In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Hadeeth One: Narrated Aa’isha- the Mother of the faithful believers: The commencement of the (Divine) Revelation to Allaah’s Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam] was in the form of good righteous (true) dreams which came true like bright daylight, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira’ where he used to worship (Allah Alone) continuously for many nights before returning to (or his desire to see) his family. He used to take with him- on the journey- food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadeejah [radiyallaahu-anhaa] to take his food likewise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira’. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, “I do not know how to read.” The Prophet added, “Then the angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read (or what shall I read?)’. Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, ‘Read in the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). Has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.'” Then Allah’s Messenger returned with the Revelation and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadeejah bint Khuwailid [radiyallaahu-anhaa] and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told Khadeejah everything that had happened (and said), “I fear that something may happen to me.” Khadeejah replied, “Never! By Allaah, Allaah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamityafflicted ones.” Khadeejah [radiyallaahu anhaa] then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqah bin Naufal bin Asad bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza, who, during the Period of Ignorance became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allaah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadeejah said to Waraqah, “Listen to (the story of) your nephew, 0 my cousin!” Waraqah asked, “O my nephew! What have you seen?” Allaah’s Messenger described whatever he had seen. Waraqah said, “This is the same one [who keeps the secrets i.e., angel Jibril (Gabriel)] whom Allah had sent to Moosaa (Moses). I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.” Allah’s Messenger asked, “Will they drive me out?” Waraqah replied in the affirmative and said, “Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day (when you will be turned out) then I would support you strongly.” But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Revelation was also paused for a while. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Hadeeth Number 3]

Few Reminders From This Hadeeth

*The subject matter in this hadeeth is about the beginning of the revelation that was revealed to the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] in Ramadhaan.

*Surah Iqrah was the first part of the Qur’aan revealed to him.

*Jibreel [peace be upon him] used to bring the revelation to him.

*Truthfulness of the Messenger [peace and blessings of Alaah be upon him] prior to being sent as a Messenger. Khadeejah [may Allaah be pleased with her] said to him, “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones”.

*The revelation sent down to the Prophets was well known to the scholars of the people of the scripture.

*How do we understand this hadeeth together with the hadeeth reported by Jaabir [may Allaah be pleased with him] in which it is mentioned that Surah Al-Mud-dath-thir was the first revealed surah? What is intended in the hadeeth reported by Jaabir is that Al-Mud-dath-thir was the first Surah sent down as a command to the Messenger to warn (against Shirk, disbelief, disobedience) and call (to Tawheed, Eemaan, Islaam), and Surah Iqrah (was the first Surah revealed to inform him that) he has been given the station of a Prophet.

*One should give concern to the subject matter regarding knowledge of the revelation, and this is proven by Aa’isha’s [may Allaah be pleased with her] dedication to the subject matter regarding how the revelation began.

Hadeeth Two: Aa’isha [may Allaah be pleased with her] said: Al-Haarith Bin Hisham [may Allaah be pleased with him] asked Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him]: “O Allaah’s Messenger! How is the Divine Revelation revealed to you?” Allaah’s Messenger replied, “Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Revelation is the hardest of all and then this state passes off after I have grasped what is revealed. Sometimes the angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says.” Aishah added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired [divinely] and [noticed] the sweat dropping from his forehead on a very cold day as the Revelation was over. [Al-Bukhaari’ Number’ Hadeeth Number 2]

Some Points Derived From This Hadeeth

*The heaviness of the revelation on the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam], and this is affirmed by one of the explanations of the Aayah [i.e. by the scholars of Tafseer]: “Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word.” [Surah Al-Muzzammil’ Aayah 5]

*The Sahaabah witnessed the state of the Messenger whilst the revelation was been sent down to him.

*Aa’isha’s statement “Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired (divinely) and (noticed) the sweat dropping from his forehead on a very cold day” shows that some of the Qur’aan was revealed in winter and summer, as stated in a hadeeth reported by Umar [may Allaah be pleased with him] who said that the Messenger said to him, “O Umar! Does this verse that is at the end of Surah An-Nisaa’, which was revealed in summer not suffice you? [i.e. regarding Al kalaalah – those who leave neither descendants nor ascendants as heirs] [Saheeh Muslim’ Number 567]

*This hadeeth contains a refutation against the one [i.e. some of the orientalists, enemies of Islaam etc] who say that the revelation received by the Prophet was as a result of epileptic fits, because the Sahaabah witnessed the (physical state of the Prophet) and did not see any of this [i.e. this false claim of these enemies of Islaam].

Hadeeth Three: Narrated Sa’eed bin Jubair: Ibn ‘Abbaas in the explanation of the Statement of Allaah: ‘Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur’aan, O Muhammad;) to make haste therewith.’ [Surah Al-Qiyaamah’ Aayah 16] said, “Allaah’s Messenger used to bear the revelation with great stress and hardness, and used to move his lips (quickly with the Revelation) .” Ibn ‘Abbaas moved his lips saying, “I am moving my lips (in front of you) as Allah’s Messenger used to move his.” Sa’eed moved his lips saying: “I am moving my lips, as I have seen Ibn ‘Abbas moving his.” [Ibn ‘Abbaa added], “So Allaah revealed, ‘Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur’aan, O Muhammad;) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and give you (O Muhammad the ability to recite it (the Qur’aan), [which means that Allaah will make him (the Prophet): remember the portion of the Qur’an which was revealed at that time by heart and recite it]. The Statement of Allah: ‘And when We have recited it to you [O Muhammad ; through JibrIl (Gabriel)] then follow you its (the Qur’an’s) recital’ (V.75:18) (means ‘listen to it and be silent’). ‘Then it is for Us (Allah) to make it clear to you’ – meaning then it is (for Allah) to make you recite it (and its meaning will be clear by itself through your tongue). Afterwards, Allah’s Messenger used to listen to Jibril whenever he came and after his departure he used to recite it as Jibril had recited it. [Saheeh al-Bukhaari’ Hadeeth Number 5]

Some Points Related To This Hadeeth

*The revelation of the great Qur’aan

*The Messenger clarified (all affairs related to) the great Qur’aan through recitation and reading, and he clarified it by explaining its meanings, its application and how to act upon it. “And We have also sent down unto you (O Muhammad) the reminder and the advice (the Qur’an), that you may explain clearly to the people what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought]. [Surah An-Nahl’ Aayah 44]

*Jibreel was the one [whom Allaah] entrusted with the responsibility to convey the revelation to the Messenger. “He [the Messenger – Muhammad] has been taught [this Qur’an] by one mighty in power [Jibrael (Gabriel)]. Dhu Mirrah [free from any defect in body and mind], Fastawa [then he (Jibrael – Gabriel) rose and became stable]. [Surah An-Najm’ Aayaat 5-6]

*One has to move his tongue when reciting the Qur’aan.

*One of the etiquettes to be observed is that one should not busy himself [or herself] with anything else when listening to the reading and recitation of the Qur’aan.

*Allaah [The Most High] guaranteed that the noble Qur’aan will be protected [from alldistortions till the end of time] and [also guaranteed that] all of it is preserved in theMessenger’s [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] heart.

Hadeeth Four:Narrated Jundub bin Sufyan [may Allaah be pleased with him]: Once Allaah’s Messenger[peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] became sick and could not offer his night prayer (i.e.Tahajjud prayers) for two or three nights. Then a lady [the wife of Abu Lahab] came and said, “O Muhammad! I think that your satan has forsaken you, for I have not seen him with you for two or three nights!” On that Allaah revealed: “By the forenoon [after sunrise]; and by the night when it darkens [and stands still]; your Lord [O Muhammad] has neither forsaken you nor hates you.” [Surah Ad-Duhaa’ Aayaat 1-3]

Al-Bukhaari [rahimahullaah] said, “Chapter: The Statement of Allaah: “Your Lord [O Muhammad] has neither forsaken you nor hates you.” [The Arabic word that is translated as ‘has forsaken you’ can be read in two ways: with emphasis [i.e. Wadda’aka] or without emphasis [i.e. Wada ‘aka]. The meaning of both is the same, [(your Lord) has (not) forsaken you]. Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Verse means: ‘He has not forsaken you, nor does He hate you.” [Bukhaari Hadeeth Number 4950]

Some Points Derived From This Hadeeth

*The revelation of the Qur’aan.

*The revelation used to stop for some time.

*The subject matter regarding the revelation of the Qur’aan was well known to the people.

*Asbaab An-Nuzool – revelation of (parts) of the Qur’aan to give a clarification (or explanation) due to a question that was asked or an event that took place.

*In the Qur’aan, there is that which was revealed due to (specific reasons or circumstances) and that which was revealed from the beginning without a specific reason.

*The application of a verse [or verses] is not limited to the specific [reason or circumstances] for which it was revealed, rather it is applicable to other similar reasons and circumstances [i.e. its relevance and application to those other similar reasons and circumstances is indentified, clarified and explained by the upright and qualified scholars of Tafseer].

*Surah Ad-Duhaa is a Makkan Surah [i.e. revealed in Makkah] and was revealed before the Hijrah [i.e. before the Messenger migrated to Madeenah].

Hadeeth Five: Abdullaah bin Mas’ood [may Allaah be pleased with him] narrated: The Prophet [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] said to me, “Recite [the Qur’aan] to me.” I said, “O Allaah’s Messenger! Shall I recite [the Qur’aan] to you while it has been revealed to you?” He said, “Yes.”

So I recited Soorah An-Nisaa’, till I reached the Aayah: “How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these people?” [Aayah 41] He said, “Enough for the present.” I looked at him and behold! His eyes were overflowing with tears. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari’ Hadeeth Number 5050]

Few Points Derived From This Hadeeth

*To listen to the recitation of the Great Qur’aan.

*[Permissible] for the one listening to the Qur’aan to say to the reciter, “Enough for the present.”

*The virtue of Abdullaah Bin Mas’ood.

*To know a [specific] Aayah of the Qur’aan.

*The name given to the Surah – Surah An-Nisaa.

*To know the names of the Suras.

Hadeeth Six: Ubaydullaah bin Abdullaah bin Utbah said: “Ibn Abbaas said to me: ‘Do you know the last Soorah of the Qur’aan to be revealed in full?’ I said: ‘Yes’; “When there comes the Help of Allaah and the Conquest.”[Surah An-Nasr]. He said: ‘You are right.'” And in another narration, [Ibn Abbaas said]: “Do you know which Soorah,” but did not say “the last Soorah.” [Saheeh Muslim 3034]

Few Points Derived From This Hadeeth

*Knowledge about revelation of the last sections [or parts] of the Qur’aan.

*Knowledge about that which was revealed completely as one Soorah.

*Knowledge about a particular Soorah.

*Ibn Abbaas’s [radiyallaahu humaa] knowledge regarding the noble Qur’aan.

*With regards to revelation of the Qur’aan, some was revealed between three and seven Aayaat, some in a number of Aayaat, and some revealed completely such as Surah An-Nasr.

Hadeeth Seven: Abu Dharr [may Allaah be pleased with him] said: “Allaah’s Messenger [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him] did not even leave a bird flapping its wings in the sky except that he mentioned to us knowledge regarding it. [Reported by Imaam Ahmad in Al-Musnad 21439] Hadeeth]

Few Points Derived From This Hadeeth

*Indeed, the Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] clarified everything that the Sahaabah needed in relation to knowledge of that which is going to take place in future. Al-Mugheerah Ibn Shu’bah [radiyallaahu anhu] said: “Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] stood amongst us for a long time and then informed us about what will take place in his Ummah until the Day of Judgement. Some of us remembered it, and some of us forgot it. [Report Imaam Ahmad in Al-Musnad 18224]

*The Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] clarified everything that was unknown to the Sahaabah regarding the meanings of the [Aayaat of the] Qur’aan.

*The different levels of the Sahaabah in relation to their knowledge of the Messenger’s [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] Ahaadeeth.

*Knowledge regarding the different levels of the Mufassireen.

Hadeeth Eight: Ibn Abbaas narrated: Allaah’s Messenger [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] placed his hand on my shoulder and said, “O Allaah! Grant him understanding in religion and teach him the interpretation of the Qur’aan.” [Musnad Ahmad 2397

Few Points Derived From This Hadeeth

*Ibn Abbaas’s knowledge in the subject matter of Tafseer of the Qur’aan.

*The different levels of the Mufassireen.

*Explanation of the Great Qur’aan by the Sahaabah. (1)

Allaah Commanded The Prophet to Recite The Qur’an to Ubay: https://salaficentre.com/2022/11/03/allaah-commanded-the-prophet-to-recite-the-quran-to-ubay/

The First Command In The Qur’aan: https://salaficentre.com/2020/05/12/the-first-command-in-the-quraan/

[Ref 1: Source: An Excerpt from ‘Al-Arba’oona Hadeethaa Fee U’loomil Qur’aan’. pages 5 – 121]