir’s letter, and the secret beginnings of Islamic preaching.
The period of cessation of revelation
After Rasulullah ﷺ received the first revelation while alone in the Cave of Hira’, namely surah al-‘Alaq verses 1-5, the revelation stopped after that. Scholars differ in their opinions regarding the duration of the revelation that did not come down. Sheikh Shafiyurrahman al-Mubarakfuri, writer ar-Rahiq al-Makhtum, confirms the opinion that the revelation stopped for several days. As for Sheikh Muhammad al-Khudhari, writer Nurul Sure, strengthens the opinion that revelation stopped for 40 days.
The wisdom of stopping revelation for some time mentioned by the scholars is so that the fear experienced by the Prophet ﷺ disappears and a longing arises within him to receive revelation again.
The return of revelation and the revelation of surah al-Muddatstsir
When the shadows of confusion began to dissipate, the signs of truth became stronger, and Rasulullah ﷺ knew with full confidence that he had become a prophet for Allah, the Greatest and Most High, and that what came to him was a messenger of revelation who brought news from heaven, so that his longing and anticipation for the revelation to come became the reason for his steadfastness and readiness when the revelation came again.
Imam al-Bukhari narrated from Jabir bin Abdillah that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ speak about the time when revelations stopped. He ﷺ said,
As I was walking, I heard a voice from the sky, so I raised my eyes towards the sky, and I saw an angel who came to me in Hira, sitting on a chair between heaven and earth, so I fell from it until I fell to the earth, then I went to my family and said: Zombie me, so they pressed me, then God Almighty revealed: O people of Muddaththir, at His word: So leave. Then the revelations became intense and continued.
“As I was walking, suddenly I heard a voice from the sky. I raised my eyes towards the sky. It turned out that the angel who had come to me in the Cave of Hira’ was sitting on a chair between heaven and earth. I felt so afraid of him that I fell to the ground. Then I went to my family and said, ‘Cover me, cover me.’ They covered me. Allah also sent down,
O people of Muddathdhir (1) arise and warn (2) and your Lord, then exalt (Allah) (3) and purify your clothes (4) and shun disgust (5)
“O people covered with blankets, wake up, then give warning, and glorify your God, and cleanse your clothes, and abandon all sins (idolatry).” (QS. al-Muddatstsir: 1-5)
After that, the revelations became stronger and descended successively.”
Ibn Kathir God bless closing the discussion on the re-descent of inner revelation al-Bidayah wan Nihayah by saying,
Then the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, stood up and completed his mission, and rolled his feet with determination, and cried out to God, near and far, and to freedom. And the slaves, and at that time every intelligent, intelligent and happy person believed in him, and every stubborn tyrant continued to defy and disobey him.
“That’s when Rasulullah ﷺ carried out his duties brochure with the most perfect execution. He stretched out his hand of determination, then cried out to God, both to people near and far, free and slave. At that moment, every intelligent, noble, and happy person immediately believed in him. On the contrary, proud and stubborn people continued to oppose and disobey him.”
Conditions in Makkah and secret preaching strategies
It is known that Mecca at that time was the religious center of the Arab people. Inside there are the guards of the Kaaba and the managers of the idols and statues which are considered sacred by all Arabs.
Seeing this reality, it is certainly more difficult and difficult to achieve the goal of improvement in Mecca than if the da’wah started in a distant place. This matter requires a strong determination that is not easily shaken by the many misfortunes and disasters. Therefore, it is part of the wisdom that preaching was initially carried out in secret. The aim was so that the people of Mecca would not be surprised by something that would immediately arouse their anger.
The first generation of Muslims
It was natural for the Prophet ﷺ to offer Islam first to those closest to him, his family and close friends. Rasulullah ﷺ also invited people he saw to get kindness from people he knew and knew him. Rasulullah ﷺ preached Islam to people who were known to love Allah, truth and goodness. These people also knew him ﷺ as an honest and pious figure. Thus, there are people who fulfill their calling. They are known by their pronunciation as wise as the enemy (first predecessor)namely the first leading people to convert to Islam.
Among the first to convert to Islam was the wife of the Prophet ﷺ Ummul Mu’minin, Khadijah bint Khuwailid (Khadija bint Khuwaylid)his former slave, Zaid bin Haritsah (Zaid bin Haritha)his cousin, Ali bin Abi Talib (Ali bin Abi Talib)and his close friend, Abu Bakar as-Siddiq (Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq). Ali was still young at that time and was under the care of the Prophet ﷺ. These were the people who converted to Islam in the first days of its preaching.
Why could Ali bin Abi Talib be in the care of the Prophet ﷺ? This was because Quraish had been hit by famine, while Abu Talib was a person who lacked wealth and had many children. Seeing this condition, Rasulullah ﷺ invited al-‘Abbas bin Abdul Muthtalib (Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib) to lighten Abu Talib’s burden by helping raise one of his children. The Prophet ﷺ raised Ali bin Abi Talib, while al-‘Abbas raised Ja’far bin Abi Talib (Jaafar bin Abi Talib). Thus, Ali became the responsibility of the Prophet ﷺ like his own son until the time of prophethood arrived. Ali followed Rasulullah ﷺ in all his affairs and was not tainted by the filth of ignorance in the form of idol worship and following lust.
Then Abu Bakr actively preached Islam. Through his preaching, Uthman bin Affan converted to Islam (Uthman bin Affan)az-Zubair bin al-‘Awwam (Al-Zubayr bin Al-Awwam)Abdurrahman I ‘Wake up (Abdul Rahman bin Auf)Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqash (Saad bin Abi Waqqas)and Talha bin ‘Ubaidillah (Thalhah bin Ubaidullah).
Among the first people to convert to Islam was Bilal bin Rabah (Bilal bin Rabah)Abu ‘Ubaidah ‘Amir ibn al-Jarrah (Abu Ubaida Amer bin Al-Jarrah)Abu Salamah bin Abdul Asad (Abu Salamah bin Abdul Assad)al-Arqam bin Abil Arqam (Al-Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam)Uthman bin Mazh’un (Uthman bin Mazun)Sa’id bin Zaid (Saeed bin Zaid) along with his wife, Fatima bint al-Khaththab (Fatimah bint Al-Khattab)Khabbab bin al-Aratt (Khabab bin Al-Art)and Abdullah bin Mas’ud (Abdullah bin Masoud).
After that people began to convert to Islam gradually, both men and women, until news about Islam spread in Mecca and became a topic of conversation.
They all converted to Islam secretly. Rasulullah ﷺ gathered with them and guided them in secret because da’wah was still individual and secret.
Characteristics of revelation in the early period of Islam
Revelations continued to fall successively after surah al-Muddatstsir and became stronger. The verses and fragments of surahs that were revealed at that time were in the form of short verses with beautiful and strong verse covers, as well as calm and charming rhythms, in accordance with the soft and hidden atmosphere of the preaching.
These verses contain encouragement to purify the soul, as well as condemnation of the soul’s pollution with the filth of the world. These verses also describe heaven and hell as if they were both visible before their eyes, and take the believers to walk in another atmosphere, different from the atmosphere of human society at that time.
So the Prophet ﷺ’s preaching began in Mecca. Da’wah began secretly and secretly, from those closest to him who knew his honesty and noble morals. From this small circle, Allah raised the first generation of Islam, the generation that would later bear the burden of preaching with the Prophet ﷺ. The story of this secret sermon is not over yet.
***
Writer: Fajar Rianto
Article Muslim.or.id
Reference:
ar-Rahīq al-Makhtum, the work of Sheikh Shafiyurrahmān al-Mubārakfūri.
Nur al-Yaqīn fi Sīrah Sayyid al-Mursalīn, by Muhammad al-Khudhari.
al-Bidayah wa an-Nihāyah, by Ibn Kathir.
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