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This
cave is the sanctum of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be
upon him), the place of His devotions and meditations, and the
sacred spot where the Qur’an began to be revealed. The cave is
situated on Jabal An-Nur (the Mountain of Light) on the way to
Mina, only 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Makkah. It is a small cave
4 yards (3.7 meters) long and 1.75 yards (1.6 meters) wide. The
mountain’s peak is visible from a great distance.
When
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was nearly 40
years old, he had been accustomed to passing long hours in
retirement, meditating and speculating over all aspects of creation
around him. This meditative temperament helped to widen the mental
gap between him and his compatriots. He used to provide himself
with sawiq (barley porridge) and water and then directly
head for the hills and ravines in the neighborhood of Makkah. One
of these in particular was his favorite resort: a cave named Hira’.
He would always go there and invite wayfarers to share with him his
modest provision. He used to devote most of his time, and Ramadan
in particular, to worship and meditation on the universe around
him.
In
Ramadan, in his third year of solitude in the cave of Hira’,
Allah’s will desired His mercy to flow on earth: Muhammad (peace
and blessings be upon him) was honored with prophethood, and the
light of Revelation burst upon him with some verses of the Noble
Qur’an, the first five verses of Surat Al-`Alaq.
Based
on Ar-Raheeq
Al-Makhtum, by Safiyyur-Rahman al-Mubarakfuri.
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