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Before receiving the divine message, Prophet Muhammad PBUH was deeply disturbed by the state of society in Makkah. The people around him were engaged in idol worship, injustice, and moral corruption. Prophet Muhammad PBUH felt a strong inner need to seek the truth and come closer to Allah SWT.
To fulfil this need, he would regularly leave the busy city of Makkah and travel to the Cave of Hira — a small cave on a mountain just outside the city. There, he would engage in Tahannuth, which means deep meditation and sincere worship of Allah SWT. He would sometimes spend days at a time in this cave, away from the noise and distractions of the world, reflecting and seeking closeness to his Creator.
This period of spiritual preparation was part of Allah SWT's plan to make Prophet Muhammad PBUH ready for the great responsibility of prophethood and the reception of divine revelation.
The most significant moment in Islamic history occurred in the Cave of Hira, in the month of Ramazan, in the year 610 CE. Prophet Muhammad PBUH was 40 years old at this time.
On the blessed night known as Lailatul-Qadr (the Night of Power), the angel Jibrail AS appeared before Prophet Muhammad PBUH and delivered the very first words of the Qur'an to him.
The first Surah revealed to Prophet Muhammad PBUH was Surah Alaq.
Reference: Surah Alaq (First Surah revealed) Context: The opening verses of Surah Alaq commanded Prophet Muhammad PBUH to recite in the name of his Lord and Creator — the One Who created human beings, the Most Generous, Who taught through the pen, and Who gave human beings knowledge of things they did not previously know. These verses introduced the most essential truths of the Islamic message: that Allah SWT is the Creator and the ultimate Source of all knowledge. They also began the mission of Prophet Muhammad PBUH as the final Messenger of Allah SWT to all of humanity.
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