EN9–12Story preview
The First Message
In the early 600s, Mecca was a busy town in western Arabia, surrounded by rough brown mountains and wide stretches of desert. Caravans arrived with leather, cloth, spices, and stories from distant places, while families gathered near the Kaaba, an ancient shrine respected by many Arabian tribes.
Muhammad ibn Abdullah was known in Mecca before his religious leadership began. Islamic sources describe him as honest and thoughtful, and many people trusted him with their goods and agreements, which mattered greatly in a trading city where reputation could be as valuable as gold.
Muhammad was married to Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a respected merchant whose business skill and good judgment were widely admired. She had employed him in trade before their marriage, and Islamic tradition presents their household as a place of loyalty, kindness, and careful conversation.
As Muhammad grew older, he sometimes spent time away from the crowded city, reflecting in the hills near Mecca. One important place was the cave of Hira, a small rocky shelter on a mountain later called Jabal al-Nur, meaning Mountain of Light.
Around the age of forty, according to Islamic belief, Muhammad experienced the first revelation in the cave of Hira. A revelation means a message believed to come from God, and in Islam these messages were delivered through Jibril, known in English as Gabriel.
Islamic tradition says that Jibril came to Muhammad and brought the beginning of a sacred message. Muslims believe this moment marked the start of the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, which they understand as God's word revealed over many years.
After leaving the cave, Islamic sources say Muhammad returned home to Khadijah, seeking comfort and reassurance. The scene is often remembered not as a moment of triumph, but as a very human moment of fear, tenderness, and trust inside a family home.
Khadijah listened carefully and responded with support. Islamic tradition says she reminded Muhammad of his good character: his care for relatives, his help for the needy, his honesty with guests, and his concern for people who had little protection.
