The Revelation of the Prophet Muhammad

This section explains The Revelation of the Prophet Muhammad.The Prophet Muhammad spent a significant amount of time in prayer and meditation, seeking solitude to reflect on life’s deeper meanings. On one such occasion, he experienced the first revelation of the Qur’an, a momentous event in Islamic belief known as the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr).

The Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr)

While meditating in a cave on Mount Hira, Muhammad encountered the Angel Jibril (Gabriel), who commanded him to recite the divine words placed before him. Despite having never learned to read or write, Muhammad was miraculously able to recite the revelation. This marked the beginning of a series of divine messages revealed to him by Allah over a period of 23 years.

Muhammad memorised and recited these revelations to his followers, who, in turn, passed them on orally. After his death, the Qur’an was compiled into a single book under the direction of Abu Bakr, the first caliph and successor of Muhammad.

Muhammad’s earliest teachings emphasised monotheism, instructing people to worship only one God, Allah. He also conveyed the belief in life after death, asserting that Allah would judge each individual based on their deeds, determining their place in either Paradise or Hell.

Initially, when Muhammad began to preach the message of the Qur’an, he faced resistance from the people of Mecca, who rejected his call to abandon their polytheistic traditions. As opposition grew, Muhammad and his followers migrated to the city of Madinah, where he established himself as both a religious and political leader, laying the foundations of an Islamic state.

The Five Pillars of Islam and the Ka’aba

As part of his mission, Muhammad established the Five Pillars of Islam—five fundamental acts of worship that form the basis of a Muslim’s faith and practice. Additionally, he restored the Ka’aba in Mecca, ensuring that it was dedicated solely to the worship of Allah, as it was originally intended to be.

The Qur’an: The Holy Book of Islam

The Qur’an, believed to be the literal word of Allah, is the most sacred text in Islam. Muslims hold it in the highest regard, considering it a complete and final revelation, guiding all aspects of life.

Respecting the Qur’an

Muslims believe that the Qur’an must be treated with the utmost reverence, as it contains the divine words of Allah. Several practices reflect this deep respect:

• The Qur’an must not touch the ground and should be placed on a higher shelf than other books.
• Before handling or reading the Qur’an, many Muslims perform ritual washing (Wudu) to ensure physical purity.
• In certain circumstances, full-body purification (Ghusl) is required before touching the Qur’an.
• If washing is not possible, gloves or a clean barrier may be used to handle the sacred text.
• Some Muslims hold the view that non-Muslims should not handle a copy of the Qur’an in its original Arabic form, although reading a translated version is generally considered acceptable.

Through these practices, Muslims demonstrate their deep reverence for the Qur’an, ensuring that it is always treated with the dignity befitting the word of Allah.