As Prophet (PBUH) reached the age of forty, he started retiring frequently into cave Hira.

One day Hazrat

Jibrael (R.A) appeared before him and asked him to read while he was meditating. Prophet (PBUH)
replied that he could not read. Jibrael squeezed him and again asked to read. Prophet (PBUH) again
replied that he could not. After being asked and released for the third time, Prophet (PBUH) him what to
read? Jibrael (R.A) then recited the first four verses of Surah Alaq. “Read in the name of your Lord, who
created you out of a clot of congealed blood. Proclaim that the Lord is most Bountiful. He who taught
the use of pen which he knew not”. Prophet (PBUH) repeated these words and they were imprinted on
his mind.

From this time onwards, Prophet (PBUH) continued to receive revelations throughout the rest of
his life. There were some unique modes of revelation of Quran. First one was that, Hazrat Jibrael (R.A)
would come before him either in a form of man or in his original form and would inspire in his heart, the
words of revelations. Secondly, Prophet (PBUH) would see true dreams in which Allah showed him the
message to be preached. Divine sounds was another mode, in which Prophet (PBUH) would hear the
sound of bells ringing or bees buzzing and at the end, he would hear the revelations. Lastly, he was
granted the honor to have a conversation with Allah several times in which the Holy message was
delivered. Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “Revelations come to me sometimes as a ringing of a bell and that
is hardest to me, then he (angel) leaves me and I remember from him what he says; sometimes the
angel comes in shape of man and he talks to me and I remember what he says.”

Whenever a revelation came, Prophet (PBUH) experienced different sensations. His body weight
would increase tremendously; he would perspire in cold or would shiver in the impact. Hazrat Ayesha
(R.A) said: “I saw revelation come upon him in severest cold and when that condition was over,
perspiration ran down his forehead.” A companion relates that he was sitting with his leg under the leg
of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and a revelation came at the instant. He felt as if his leg was about to be crushed
under the weight of Prophet’s (PBUH) leg.

The revelations are categorized as Makki and Madni surahs. Makki surahs contain the
fundamentals of faith, stories of the past communities and their messengers and consolation for
Prophet (PBUH). The examples are Surah Zilzal, Surah Duha and Surah Qariyah. Verses were also related
to the current activities of the Prophet (PBUH) e.g. Surah Duha was revealed to console Prophet (PBUH).
While Surah Anfal was linked to the battle of Badr. They were short, had poetic and rhyming tone.
Madni surahs dealt with the ruler’s conduct of a fast growing Muslim community. They guide Muslims
about moral ethics and personal behaviors. They had quite lengthy chapters and are in Hashimite
Arabic. The examples are Surah Al Rehman, Surah An-Nisa and Surah Baqarah.