My First Revelation

      I am about to tell you about one of the most significant and most memorable days of my life, the day I received my first vision, the first revelation. I was at the age of 40, normal day and normal visit to the Mount Hira cave to meditate...little did I know how much this one day would change my life.

Mount Hira Cave: http://www.mecca.net/Jabal-Nour-Cave-Hira-Thawr-Mountain-Cave-of-Thawr.html

        I had began to take longer retreats to the cave because Mecca's new materialism and its traditional idolatry began to extremely disturb me, and I always found peace during meditations. Fasting was another way I found peace among all of the disturbances in my town, kind of like my connection to the divine. I have experienced a number of indistinct visionary experiences, but nothing like what happened to me on this day in 610.

       An overpowering presence showed up in the cave with me, and I was in complete shock. It was the angel Gabriel. This strong force and angel began to instruct me to recite words that were overwhelmingly beautiful, they words were attributed to God. The entire experience put me into a state of complete shock, it shook me to my very core because I honestly had no idea yet how to interpret the words spoken so gloriously.

        Only seconds after the divine force left my presence I ran straight home in a daze. As soon as I entered the doors of my home I jumped into Khadijah's arms weeping. I distinctly remember saying, "Cover me! Cover me!" I know that my terror startled her, but she soothed and comforted me to the best of her ability in the situation. Eventually, I calmed down and was able to explain my fear to my wife. 

        I reported in a still trance-like state that the Angel Gabriel had appeared to me and said, "Proclaim!" I was reluctant because I did not think that I was a prophet so I replied saying "I am not a proclaimer." The angel persisted, and I repeatedly resisted until he finally commanded me saying:

                      

                      Proclaim in the name of your Lord who created!

                       Created man from a clot of blood.
                       Proclaim: Your Lord is the Most Generous, 
                       Who teaches by the pen; 
                       Teaches man what he knew not.

         After relaying the information to Khadijah, she then took me to her cousin who was a scholar well-versed in the Judeo-Christian scripture. I told him of my situation and he confirmed that my experience was Divine and that I was to be the Last Prophet. This confirmation was very comforting, exciting, and terrifying in itself. It was good to know that I wasn't going crazy, but scary to know the role I was about to enter. 

          I received amazing support from Khadija, and I also had additional angelic visits while at Mount Hira. Although the situation was still slightly intimidating, I was beginning to become more confident that I had indeed been chosen as a messenger of God, and I was ready to begin proclaiming His name, just as I had been commanded.