Did Muhammad Live Up to the Test?

Question

When the Prophet reached home after his sojourn in the mountain cave, his wife noticedthat he was off-color, which was natural after all the excitement of his first encounter with the Angel Gabriel.

She asked him what was the matter as she started to wipe his face. She asked whether he had seen or heard anything new. He told her: "You remember what I told you about my dreams and the voice I used to hear when I awoke, which caused me some fear!


"Can you tell me when this companion of yours comes to you next time?" The Prophet's wife was referring to Angel Gabriel.
It was Gabriel who appeared and talked to me and made me read words which left me worried. He then told me that I am the Prophet of this nation. As I was coming back, I heard trees and stones saying: "Peace be to you, Messenger of God."

Khadijah said: "Rejoice! By God, I was certain that God would bring you only what is good. I certainly hope that you are the Prophet of this nation."


She continued to encourage him until he relaxed and ate. She then went to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who reassured her. He promised her most solemnly that if Muhammad was truly the Prophet who is mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel, "and he calls people to believe in his message while I am still alive, I will do my best in obedience to God's Messenger and will support him to the end."

There are several reports about the encouragement Waraqah gave to Khadijah and the Prophet. If we take them together, there were probably two or three meetings between the Prophet and Waraqah, one of which occurred when they met at the Ka`bah as both of them were doing the tawaf, or the circumambulation around the Ka`bah.

Waraqah reassured Muhammad and kissed his head. Then Waraqah died within a few days. The Prophet said of him: "I have seen in my dream the priest wearing silk clothes in heaven, because he believed in me." (Ibn Hisham)

The first few days must have been full of worry in the prophet's home. He needed every possible reassurance. It seems that Gabriel appeared to him more than once.

His wife Khadijah was certain that nothing evil could come to him. Her logical thinking led her to that conclusion. What she knew of the Prophet's character made her absolutely certain that what he saw and heard was genuine and came from a good source.

Her thoughtful mind led her to try to get more reassurance. She said to the Prophet: "Cousin, can you tell me when this companion of yours comes to you next time?" He agreed to do so.


The Prophet's wife took off her head cover infront of Gabriel and he immediately disappeared.
Informed of Gabriel's presence on his next visit, Khadijah said to the Prophet: "Cousin, sit on my left thigh."

When he did so, she asked him whether he still saw him. The Prophet said: "Yes."

She told the Prophet to mover over and sit on her right thigh. As he did so, the Prophet confirmed that he could still see Gabriel. She asked him to sit on her lap and he did so, again confirming that he soulc still see him.

She then took off her head-covering, while the Prophet still sat on her lap. At that moment, he told her he could see him no more. She said, "Rejoice, Cousin, and be firm. This is certainly an angel, not a devil."

It was her clear thinking that led her to try this method, realizing that an angel would not stay in a room where a man and his wife were in a closely intimate position. (Ibn Hisham 255)


Then followed a period during which the Angel Gabriel stopped coming to the Prophet. It seemed that it all stopped as suddenly as it had started. Now, no more visits by Gabriel and no more revelations. This worried the Prophet and he needed reassurance again.

There are no confirmed reports of the duration of this period during which the Prophet reveived no new revelations. One report puts it at two and a half years, but it is more likely that it was much shorter than that, lasting perhaps about a month or a few weeks. (Ibn Hisham 257)

The purpose was to allow the Prophet to have some time to himself, during which his new experience would sink in and he would be able to evaluate the new situation and its implications for his future role.

What he was embarking on was by no means easy. It required strength, fortitude and perseverance. Of all these he had plenty, but his task needed even more.

Moreover, the process of receiving revelation was by no means easy. No human being can tell what it meant, simply because no human being has ever experienced it, apart from those chosen elite whom God has honored so highly to make them prophets.

What is important to remember, however, is that the receipt of revelation was an actual contact between the Prophet, Muhammad, the human being, and an angel God sent specially to him to give him His own words. The process itself took several forms.


The revelation to the Prophet took different shapes ranging from an inspiration in a dream to a heavy ringing sound which was the hardest on the Prophet.
From the two hadiths, quoted earlier in this chapter, relating the first encounter between the Prophet and the Angel Gabriel, one can realize that revelation could be given to the Prophet while he was asleep or he was awake.

In that particular instance, both types might have occurred, first during the Prophet's sleep, and then confirmed when he was awake.


Alternatively, it could come through direct inspiration. In an authentic hadith, the Prophet is quoted to have said: "The Holy Spirit has given me this inspiration that no soul shall die until it has completed its life duration and received all its provisions. Be mindful, therefore, of your duty towards God and maintain propriety when you ask Him for what you want."

Or the revelation could be given to him while a ringing noise was heard. That was the most difficult form. It is suggested that with that ringing sound, his mind was at its most alert.

Or the angel could come to him in human form. In particular, he appeared in the form of one of the Prophet's companions, Dihyah ibn Khalifah, who was exceptionally handsome.

Or the Angel Gabriel could appear to Muhammad in his own shape, as an angel with wings.

Or finally, God could speak to him directly, either when he was awake, as on his night journey, or during his sleep as the Prophet has once reported:

"My Lord appeared to me in the most splendid form, and said: 'Over what do the Supreme Society dispute?'

I said I do not know. He put his palm on my chest and I felt its coolness and knowledge of everything became clear to me.

He said: 'Muhammad, over what do the Supreme Society dispute?'

I said: 'Over atonements.'

He said: 'What are they?'

I said: 'Ablution after what is disliked, moving forward to do what is good and watching for the time of prayer, one after the other. If a person does this, he is praised during his life and at his death. His sins will be wiped out and he will be like a newborn child.'" (At-Tirmidhi)

Aishah reported that when the Prophet received revelations, he always sweated, even on the coldest of days.


"As I was walking, I heard a voice from heaven. I lifted my eyes and I saw an angel sitting on a chair raised between heaven and earth. I sat down in terror and fell" Said the Prophet.
All this meant that the Prophet had to go through a transitional period during which he would taste part of the complete transformation that was going to take place in his life.

During this transitional period, there was no need for new revelations. Only reassurance was needed that what he had seen and heard was true and real. He was a Prophet chosen by God for a great task.

When the transitional period was over, revelations resumed. Jabir ibn Abdullah quotes the Prophet as saying:

"As I was walking, I heard a voice from heaven. I lifted my eyes to the sky and I saw the angel who had come to me in Hira' sitting on a chair raised between heaven and earth. I sat down in terror and fell. I then rushed home and said to my wife: 'Wrap me! Wrap me!' God revealed to me: 'O you enfolded [in your coverings] arise and warn…'(74:1-7)"

From now on, Muhammad was not only a Prophet, he was also a Messenger. From now on, he was to receive revelations without worrying interruptions.

Answer 1

As salaamu a'laikym, my friend.

Insha'Allah, yes, the Prophet Muhammad (sallaahu 'alaihi wasallaam) responded to the call of Allah, Subhanna wa Ta'ala, in such a manner as to not only become a prophet of Allah (swt) but to also leave us the teachings of the lived example of his life.

It is interesting how the story of Muhammad (saw), which should be well known by all Muslims at least, became a bit "distorted" in your telling and in some of the replies you received.

You corrected you earlier statement that when Muhammad (saw) returned home, his wife, Kadijah (radi Allah anha) notice he was "little off color" due to his experience with the angel Jibril (alaih salaam) by correctly recounting that when he ran home, terrified from that first experience and thinking that he may have lost his mind, he called out to her "Cover me" or "Wrap me!"

One of the replies stated that none of the prophets (alaihi salaam) will enter paradise before Muhammad (saw), yet from the Prophet (saw) and his "night journey", as he reported the same to his compainions shortly before the ummah left Mecca for Medina, the Prophet (saw) said that he had been transported to heaven/paradise and there he saw the prophets Ibrahim, Musa and Essa (alaihi salaam) and was instruicted to lead them in performing salaah.

You also seem to somewhat gloss over the humanity of the Prophet (saw), which lessens the value of his lived example to us and dangerously moves him toward being deified (made into a god, which would be blaspheme,may Allah (swt) forbid such!)

During his life time, the Prophet (saw) clearly experienced periods of self doubt, especially when a long period of time between revelations occured. He himself reported that he thought he may have offended Allah (swt). In the Holy Qur'an,
in subsequent surrahs (should one view the same in a chronological order of revelation) one sees that Allah (swt) in His Mercy and Kindness, reassures the Prophet (saw). This provideds us with an example of the constancy that we each need to develop in our ongoing and every growing relationship with Allah (swt), as well as the sense of trust we each need in the providential care of Allah (swt) for us.

One of the respondents makes the comment that Muhammad (saw) only lived for 23 years. Muhammad lived for 27 years after he had been called by Allah (swt) to prophethood. It is reported that the Prophet (saw) lived into his 60s (complete accuracy is difficult to ascertain due to varying manners of the calculation of years.

Insha'Allah, I could go on with this however, I think you see the point I am trying to reach.

It is imperative that we Muslims relate the life of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) to ourselves and to all others as accurately as possible, without altering, editing, adding to or distorting it.
It is also important that we don't assume to know why Allah, (swt) has done what He has done as none of us know the Mind of Allah (swt).
Other religions have, throughout the course of their development, failed to be as accurate as possible in the recounting of the life of the person(s) in whom they invest their faith and doing so has led to seemingly endless division and striffe amongst them. May Allah (swt) forbid that such should occur in Islam to any greater extent then it already has!
Insha'Allah, we also bear the responsibility to teach accurately so as to give such correct teachings to our non-Muslims brothers and sisters throughout the world so that they may arrive at a truer understanding of Islam for their own benefit and the benefit of all others.

Jazak'Allah khair for you efforts and your intentions in trying to reach out to and teach others as well as to express you sincere faith in Islam and your joy regarding the life of the Pophet Muhammad (saw).

May Allah, Subhanna wa Ta'ala, guide us all to the truth and keep on the straight path of Islam throughout our life time. May He guide us to become His trust worthy and loyal servants and may our service help to bring others to the truth and the light of Islam. Amin.

As salaamu 'alaikym warahmatullahi wabaraktuh, my brother and my friend.

Answer 2

Dear,

That's not a test. That's the WAHYU for the first verse of Quran. From the Sky. From God to prophet Muhammad through Gabriel. The first day of Quran. 10 years in Mecca and 13 years in Medina. Completed 23 years.

Answer 3

Thank the Lord! Praise be to the Lord!!
Merciful Lord Mohamed, Khadija & Fatima to help us with the example of their lifestyle which enable us to achieve the union with the Spirit!

Yes the Holy Prophet passed the test in flying colors!! Proof: His short life allowed him only 23 years and changed the shape of the Arab world fromm greedyness to Generosity.

Answer 4

if only Mohammed (s.a.w) was in the world today mankind wouldn't be facing as many problems as they do..
also it's nice to hear how many famous Non-muslim's people like Gandhi,Napolean mentioned the ways of the Prophet..
yep he passed test,we the ummah are lucky...considering how salat was precribed soo many times a day but was then put too 5 to make it easier for us,yet we still struggle to even perform 1 with jamat!

may allah guide us all..

Answer 5

Of course he passed the test! If Muhammad didn't pass the test, then who did??

Paradise is prohibitted for the prophets until Muhammad enters it. Do you know what this means? It means that Abraham, Moses and Jesus (and all the other prophets) cannot enter Paradise until Muhammad the Prophet of ALLAH enters it! Peace be upon him.

Answer 6

u know?i really love these informations that u give every time especially that i have no idea about it.so im learning.keep on.and thank u.peace.