Following on from the first post which can be viewed here, we continue with the commentary of the third hadith of Bukhari sharif which describes the manner in which Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam received Revelation.
ثم حُبِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الخَلاَءُ ، وَكَانَ يَخْلُو بِغَارِ حِرَاءٍ فَيَتَحَنَّثُ فِيهِ - وَهُوَ التَّعَبُّدُ - اللَّيَالِيَ ذَوَاتِ العَدَدِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَنْزِعَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ، وَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى خَدِيجَةَ فَيَتَزَوَّدُ لِمِثْلِهَا، حَتَّى جَاءَهُ الحَقُّ وَهُوَ فِي غَارِ حِرَاء
“Then seclusion was made dear to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam. He would remain in solitude in the cave of Mount Hiraa where he would worship (Allah Ta’ala) for a number of nights before returning to his family. He would take provision for this stay and then (when it would finish) he would return to Khadija radiallahu anha who would make restock his supplies. This happened until the Truth (revelation) came to him whilst he was in the cave of Mount Hiraa.”
“Then seclusion was made dear to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam. He would remain in solitude in the cave of Mount Hiraa where he would worship (Allah Ta’ala) for a number of nights before returning to his family. He would take provision for this stay and then (when it would finish) he would return to Khadija radiallahu anha who would make restock his supplies. This happened until the Truth (revelation) came to him whilst he was in the cave of Mount Hiraa.”
“Then seclusion was made dear to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam. He would remain in solitude in the cave of Mount Hiraa...” – The people of Makkah were living in an incredibly poor and immoral way; there were many wrongs in the society which led to various people being oppressed. The Arabs of the time held great pride in their male progeny and they would consider their male children to be their heir. If a female was born, they would kill her by burying her alive. Females were considered to be inferior and they had no worth in society. There was much prejudice against other races and society was such that the rich were oppressing the poor. In the midst of all of this, the Ka’bah was surrounded with idol gods; the people had diverted away from the religion of Ibrahim alayhis salam and they opted to worship idols once again. There was no sense of humanity within these people and the situation became increasingly worrying.
Hazrat Miqdad ibnul Aswad radiallahu anhu comments on the situation of the people at the time, “I swear by Allah, that Allah sent the Messenger of Allah salallahu alayhi wasallam as Prophet during a time that was more difficult than any other time in which Allah had sent Ambiya (prophets). It was a time when the succession of Ambiya had long been paused and when people were steeped in ignorance. People saw no religion better than idol worship. Rasulullah (May Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) arrived with a standard (the Qur’an) that differentiated between truth and falsehood...”
It is important to remember at this juncture that whilst Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was going to the cave of Hiraa he was not a prophet. Prophethood was to come to him soon as we will discuss in coming posts inshallah.
It was due to the poor state of society that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would go to Mount Hiraa. He would spend his time in solitude and Hazrat Maulana Saleemullah Khan sahib (DB) speaks of the virtues of solitude and seclusion. He says;
“There are many benefits of seclusion;
• A persons heart becomes free
• A person finds ease in remembering things
• A person is able to stay away from evils.
• By sitting in seclusion, peace and tranquillity descends into the heart of a person. When a person is alone, he realises his entire reality.
• A person is cut off from those things which he naturally loves and desires.” (Kashful Bari)
Another reason why seclusion was made beloved to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was due to the fact that Revelation (wahi) was soon to be bestowed upon him. His heart and his mind needed to be free in order for the weight of Revelation to be placed upon Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam, he needed to be mentally and physically relaxed and at peace.
A question now arises that why did Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam choose Mount Hiraa for seclusion?
In relation to the above question, Ibn Abi Jamrah rahimahullah gives a very nice answer. He says, “Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam chose Mount Hiraa for seclusion because the Ka’bah could be seen from that mountain. As a result, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would be doing three types of worship: 1) seclusion 2) his normal worship 3) visiting the house of Allah Ta’ala (Ka’bah).”
Allama Aynee rahimahullah also gives a very weighty answer. He says, “To adopt seclusion was from the shari’ah (law) of Ibrahim alayhis salam. This means that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was following some of the rulings of Ibrahim alayhis salam which were still unaltered (by the society). And before Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam, his grandfather would also visit this mountain and remain in seclusion therein. Thus when Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam came of age, he also went to the same place and adopted solitude. As a result, Rasulullah’s salallahu alayhi wasallam tribesmen and uncles had no objection to him going to this place as they all had respect for him.”
When would Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam go to Mount Hiraa?
Ishaaq rahimahullah mentions that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would go there during the month of Ramadhan. In the narration of Muslim sharif it is mentioned that he would perform jawaar (stay there) there. Jawaar is basically the same as I’tikaf and Hafiz ibn Abdil Barr rahimahullah mentions that the only difference between the two is that I’tikaf is performed in a masjid and Jawaar is done in the same manner but in a place other than a masjid.
Just on a side note, Mount Hiraa is approximately three miles from Makkah on the way to Mina on the right.
“...where he would worship (Allah Ta’ala)...” – A question now arises that what type of worship is this? This was prior to any form of salah so what type of worship was Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam doing?
There are four opinions with regards to this matter; 1) He was feeding the poor who would be passing by. 2) He was staying in seclusion away from the evils. 3) He was contemplating. 4) Hazrat Aishah radiallahu anha has kept this general. From among these opinions, the third is the weightiest. However a question does arise that did Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam follow the worship of the prophets who came before him?
Did Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam follow the worship of the prophets who came before him?
The majority of the scholars are against this notion however but some scholars such as Ibn Hajib rahimahullah etc are of the opinion that he did. If the latter opinion is taken then the question arises that which prophet did he follow? There are several possible answers; 1) Adam alayhis salam as has been mentioned by ibn Burhan rahimahullah. 2) Nuh alayhis salam as has been related by Al Aadimee rahimahulullah. 3) Ibrahim alayhis salam which a whole group of scholars have favoured. 4) Musa alayhis salam. 5) Eesa alayhis salam. 6) Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would do all those things which were practised by the prophets before him. 7) There is no specifying and thus we remain silent.
If we accept that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam followed one of the prophets before him then out of all the opinions mentioned above, the third opinion is the strongest.
“...for a number of nights before returning to his family.” – What is meant by a number of nights? Allamah Teebi rahimahullah mentions that a small number of nights is intended but the likes of Allamah Kirmani and Allamah ibn Abi Jamrah rahimahumullah have said that a number of nights means many nights.
He would return to his wife Khadija radiallahu anha when his heart would yearn for his family and wife Khadija radiallahu anha. The word in the hadith used for return is ‘يَنْزِعَ’ and this means to yearn and be enthusiastic in returning. The point being made here is that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would continue to worship and stay in seclusion in Mount Hiraa until he would begin to miss and desire his family. When this would happen, he would then return. This also proves that there is no such thing as being a monk in Islam. A person is entitled to be in solitude and peace but here we find that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would still come home to his family.
"He would take provision for this stay and then (when it would finish) he would return to Khadija radiallahu anha who would make restock his supplies.” – From this statement we can see that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would make preparation for his stay in the mountain. Some Ulama are of the opinion that this was a porridge type of food. He would make use of the things he had available to him. Many people make no preparation and then say ‘we place our trust in Allah Ta’ala!” but this is not correct. In one hadith in Tirmidhi Sharif, we find a sahabi who came inside the masjid for prayer but failed to tie his camel. When he was asked about his camel, he said that he places his trust in Allah Ta’ala that Allah Ta’ala will keep it secure. Upon this Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam said, “Tie it up (secure it) and then place your trust in Allah Ta’ala.”
“This happened until the Truth (revelation) came to him whilst he was in the cave of Mount Hiraa.” – Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam continued to live in this manner until the Truth came to him.
What is meant by ‘the Truth’?
Allamah Teebi rahimahullah mentions that Revelation (wahi) is meant by ‘the Truth’ or “The Messenger of the Truth’. By the ‘Messenger of Truth’ Hazrat Jibraeel alayhis salam is intended.
Inshallah in the next post we will discuss how the first words of the Revelation (Qur’an) were bestowed upon Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam and his reaction to it.
Hazrat Miqdad ibnul Aswad radiallahu anhu comments on the situation of the people at the time, “I swear by Allah, that Allah sent the Messenger of Allah salallahu alayhi wasallam as Prophet during a time that was more difficult than any other time in which Allah had sent Ambiya (prophets). It was a time when the succession of Ambiya had long been paused and when people were steeped in ignorance. People saw no religion better than idol worship. Rasulullah (May Peace and Blessings be Upon Him) arrived with a standard (the Qur’an) that differentiated between truth and falsehood...”
It is important to remember at this juncture that whilst Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was going to the cave of Hiraa he was not a prophet. Prophethood was to come to him soon as we will discuss in coming posts inshallah.
It was due to the poor state of society that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would go to Mount Hiraa. He would spend his time in solitude and Hazrat Maulana Saleemullah Khan sahib (DB) speaks of the virtues of solitude and seclusion. He says;
“There are many benefits of seclusion;
• A persons heart becomes free
• A person finds ease in remembering things
• A person is able to stay away from evils.
• By sitting in seclusion, peace and tranquillity descends into the heart of a person. When a person is alone, he realises his entire reality.
• A person is cut off from those things which he naturally loves and desires.” (Kashful Bari)
Another reason why seclusion was made beloved to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was due to the fact that Revelation (wahi) was soon to be bestowed upon him. His heart and his mind needed to be free in order for the weight of Revelation to be placed upon Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam, he needed to be mentally and physically relaxed and at peace.
A question now arises that why did Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam choose Mount Hiraa for seclusion?
In relation to the above question, Ibn Abi Jamrah rahimahullah gives a very nice answer. He says, “Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam chose Mount Hiraa for seclusion because the Ka’bah could be seen from that mountain. As a result, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would be doing three types of worship: 1) seclusion 2) his normal worship 3) visiting the house of Allah Ta’ala (Ka’bah).”
Allama Aynee rahimahullah also gives a very weighty answer. He says, “To adopt seclusion was from the shari’ah (law) of Ibrahim alayhis salam. This means that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was following some of the rulings of Ibrahim alayhis salam which were still unaltered (by the society). And before Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam, his grandfather would also visit this mountain and remain in seclusion therein. Thus when Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam came of age, he also went to the same place and adopted solitude. As a result, Rasulullah’s salallahu alayhi wasallam tribesmen and uncles had no objection to him going to this place as they all had respect for him.”
When would Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam go to Mount Hiraa?
Ishaaq rahimahullah mentions that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would go there during the month of Ramadhan. In the narration of Muslim sharif it is mentioned that he would perform jawaar (stay there) there. Jawaar is basically the same as I’tikaf and Hafiz ibn Abdil Barr rahimahullah mentions that the only difference between the two is that I’tikaf is performed in a masjid and Jawaar is done in the same manner but in a place other than a masjid.
Just on a side note, Mount Hiraa is approximately three miles from Makkah on the way to Mina on the right.
“...where he would worship (Allah Ta’ala)...” – A question now arises that what type of worship is this? This was prior to any form of salah so what type of worship was Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam doing?
There are four opinions with regards to this matter; 1) He was feeding the poor who would be passing by. 2) He was staying in seclusion away from the evils. 3) He was contemplating. 4) Hazrat Aishah radiallahu anha has kept this general. From among these opinions, the third is the weightiest. However a question does arise that did Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam follow the worship of the prophets who came before him?
Did Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam follow the worship of the prophets who came before him?
The majority of the scholars are against this notion however but some scholars such as Ibn Hajib rahimahullah etc are of the opinion that he did. If the latter opinion is taken then the question arises that which prophet did he follow? There are several possible answers; 1) Adam alayhis salam as has been mentioned by ibn Burhan rahimahullah. 2) Nuh alayhis salam as has been related by Al Aadimee rahimahulullah. 3) Ibrahim alayhis salam which a whole group of scholars have favoured. 4) Musa alayhis salam. 5) Eesa alayhis salam. 6) Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would do all those things which were practised by the prophets before him. 7) There is no specifying and thus we remain silent.
If we accept that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam followed one of the prophets before him then out of all the opinions mentioned above, the third opinion is the strongest.
“...for a number of nights before returning to his family.” – What is meant by a number of nights? Allamah Teebi rahimahullah mentions that a small number of nights is intended but the likes of Allamah Kirmani and Allamah ibn Abi Jamrah rahimahumullah have said that a number of nights means many nights.
He would return to his wife Khadija radiallahu anha when his heart would yearn for his family and wife Khadija radiallahu anha. The word in the hadith used for return is ‘يَنْزِعَ’ and this means to yearn and be enthusiastic in returning. The point being made here is that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would continue to worship and stay in seclusion in Mount Hiraa until he would begin to miss and desire his family. When this would happen, he would then return. This also proves that there is no such thing as being a monk in Islam. A person is entitled to be in solitude and peace but here we find that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would still come home to his family.
"He would take provision for this stay and then (when it would finish) he would return to Khadija radiallahu anha who would make restock his supplies.” – From this statement we can see that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would make preparation for his stay in the mountain. Some Ulama are of the opinion that this was a porridge type of food. He would make use of the things he had available to him. Many people make no preparation and then say ‘we place our trust in Allah Ta’ala!” but this is not correct. In one hadith in Tirmidhi Sharif, we find a sahabi who came inside the masjid for prayer but failed to tie his camel. When he was asked about his camel, he said that he places his trust in Allah Ta’ala that Allah Ta’ala will keep it secure. Upon this Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam said, “Tie it up (secure it) and then place your trust in Allah Ta’ala.”
“This happened until the Truth (revelation) came to him whilst he was in the cave of Mount Hiraa.” – Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam continued to live in this manner until the Truth came to him.
What is meant by ‘the Truth’?
Allamah Teebi rahimahullah mentions that Revelation (wahi) is meant by ‘the Truth’ or “The Messenger of the Truth’. By the ‘Messenger of Truth’ Hazrat Jibraeel alayhis salam is intended.
Inshallah in the next post we will discuss how the first words of the Revelation (Qur’an) were bestowed upon Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam and his reaction to it.
May Allah Ta’ala accept our efforts. Ameen.
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