Two miles from Makkah, on a mountain called jab ul-Nur, there is a cave, called Hira. It is here that our beloved Prophet (saw) began to seek refuge, when he wanted time alone to contemplate about life. He spent the month of Ramadan in the cave, then return to Makkah, circulate the ka’bah and finally return home. His wife Khatija (ra), would send him provisions. At the age of forty, it was in this cave that Muhammad (saw) received divine revelation from almighty Allah (swa). The first verses were from Surah Al Alaq:

“Read in the name of your Lord, the Creator. He Who created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Bounteous. Who taught by the Pen, taught man what he knew not.” [96:1-5]

In narration from Abu Hurairah (ra) who states that the Prophet (saw) was once on Mount Hira with a few Sahabah (ra) when the mountain started to tremor. The Prophet (saw) addressed it saying, “ Be still, O Hira because on your back today are none other than a Nabi, a Siddeeq and martyrs.” With the Prophet (s.a.w.) that day was Abu Bakr (r.a.), Umar (r.a.), Uthman (r.a.), Ali (r.a.), Talha (r.a.), Zubair (r.a.) and Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (r.a.).

Furthermore, Abdullah bin Abbas (ra) narrates that the Prophet (saw) climbed up Mount Safa when Allah (swt) revealed the verse in Surah Shu’ara:

“And warn your tribe (O Muhammad) of near kindred.” [26:214]

He (saw) then started to call out every family and every household by name, preching the oneness of Allah (swa).