Being an unlettered person @ not having learned as to how to read or write, the Prophet was obviously alarmed and at a loss on being asked to 'read' by Jibreel Alaihis Salam who came to the Blessed Prophet in the form of a bright, shining light and illuminated the small dark cave (photo) high above the mountains of Makkah!
Imagine how it must have been for the blessed Rasul Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam?
Naturally, he was stressed out by such an experience! Who wouldn't?
As the Prophet hurried down the mountain and rushed home shivering to seek the solace and comfort of his wife Sayyidatina Khadijah Radhiallahu Anha, his wife reassured the Prophet that he being who he is will not be burdened by God Almighty and that he should rest assured that God will not abandon him to shoulder the burden of prophet-hood all by himself.
She was the first to believe in him being the Final Messenger of Allah. The next to believe in him was Sayyidina Ali ibni Abu Talib, his cousin. Followed by his closest friend and companion Sayyidina Abu Bakar.
The Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam continued to receive the Revelations of the Al Qur'an Al Karim through a period of 23 long years. 13 of them were received during his stay in Makkah and the rest of the Final Revelations were received by the Blessed Messenger during his 10 years in Madinah.
The scholars of Sirah (Prophet’s biography) have mentioned the names of the Sahabah @ Companions of the Prophet who used to write down the Wahyu of Allahu Ta'ala @ The Revelations of the Al Qur'an or the letters of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
They were:
- Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq,
- ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab,
- ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan,
- ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib,
- al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwaam,
- ‘Aamir ibn Fuhayrah,
- ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas,
- Ubayy ibn Ka’b,
- ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Arqam,
- Thaabit ibn Qays ibn Shammaas,
- Hanzalah ibn al-Rabee’ al-Usaydi,
- al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah,
- ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Rawaahah,
- Khaalid ibn al-Waleed,
- Khaalid ibn Sa’eed ibn al-‘Aas (whom it was said was the first one to write down anything for him),
- Mu’aawiyah ibn Abi Sufyaan and
- Zayd ibn Thaabit and many others totaling 42 Sahabah altogether.
Thus the noble tasks of the scribes who were with the Blessed Messenger of Allahu Ta'ala helped preserve the revelations of the Blessed Al Quran and made copies of the Final Guidance from our Lord Almighty to be the beacon of truth that shines forth to this very day bringing salvation to all those seeking for it.
Writing is a time honored tradition of preserving human history and those who write for the sake of sharing truthful information based on facts continue a legacy of virtue that elevates us who are members of the humankind to a stage that differentiates us from the other creations of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
Through our efforts in writing for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, we continue to strive in the Way of the Blessed Prophet and spread his Dakwah to all those who read our articles and learn about Islam, everyone's birthright.
If you have the means and abilities to write and publish online for the global audience to learn about Islam, then please waste no time in doing so.
Leave a legacy of beneficial writings for the world to learn as a mark of our presence here on Earth. Insya Allah it might just be our redeeming effort to enjoin what's right and forbid the wrongs.
For those of you who would like to learn more about the story of Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alaihi Wassallam, come listen to Brother Yusuf Islam @ former Cat Stevens reading the Sirah of the Greatest Messenger of Allah:
