1 00:00:00,020 --> 00:00:04,019 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:04,019 --> 00:00:09,460 Mawaddah Association presents: 3 00:00:09,460 --> 00:00:12,460 "It Happened in Ramadan" 4 00:00:12,460 --> 00:00:15,779 By Dr. Abd al-Rahman Ra'fat al-Basha. 5 00:00:15,779 --> 00:00:18,980 "The Birth of a New World" 6 00:00:18,980 --> 00:00:23,839 I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed. 7 00:00:23,839 --> 00:00:26,839 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 8 00:00:26,839 --> 00:00:31,839 “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.” (2:185) 9 00:00:31,839 --> 00:00:37,840 “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.” (2:185) 10 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,840 In Ramadan, thirteen years before the Hijrah, 11 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,840 and most likely on the twenty-fourth of this blessed month, 12 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:52,840 this planet Earth was blessed with the most magnificent moment of its existence, 13 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,840 and witnessed the greatest event ever to take place upon its surface. 14 00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:00,939 That event was a decisive turning point in the entire history of mankind, 15 00:01:00,939 --> 00:01:04,939 and heralded the birth of a new world. 16 00:01:04,939 --> 00:01:09,219 On that radiant, blessed day in the span of time, 17 00:01:09,219 --> 00:01:15,219 the Magnificent God, the Compeller, the Supreme, Master of the Kingdom, bestowed His favor; 18 00:01:15,219 --> 00:01:19,219 He bestowed His favor upon this small planet Earth 19 00:01:19,219 --> 00:01:21,219 and distinguished it with His honor. 20 00:01:21,219 --> 00:01:25,219 From among all creation, He chose a Messenger from their midst, 21 00:01:25,219 --> 00:01:28,219 to recite unto them the verses of Allah, 22 00:01:28,219 --> 00:01:31,219 to teach them the Book and wisdom, 23 00:01:31,219 --> 00:01:34,219 to bring them out of darkness into the light, 24 00:01:34,219 --> 00:01:38,219 and to guide them along the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy. 25 00:01:38,219 --> 00:01:40,290 And for this glorious day, 26 00:01:40,290 --> 00:01:43,290 there is a story that shall endure throughout time, 27 00:01:43,290 --> 00:01:46,290 etched into the memory of eternity. 28 00:01:46,290 --> 00:01:53,290 This story begins when Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib came to prefer seclusion 29 00:01:53,290 --> 00:01:55,290 and solitude was made beloved to him, 30 00:01:55,290 --> 00:02:00,290 so that nothing was dearer to him than being alone. 31 00:02:00,290 --> 00:02:04,290 He would go to the Cave of Hira with his provisions, 32 00:02:04,290 --> 00:02:09,289 engaging in tahannuth—devotional worship—there for a number of nights, 33 00:02:09,289 --> 00:02:13,289 until his provisions were exhausted and he longed for his family. 34 00:02:13,289 --> 00:02:17,289 He would then return to his wife, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, 35 00:02:17,289 --> 00:02:19,289 replenish his provisions for a new stay, 36 00:02:20,289 --> 00:02:23,289 and return to his seclusion and worship. 37 00:02:23,289 --> 00:02:29,509 Allah willed to prepare the soul of His noble Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 38 00:02:29,509 --> 00:02:33,509 to receive the weighty word that He was about to cast upon him. 39 00:02:33,509 --> 00:02:36,580 Thus, He began by granting him true dreams; 40 00:02:36,580 --> 00:02:41,580 he would never see a dream except that it came true like the breaking of the dawn. 41 00:02:41,580 --> 00:02:45,900 He remained in that state for as long as Allah willed. 42 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:48,900 Whenever he went out to relieve himself, 43 00:02:48,900 --> 00:02:51,900 he would walk far away until the houses of Makkah disappeared from view, 44 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:56,900 going deep into its mountain passes and valley bottoms. 45 00:02:56,900 --> 00:03:00,900 Not a stone or tree did he pass by except that it would say, 46 00:03:00,900 --> 00:03:03,900 "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah." 47 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:06,900 "Peace be upon you, O Messenger of Allah." 48 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:13,930 He would look around—to his right, to his left, and behind him— 49 00:03:13,930 --> 00:03:16,930 and see nothing but trees and stones. 50 00:03:16,930 --> 00:03:19,930 The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, continued 51 00:03:19,930 --> 00:03:24,930 in this manner, seeing and hearing such things for as long as Allah willed. 52 00:03:24,930 --> 00:03:29,150 It was his custom, whenever the crescent of Ramadan appeared, 53 00:03:29,150 --> 00:03:32,150 to spend the entire month in retreat at the Cave of Hira, 54 00:03:32,150 --> 00:03:34,150 in devoted worship and spiritual contemplation. 55 00:03:34,150 --> 00:03:38,150 Once he had completed his month and finished his retreat, 56 00:03:38,150 --> 00:03:42,150 he would first head to the Ka'bah before entering his home, 57 00:03:42,150 --> 00:03:46,150 circumambulating it seven times, or as much as Allah willed, 58 00:03:46,150 --> 00:03:49,150 and then return to his house and family. 59 00:03:49,150 --> 00:03:53,379 In Ramadan, thirteen years before the Hijrah, 60 00:03:53,379 --> 00:03:57,379 the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 61 00:03:57,379 --> 00:04:00,379 was observing his retreat as was his custom in Ramadan. 62 00:04:00,379 --> 00:04:04,379 Suddenly, the Truth came upon him while he was in the Cave of Hira. 63 00:04:04,379 --> 00:04:08,379 The Angel came to him and said, "Read!" 64 00:04:08,379 --> 00:04:11,439 The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, 65 00:04:11,439 --> 00:04:13,439 "I cannot read." 66 00:04:14,439 --> 00:04:16,569 The Angel seized him 67 00:04:16,569 --> 00:04:19,569 and pressed him hard until he could bear it no longer, 68 00:04:19,569 --> 00:04:22,569 then released him and said, "Read!" 69 00:04:22,569 --> 00:04:25,569 He replied, "I cannot read." 70 00:04:25,569 --> 00:04:28,699 He seized him and pressed him a second time, 71 00:04:28,699 --> 00:04:31,699 until he could bear it no longer, 72 00:04:31,699 --> 00:04:34,699 then released him and said, "Read!" 73 00:04:34,699 --> 00:04:37,730 He replied, "I cannot read." 74 00:04:37,730 --> 00:04:40,889 He seized him and pressed him a third time, 75 00:04:40,889 --> 00:04:42,889 until he could bear it no longer, 76 00:04:42,889 --> 00:04:45,889 then released him and said to him: 77 00:04:45,889 --> 00:04:49,889 “Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth,” (96:1) 78 00:04:49,889 --> 00:04:52,889 “Createth man from a clot.” (96:2) 79 00:04:52,889 --> 00:04:55,889 "Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous, 80 00:04:55,889 --> 00:04:58,889 Who taught by the pen." 81 00:04:58,889 --> 00:05:02,889 “Teacheth man that which he knew not.” (96:5) 82 00:05:02,889 --> 00:05:05,139 At that moment, 83 00:05:05,139 --> 00:05:08,139 the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, returned 84 00:05:08,139 --> 00:05:10,139 to his wife Khadijah, 85 00:05:10,139 --> 00:05:13,139 his heart trembling with fear from the terrifying sight he had seen 86 00:05:13,139 --> 00:05:15,139 and the intensity of what he had heard. 87 00:05:15,139 --> 00:05:18,430 Adding to his awe and trembling, 88 00:05:18,430 --> 00:05:21,430 scarcely had he reached the middle of the mountain 89 00:05:21,430 --> 00:05:25,430 when he heard a voice from heaven saying: 90 00:05:25,430 --> 00:05:26,430 "O Muhammad! 91 00:05:26,430 --> 00:05:28,430 You are the Messenger of Allah, 92 00:05:28,430 --> 00:05:30,430 and I am Gabriel." 93 00:05:30,430 --> 00:05:33,430 He raised his head toward the sky to see, 94 00:05:33,430 --> 00:05:37,430 and there was Gabriel in the form of a man with his feet set evenly 95 00:05:37,430 --> 00:05:39,430 across the horizon of the sky, 96 00:05:39,430 --> 00:05:41,430 saying: 97 00:05:41,430 --> 00:05:43,430 "You are the Messenger of Allah, 98 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:45,430 and I am Gabriel." 99 00:05:45,430 --> 00:05:47,529 The Prophet stood looking up at him, 100 00:05:47,529 --> 00:05:50,529 unable to move forward or backward. 101 00:05:50,529 --> 00:05:54,529 He began to turn his face away across the horizons of the sky, 102 00:05:54,529 --> 00:05:57,529 but no matter which direction he looked, 103 00:05:57,529 --> 00:06:00,620 he saw him just the same. 104 00:06:00,620 --> 00:06:03,620 Then Gabriel departed from the Messenger, 105 00:06:03,620 --> 00:06:06,620 and the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, set off 106 00:06:06,620 --> 00:06:07,620 to his family. 107 00:06:07,620 --> 00:06:11,910 The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, returned 108 00:06:11,910 --> 00:06:13,910 to his wife Khadijah, 109 00:06:13,910 --> 00:06:16,910 his neck muscles trembling, as he said: 110 00:06:16,910 --> 00:06:18,910 "Cover me! Cover me!" 111 00:06:18,910 --> 00:06:23,170 So they covered him until his fear subsided. 112 00:06:23,170 --> 00:06:26,170 The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, then told 113 00:06:26,170 --> 00:06:28,170 Khadijah the news, 114 00:06:28,170 --> 00:06:29,170 saying, 115 00:06:29,170 --> 00:06:31,170 "I fear for myself." 116 00:06:31,170 --> 00:06:33,170 She said to him, 117 00:06:33,170 --> 00:06:34,170 "Never! 118 00:06:34,170 --> 00:06:35,170 Glad tidings! 119 00:06:35,170 --> 00:06:38,170 By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. 120 00:06:38,170 --> 00:06:40,170 You maintain ties of kinship, 121 00:06:40,170 --> 00:06:42,170 you speak the truth, 122 00:06:42,170 --> 00:06:44,170 you host your guests generously, 123 00:06:44,170 --> 00:06:47,389 and you assist those afflicted by misfortunes of life." 124 00:06:47,389 --> 00:06:51,389 Khadijah then accompanied the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, 125 00:06:51,389 --> 00:06:54,389 until she brought him to Waraqah ibn Nawfal. 126 00:06:54,389 --> 00:06:57,389 He was a man who had embraced Christianity during the pre-Islamic period of ignorance (Jahiliyyah); 127 00:06:57,389 --> 00:06:59,389 he used to write the Arabic script, 128 00:06:59,389 --> 00:07:02,389 and would copy from the Gospel in Hebrew. 129 00:07:02,389 --> 00:07:05,389 He was an elderly man who had lost his sight. 130 00:07:05,389 --> 00:07:08,490 Khadijah said to him, 131 00:07:08,490 --> 00:07:09,490 "O my cousin! 132 00:07:09,490 --> 00:07:11,490 Listen to your nephew." 133 00:07:11,490 --> 00:07:12,680 Waraqah said, 134 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,680 "O my nephew, what have you seen?" 135 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:20,779 The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, informed him of what he had seen. 136 00:07:20,779 --> 00:07:22,779 Waraqah said, 137 00:07:22,779 --> 00:07:25,810 "This is the very same Namus (Angel of Revelation) that was sent down upon Moses! 138 00:07:25,810 --> 00:07:28,810 Would that I were a young man during your mission! 139 00:07:28,810 --> 00:07:32,810 Would that I might be alive when your people drive you out!" 140 00:07:32,810 --> 00:07:36,839 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, asked, 141 00:07:36,839 --> 00:07:38,839 "Will they drive me out?" 142 00:07:38,839 --> 00:07:39,839 Waraqah replied, 143 00:07:39,839 --> 00:07:40,839 "Yes. 144 00:07:40,839 --> 00:07:45,839 Never has a man brought what you have brought except that he was met with hostility. 145 00:07:45,839 --> 00:07:47,839 And if your day reaches me, 146 00:07:47,839 --> 00:07:50,839 I will support you with mighty assistance." 147 00:07:50,839 --> 00:07:53,029 Thereafter, the revelation continued to unfold, 148 00:07:53,029 --> 00:07:58,029 with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, having full faith in his Lord, 149 00:07:58,029 --> 00:08:01,029 affirming the truth of what came from Him, 150 00:08:01,029 --> 00:08:04,029 and preparing himself to shoulder the burden Allah placed upon him, 151 00:08:04,029 --> 00:08:07,029 whether people were pleased or displeased. 152 00:08:07,029 --> 00:08:09,029 For prophethood carries heavy burdens, 153 00:08:09,029 --> 00:08:12,029 which none can undertake nor endure 154 00:08:12,029 --> 00:08:15,029 except those of resolute strength and determination. 155 00:08:15,029 --> 00:08:20,290 The righteous and pure Khadijah bint Khuwaylid believed in Allah 156 00:08:20,290 --> 00:08:25,290 and affirmed the truth of what the Messenger, peace be upon him, brought from his Lord, 157 00:08:25,290 --> 00:08:32,320 and through her, Allah eased for His Prophet the rejection and denial he faced. 158 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:37,509 Soon thereafter, however, the revelation to the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, ceased for a time; 159 00:08:37,509 --> 00:08:41,509 Gabriel delayed and no longer came. 160 00:08:41,509 --> 00:08:44,509 The Prophet grieved over this with the deepest sorrow 161 00:08:44,509 --> 00:08:47,509 and suffered from it intensely, 162 00:08:47,509 --> 00:08:50,509 to the point that the vast earth seemed narrow to him. 163 00:08:50,509 --> 00:08:54,509 What added to his anguish and grief 164 00:08:54,509 --> 00:08:57,509 was the mockery and ridicule of the polytheists, 165 00:08:57,509 --> 00:09:02,509 and their saying, "His Lord has forsaken him and detests him." 166 00:09:02,509 --> 00:09:05,509 So profound was his sorrow over the cessation of the revelation 167 00:09:05,509 --> 00:09:09,509 that he would go out to Mount Thabir at times, 168 00:09:09,509 --> 00:09:12,509 and to Mount Hira at others, 169 00:09:12,509 --> 00:09:15,509 driven by extreme distress to throw himself from a cliff. 170 00:09:15,509 --> 00:09:20,509 Yet whenever he reached the summit of a mountain intending to cast himself down, 171 00:09:20,509 --> 00:09:23,509 Gabriel, peace be upon him, would appear to him 172 00:09:23,509 --> 00:09:28,509 and say, "O Muhammad, you are truly the Messenger of Allah." 173 00:09:28,509 --> 00:09:32,610 Thereupon his anxiety would be calmed, his heart set at ease, 174 00:09:32,610 --> 00:09:34,610 and he would turn back from his intent. 175 00:09:34,610 --> 00:09:38,830 While the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, 176 00:09:38,830 --> 00:09:41,830 was on his way toward those mountains, 177 00:09:41,830 --> 00:09:45,830 enduring the deep distress caused by the pause in revelation, 178 00:09:45,830 --> 00:09:49,830 with heavy thoughts weighing upon his soul, 179 00:09:49,830 --> 00:09:51,830 relief suddenly came to him. 180 00:09:51,830 --> 00:09:54,830 He heard a voice from the sky, 181 00:09:54,830 --> 00:09:58,830 and he, peace and blessings be upon him, halted, overwhelmed by the sound. 182 00:09:58,830 --> 00:10:00,830 He raised his head, 183 00:10:00,830 --> 00:10:04,830 and there was Gabriel seated upon a throne between heaven and earth, 184 00:10:04,830 --> 00:10:07,830 sitting cross-legged upon it, saying: 185 00:10:07,830 --> 00:10:11,830 "O Muhammad! You are truly the Messenger of Allah, 186 00:10:11,830 --> 00:10:13,830 and I am Gabriel." 187 00:10:13,830 --> 00:10:17,830 Then Gabriel came to him with the words of Allah, Exalted is His majesty: 188 00:10:17,830 --> 00:10:21,830 "By the morning brightness, and by the night when it grows still, 189 00:10:21,830 --> 00:10:25,830 “Thy Lord hath not forsaken thee nor doth He hate thee,” (93:3) 190 00:10:25,830 --> 00:10:30,830 “And verily the latter portion will be better for thee than the former,” (93:4) 191 00:10:30,830 --> 00:10:34,830 “And verily thy Lord will give unto thee so that thou wilt be content.” (93:5) 192 00:10:34,830 --> 00:10:38,830 Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter? 193 00:10:38,830 --> 00:10:45,830 And He found you lost and guided you, 194 00:10:45,830 --> 00:10:50,830 and He found you poor and made you self-sufficient." 195 00:10:50,830 --> 00:10:54,830 “Therefor the orphan oppress not,” (93:9) 196 00:10:54,830 --> 00:10:59,830 “Therefor the beggar drive not away,” (93:10) 197 00:10:59,830 --> 00:11:05,830 “Therefor of the bounty of thy Lord be thy discourse.” (93:11) 198 00:11:05,830 --> 00:11:10,149 This Surah was a touch of tenderness, 199 00:11:10,149 --> 00:11:12,149 a breeze of mercy, 200 00:11:12,149 --> 00:11:14,149 and an embrace of divine love, 201 00:11:14,149 --> 00:11:19,149 encompassing the noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. 202 00:11:19,149 --> 00:11:23,149 It was the gentle hand that wiped away his pain 203 00:11:23,149 --> 00:11:27,149 and poured upon him the cool comfort of tranquility and certainty. 204 00:11:27,149 --> 00:11:33,340 Despite the immense weight the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, experienced 205 00:11:33,340 --> 00:11:36,340 from the intensity and burden of the revelation, 206 00:11:36,340 --> 00:11:39,340 he would constantly yearn for it and eagerly anticipate it. 207 00:11:39,340 --> 00:11:42,409 Abu Arwa al-Dawsi narrated that he said: 208 00:11:42,409 --> 00:11:46,409 "I saw the revelation descending upon the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 209 00:11:46,409 --> 00:11:48,409 while he was upon his riding camel; 210 00:11:48,409 --> 00:11:51,409 She would strain and twist her forelegs 211 00:11:51,409 --> 00:11:54,409 until I thought her leg bones might snap; 212 00:11:54,409 --> 00:11:56,409 sometimes she would kneel down, 213 00:11:56,409 --> 00:12:00,409 and sometimes she would stand firm as a peg until the revelation lifted from him, 214 00:12:00,409 --> 00:12:02,409 due to the sheer weight of the divine inspiration, 215 00:12:02,409 --> 00:12:06,409 while sweat poured from him like pearls. 216 00:12:06,409 --> 00:12:11,820 Revelation used to come to the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, 217 00:12:11,820 --> 00:12:13,820 in two distinct ways. 218 00:12:13,820 --> 00:12:16,820 On the authority of al-Harith ibn Hisham, who asked: 219 00:12:16,820 --> 00:12:18,820 "O Messenger of Allah, 220 00:12:18,820 --> 00:12:20,820 how does the revelation come to you?" 221 00:12:20,820 --> 00:12:23,820 The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, replied: 222 00:12:23,820 --> 00:12:27,820 "Sometimes it comes to me like the ringing of a bell, 223 00:12:27,820 --> 00:12:29,820 and that is the hardest on me; 224 00:12:29,820 --> 00:12:33,820 then it departs from me after I have fully retained what he said. 225 00:12:33,820 --> 00:12:37,820 And sometimes the angel takes the form of a man and speaks to me, 226 00:12:37,820 --> 00:12:40,019 and I comprehend what he says." 227 00:12:40,019 --> 00:12:44,019 It was narrated from 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said: 228 00:12:44,019 --> 00:12:48,019 "I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 229 00:12:48,019 --> 00:12:52,019 receiving revelation on an intensely cold day, 230 00:12:52,019 --> 00:12:57,019 and when it departed from him, his forehead would be dripping with sweat." 231 00:12:57,019 --> 00:12:59,139 And on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas, who said: 232 00:12:59,139 --> 00:13:02,139 "Whenever revelation descended upon 233 00:13:02,139 --> 00:13:04,139 the Prophet, peace be upon him, 234 00:13:04,139 --> 00:13:06,139 he would endure great hardship from its intensity, 235 00:13:06,139 --> 00:13:10,139 moving his lips rapidly to retain it so that he would not forget it." 236 00:13:10,139 --> 00:13:12,139 So Allah revealed verses regarding that to him. 237 00:13:31,139 --> 00:13:35,139 Revelation remained the provision for the Messenger, peace be upon him, 238 00:13:35,139 --> 00:13:38,139 sustaining him through the hardships of the path, 239 00:13:38,139 --> 00:13:43,139 and a shade he sought refuge in whenever scorched by the heat of rejection, 240 00:13:43,139 --> 00:13:45,139 as well as heavenly aid 241 00:13:45,139 --> 00:13:48,139 with which he confronted cunning, plots, and harm, 242 00:13:48,139 --> 00:13:52,139 and a guide directing him to the straight path. 243 00:13:52,139 --> 00:13:54,240 This divine revelation continued 244 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:58,240 until Allah perfected their religion for the Muslims, 245 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,240 completed His favor upon them, 246 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,240 approved Islam as their religion, 247 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:08,240 and called their Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, back to Himself. 248 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:11,500 May Allah reward our Prophet Muhammad on our behalf 249 00:14:11,500 --> 00:14:14,500 and on behalf of humanity with the best of rewards, 250 00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:16,529 for he conveyed the message, 251 00:14:16,529 --> 00:14:18,529 fulfilled the trust, 252 00:14:18,529 --> 00:14:20,529 gave sincere counsel to the Ummah, 253 00:14:20,529 --> 00:14:24,529 and departed to his Lord, well-pleased and pleasing to Him.