Following on from the first post which can be viewed here, and the second 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.
فَجَاءَهُ المَلَكُ فَقَالَ: اقْرَأْ، قَالَ: " مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ "، قَالَ: " فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الجَهْدَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي، فَقَالَ: اقْرَأْ، قُلْتُ: مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ، فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّانِيَةَ حَتَّى بَلَغَ مِنِّي الجَهْدَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي، فَقَالَ: اقْرَأْ، فَقُلْتُ: مَا أَنَا بِقَارِئٍ، فَأَخَذَنِي فَغَطَّنِي الثَّالِثَةَ ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَنِي، فَقَالَ: { اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ . خَلَقَ الإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ . اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الأَكْرَمُ } ،
“And then an angel came to him and said, ‘Read!’ Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam replied, ‘I am not one who can read!’ Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam said, “The angel then grabbed hold of me and squeezed me until I felt that I was going to become unconscious, he then released me and said, ‘Read!’ I replied, ‘I am not one who can read!’ The angel then grabbed hold of me again and squeezed me until I felt that I was going to become unconscious, he then released me and said, ‘Read!’ I replied, ‘I am not one who can read!’ The angel then grabbed hold of me and squeezed me a third time until I felt that I was going to become unconscious, he then released me and said, ‘Read!’ I replied, ‘I am not one who can read!’ Then he said, ‘Read with the name of your Lord who created (everything); He created man from a clot of blood, Read! And your Lord is Most Gracious.’”
Commentary
“And then an angel came to him” – A question which arises here is that how did Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam know that he was conversing with an angel?
Answer 1: Imam Isma’eely rahimahullah states that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was not aware that he was conversing with an angel at the time but as they continued to meet, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam understood that it was an angel he spoke too . This is why when Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam spoke about this incident at a later time, he used the term ‘angel’.
Answer 2: Sirajud Deen Balqeeni relates that it is possible that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam remembered the incident that occurred in his childhood (i.e. when the angels opened his chest and cleansed his heart). However, this answer is not weighty as we still don’t know how Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam knew his heart was being cleansed by angels in his childhood.
Answer 3: Aishah radiallahu anha is the narrator of this hadith and it is possible that she used the term ‘angel’ to describe what had happened. (Fathul Baari)
Out of all these explanations, the first answer is the best. (Kashful Baari). This angel was Hazrat Jibraeel alayhissalaam.
When did the angel come, what was the month and how old was Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam at that time?
It is an agreed matter that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam received the revelation on a Monday. However, there are three opinions in relation to the month in which it happened. 1) The famous opinion is that it happened in the month of Rabee’ ul Awwal either on the 1st or 8th day (2) 2nd of Rajab (3) This happened in Ramadhan. There is a difference of opinion in relation to the actual date; 7th, 17th, 24th have all been mentioned.
Hafiz ibn Hajr al Asqalani rahimahullah says that the third opinion is the most accepted opinion as Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would be doing I’tikaf during this time.
There has been some discussion with regards to the age of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam. It is quite famous that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was 40 when he received revelation for the first time however there are many opinions in what his exact age was. From amongst them are: (1) 40 yrs and 10 days (2) 40 yrs and 40 days (3) 40 yrs and 2 months (4) 42 yrs (5) 43yrs (6) 45 yrs.
The most accepted opinion here is that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was around 40 years of age. The extra days or months are just a subject of discussion.
“Read!” – An objection arises here that why was Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam asked to read when it was known that he was unlettered? It seems as if this is giving pain whilst knowing that the person being tested has no ability.
The answer given by Hafiz ibn Hajar rahimahullah is that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam wasn’t being given pain (takleef) but he was being given encouragement to read (talqeen). For example, when a teacher tells his student to read, his objective is to have the student read in his (the teacher’s) tone and style i.e. the student will not know how to read it properly at first but by practising behind the teacher, he will learn. So here, when Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was given the command to ‘Read!’ he understood it in accordance to its apparent meaning and that is why he said, “I am not one who can read.” The objective of Jibraeel alayhissalaam was not to have Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam read by himself but to have him repeat after Jibraeel alayhissalaam.
“I am not one who can read!” – Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was unlettered but despite this, his use of language in speech was of an extremely high calibre. He is the most eloquent person to have ever descended on to this earth. However, one question arises as to why he was not able to repeat the words of Jibraeel alayhissalaam despite the words being so small in nature. Maulana Saleemullah Khan sahib (DB) gives the answer that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam had been in astonished as he had been in the mountain for a long time, he was alone and all of a sudden an angel appears in front of him and commands him to read. It is obvious that this would have a startling effect on anyone. An example of this could be seen in our institutions, a student of knowledge could be extremely sharp but when is called in front of his ustaad to read and be tested, he is completely dumbfounded out of awe.
“The angel then grabbed hold of me and squeezed me until I felt that I was going to become unconscious” - Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was squeezed in a strong embrace by Jibraeel alayhissalaam and this happened three times. What was the wisdom in doing this?
1) It was to make sure that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was completely free from any worldly thoughts. It was done to make his heart completely alert to the situation at hand.
2) Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was being cautioned that a big responsibility will also be put on him (much weightier than this embrace) in the form of revelation.
3) It was to highlight that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam would not be able to read except by the leave of Allah Ta’ala. This is why when told to ‘Read’ the first few times, he was not able to.
4) It was to highlight to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam that what he was experiencing was in fact a reality. (For example, people say today ‘Pinch me! Am I dreaming?!’ when they experience something amazing. So here, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was being squeezed to indicate to him that this occurrence is a reality.)
5) It was done to put some revelation in to Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam through Jibraeel alayhissalaam.
Why did this embrace have to happen three times? Why was it not possible to have everything done at once?
1) Allama Qastallani rahimahullah mentions that when Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam was squeezed the first time, worldly thoughts were removed from his mind so that his mind and body would be free to accept the revelation. The second and third time were done to ensure this happens.
2) Some have said that the first squeeze was to clear Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam’s thoughts, the second time was to prepare him for what was to be revealed to him and third squeeze was in order to create affection and acceptance for revelation.
3) Some have said that along with intellect, man has been created with three other entities. One is the nafs (carnal desires), tab’ee (inherent disposition i.e. inner characteristics) and shaytan. The objective of the nafs is to incline a being towards his desires. The natural disposition of a person is inclined towards forgetfulness and lethargy and finally, shaytaan beckons a person towards transgression. Thus each squeeze given by Hazrat Jibraeel alayhissalaam was to remove these characteristics if they had existed.
4) Some have said that he was squeezed severely three times in order to prepare him for three calamities he will face in his life. The first squeeze was to prepare him for the disrespect he will suffer from the people after he emerges as a prophet. The very people who called him ‘The Trustworthy’ will disrespect him. The second squeeze was to prepare him for the pain he will have to endure from the very same people who loved him. They will hit him, abuse him and all sorts of harm will be directed towards him. The third squeeze was to prepare him for the pain that he will feel when he is forced out of Makkah. The Makkans had gathered to eventually kill him and he had to leave the city. Whilst looking back, he himself stated that if he was not forced out, he would never leave. I have heard this explanation directly from my own Ustaadh may Allah Ta’ala preserve him.
There are approximately 13 opinions but to list them here would not be warranted due to the (already) lengthy post.
A strange incident is related about Allamah Shabbir Uthmani sahib rahimahullah. He once went for some treatment in a hospital in Hyderabad. The physician had told him that they would use electricity to treat him of his illness and they would pass it through his body. Allamah Shabbir sahib was very frightened at first but the doctor consoled him and told him not to worry. He sat on a chair and the electricity was put into his body. After a while, the doctor told him that there is much electricity in his body and Hazrat Allamah was astonished as he did not feel a thing (it must be noted that this was at a time when such medical treatment was not profound). The doctor told him touch Maulana Yahya sahib who was with him on that occasion and as a result, a spark came out when their skin met which resulted in both parties feeling some pain. However, the current had now passed on to Maulana Yahya sahib and thus they both had this electric current within themselves. Then a third man came and he also experienced the same occurrence!
Hazrat Allamah Shabbir sahib rahimahullah whilst reflecting on the incident stated at that juncture, “A very big masalah (Islamic ruling/question) has been answered today. It has been understood that in some special circumstances, it is completely possible to pass some feature on to another person just by touching them. When Jibraeel alayhissalaam had gripped Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam tightly, light was joined on to light and the angelic characteristics were passed onto Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam who had the ability to withstand its heavy load.”
This is incident is a very key lesson in many ways. Firstly, it shows how an Alim or a student of knowledge should always busy his mind in assessing Islamic rulings etc. Another matter it highlights is that there are many things which we will not be able to understand for years but one day, Allah Ta’ala may create something which gives us the knowledge and understanding need to comprehend a matter. For example, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam ascended to the heavens via a ladder. In previous years, this would be something completely unheard off because Allah Ta’ala didn’t give those generations the particular understanding needed to comprehend the matter. However, this is very easy to comprehend in our times; just think of an enormous escalator!
“‘Read with the name of your Lord who created (everything); He created man from a clot of blood, Read! And your Lord is Most Gracious.’” – Hazrat Jibraeel alayhissalaam read the first five verses of Surah Alaq and Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam also read them. The verses recited are a summary of the entire Qur’an. The Qur’an is divided into three topics. The first topic is in relation to Tawheed (the fact that Allah Ta’ala is one); the second one is in relation to rulings (ahkam) and the third topic is in relation information about the unseen and stories of the past etc.
Thus the revelation of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasallam had begun and the coming years would change the world forever. We are very fortunate that we are a group of people who have the best Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) and we have the most guidance-filled book. The month of Ramadhan is the month of the Qur’an. It is now upon us to act upon the first verse that was revealed in this Glorious Book – ‘read!’ and this was revealed in the month of Ramadhan.
May Allah Ta’ala give us the ability to fulfil the rights of the Qur’an and spend the month of Ramadhan properly. Ameen.
Inshallah, we will continue with the commentary of the hadith at some point after Ramadhan. There is still a bit more of the actual hadith left.
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