# What Was Muhammad’s First Revelation? > Sahih al-Bukhari says Muhammad’s first revelation came in the cave of Hira, when an angel pressed him and told him to recite. The words are Qur’an 96:1–5. Encyclopaedia Britannica dates the call to about 610. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/islam/muhammads-first-revelation - Religions: Islam - Denominations: none - Beliefs: none - Tags: islam, muhammad, quran - Updated: 2026-10-13 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul)) Muhammad’s first revelation, in Sahih al-Bukhari, came in the cave of Hira. An angel pressed him and told him to recite. The words are the opening of Qur’an 96. Encyclopaedia Britannica dates that call to about 610. He went home afraid, and Khadija took him to Waraqa, a Christian who knew the Gospel. Jesus is God. The Gospel Waraqa already had is the Gospel of a crucified and risen Lord. ## Key Points - [Sahih al-Bukhari 3](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3) [(1)](#ref-1) says the inspiration began as true dreams, then a love of seclusion in the cave of Hira. The angel told him to read. He answered that he did not know how to read. The angel pressed him three times. - The words the angel spoke are [Qur’an 96:1–3](https://quran.com/96/1-5) [(3)](#ref-3) in that hadith, and [Qur’an 96:1–5](https://quran.com/96/1-5) [(3)](#ref-3) in Saheeh International: recite in the name of your Lord who created. - He returned with his heart beating, said “Cover me! Cover me!”, and told Khadija, “I fear that something may happen to me.” - Khadija took him to Waraqa bin Naufal, who had become a Christian and wrote from the Gospel in Hebrew. Waraqa said this was the same one sent to Moses, and that Muhammad’s people would turn him out. - Watt’s [Encyclopaedia Britannica biography](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad) [(4)](#ref-4) dates the call to about 610. [Who Was Muhammad?](/islam/who-was-muhammad) uses that date beside the Hijra in 622 and the death on 8 June 632. - [Galatians 1:8](/bible/galatians/1/8) [(5)](#ref-5) says that if an angel from heaven preach any other gospel, let him be accursed. The Gospel Waraqa wrote tells a Jesus who was crucified and raised. [Did Jesus Die on the Cross?](/islam/did-jesus-die-on-the-cross) ## The Cave of Hira [Sahih al-Bukhari 3](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3) [(1)](#ref-1), narrated by Aisha, says the Divine Inspiration began as good dreams that came true like bright daylight. Then the love of seclusion was given to him. He used to go to the cave of Hira and worship for many days, then return to Khadija for food. The Truth descended while he was in the cave: > The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "I do not know how to read." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. 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 any more. 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), created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." That is the hadith’s account of how the first words came: a command to read, a reply that he did not know how, and a pressing, three times. [Was Muhammad Illiterate?](/islam/was-muhammad-illiterate) is the question that reply raises. [Was Muhammad a Real Person?](/islam/was-muhammad-a-real-person) is the man this report is about. ## The First Verses [Qur’an 96:1–5](https://quran.com/96/1-5) [(3)](#ref-3), in Saheeh International, is the passage the hadith is quoting: > [1] Recite in the name of your Lord who created [2] Created man from a clinging substance. [3] Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - [4] Who taught by the pen [5] Taught man that which he knew not. Bukhari 3 stops the angel’s words at the third verse, “Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.” The surah on Quran.com continues through the pen and “that which he knew not.” The command is to recite in the name of the Lord who created man. The hadith and the surah agree on that opening. They do not, in these lines, narrate a cross or a resurrection. ## About the Year 610 Watt’s [Encyclopaedia Britannica biography](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad) [(4)](#ref-4) dates the call to about 610. [Who Was Muhammad?](/islam/who-was-muhammad) uses that biography for the birth about 570, the call about 610, the Hijra in 622, and the death on 8 June 632 in Medina. The hadith does not print a year. The year 610 is Britannica’s date for the call, not a number inside Bukhari 3. ## Fear, Khadija, and Waraqa After the pressing, Bukhari 3 says he returned with his heart beating severely. He went to Khadija and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him until his fear was over. He told her everything and said, “I fear that something may happen to me.” Khadija answered that Allah would never disgrace him, and she named his care for kin, the poor, guests, and people struck by calamity. She then took him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal. Bukhari 3 says Waraqa became a Christian in the pre-Islamic period and “used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write.” He was old and had lost his eyesight. When he heard the story, he said this was the same one who keeps the secrets, whom Allah had sent to Moses. He said he wished he were young enough to live until Muhammad’s people turned him out. Muhammad asked, “Will they drive me out?” Waraqa said yes, and that anyone who came with something similar was treated with hostility. A few days later Waraqa died, and the inspiration paused for a while. [Sahih al-Bukhari 6982](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6982) [(2)](#ref-2) tells the same cave and the same pressing. It says Waraqa wrote of the Gospels in Arabic, where Bukhari 3 says Hebrew. It also says that after Waraqa died the inspiration paused, and that the Prophet became so sad, “as we have heard,” that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains, and that Gabriel would appear and call him Allah’s Messenger. That mountain report is in 6982, after Waraqa’s death. It is not part of the cave scene. ## The Gospel Waraqa Already Knew Waraqa, in Bukhari 3, was a Christian who wrote from the Gospel. The Gospel he is said to have known tells a Jesus who was crucified, buried, and raised, and whom Thomas calls Lord and God. [Qur’an 4:157](https://quran.com/an-nisa/157), on the usual reading, says Jesus was not crucified. [Did Jesus Die on the Cross?](/islam/did-jesus-die-on-the-cross) is that contradiction. [Galatians 1:8](/bible/galatians/1/8) [(5)](#ref-5) says that though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel, let him be accursed. The hadith’s angel commands a recitation. The Gospel Waraqa wrote is a different message about who Jesus is. Jesus is God. [What Do Christians Believe About Muhammad?](/islam/what-do-christians-believe-about-muhammad) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How Did Muhammad Receive His First Revelation? [Sahih al-Bukhari 3](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3) [(1)](#ref-1) says an angel came to him in the cave of Hira, told him to read, and pressed him three times when he said he did not know how. He went home afraid and asked Khadija to cover him. ### What Were the First Verses? The angel’s words in that hadith are the opening of [Qur’an 96](https://quran.com/96/1-5) [(3)](#ref-3): recite in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clinging substance, and your Lord is the most Generous. ### What Year Was the First Revelation? The hadith does not give a year. Watt’s [Britannica article](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad) [(4)](#ref-4) dates the call to about 610. [Who Was Muhammad?](/islam/who-was-muhammad) uses that date. ## Keep Reading - [Who Was Muhammad?](/islam/who-was-muhammad) - [Was Muhammad Illiterate?](/islam/was-muhammad-illiterate) - [Was Muhammad a Real Person?](/islam/was-muhammad-a-real-person) - [Was Muhammad Sinless?](/islam/was-muhammad-sinless) - [Did Jesus Die on the Cross?](/islam/did-jesus-die-on-the-cross) - [What Do Christians Believe About Muhammad?](/islam/what-do-christians-believe-about-muhammad) ## Passages Quoted on This Page ### Sahih al-Bukhari 3 Muhammad Muhsin Khan. [Open on sunnah.com](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3) > Narrated 'Aisha (the mother of the faithful believers): The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright daylight, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food likewise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "I do not know how to read." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. 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 any more. 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), created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija replied, "Never! By Allah, 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 accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during the pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while. ### Galatians 1:8 King James Version. > But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ### Sahih al-Bukhari 6982 Muhammad Muhsin Khan. [Open on sunnah.com](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6982) > Narrated `Aisha: The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was in the form of good righteous (true) dreams in his sleep. He never had a dream but that it came true like bright day light. He used to go in seclusion (the cave of) Hira where he used to worship(Allah Alone) continuously for many (days) nights. He used to take with him the journey food for that (stay) and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise again for another period to stay, till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him in it and asked him to read. The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "I do not know how to read." (The Prophet (ﷺ) added), "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," whereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and asked me again 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 Most Generous...up to..... ..that which he knew not." (96.15) Then Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) returned with the Inspiration, his neck muscles twitching with terror till he entered upon Khadija and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and then he said, "O Khadija, what is wrong with me?" Then he told her everything that had happened and said, 'I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija said, 'Never! But have the glad tidings, for by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you as you keep good reactions with your Kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guest generously and assist the deserving, calamityafflicted ones." Khadija then accompanied him to (her cousin) Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin `Abdul `Uzza bin Qusai. Waraqa was the son of her paternal uncle, i.e., her father's brother, who during the Pre-Islamic Period became a Christian and used to write the Arabic writing and used to write of the Gospels in Arabic as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to him, "O my cousin! Listen to the story of your nephew." Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" The Prophet (ﷺ) described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same Namus (i.e., Gabriel, the Angel who keeps the secrets) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asked, "Will they turn me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said: "Never did a man come with something similar to what you have brought but was treated with hostility. If I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while and the Prophet (ﷺ) became so sad as we have heard that he intended several times to throw himself from the tops of high mountains and every time he went up the top of a mountain in order to throw himself down, Gabriel would appear before him and say, "O Muhammad! You are indeed Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in truth" whereupon his heart would become quiet and he would calm down and would return home. And whenever the period of the coming of the inspiration used to become long, he would do as before, but when he used to reach the top of a mountain, Gabriel would appear before him and say to him what he had said before. (Ibn `Abbas said regarding the meaning of: 'He it is that Cleaves the daybreak (from the darkness)' (6.96) that Al-Asbah. means the light of the sun during the day and the light of the moon at night). ### Qur’an 4:157 Saheeh International. [Open on quran.com](https://quran.com/an-nisa/157) > And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allāh." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [Sahih al-Bukhari, 3](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3) (Muhammad Muhsin Khan. The cave of Hira, the angel’s command to read, Khadija, and Waraqa.) 2. [Sahih al-Bukhari, 6982](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6982) (Muhammad Muhsin Khan. The same beginning, and a pause in the inspiration after Waraqa’s death.) 3. [Qur’an, 96:1–5](https://quran.com/96/1-5) (Saheeh International. Recite in the name of your Lord who created.) 4. [Encyclopaedia Britannica, Muhammad](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad) (W. Montgomery Watt. The call about 610. The same dating is used on Who Was Muhammad?) 5. [Letter to the Galatians, 1:8](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/galatians/1/8). King James Version ## See Also - [Jesus and Muhammad Compared](https://apologetics.wiki/islam/jesus-and-muhammad-compared) — The Qur’an calls both messengers, and calls Jesus the Messiah, born of Mary. The Gospels say the Word was God, crucified and raised. - [Muhammad’s Intercession and Blessings](https://apologetics.wiki/islam/muhammads-intercession-and-blessings) — Intercession belongs to Allah and avails only by his permission. Believers ask God to bless Muhammad. The Gospel names one mediator, Christ Jesus. - [Was Muhammad Illiterate?](https://apologetics.wiki/islam/was-muhammad-illiterate) — The Qur’an calls Muhammad the unlettered prophet, and a Sunni hadith says he answered the angel, “I do not know how to read.” The same Arabic word is also rendered “unlearned.” A treaty report says he wrote or had the line written. - [Did Jesus Die on the Cross?](https://apologetics.wiki/islam/did-jesus-die-on-the-cross) — The Qur'an is widely read as saying Jesus was not crucified. The Gospels, Paul, and two Roman-era historians say he was. - [Did Jesus Pray Like a Muslim?](https://apologetics.wiki/islam/did-jesus-pray-like-a-muslim) — No. Jesus fell on his face and prayed to the Father. That is not the five daily prayers, toward the Sacred Mosque, that the Qur’an times.