An Outline of Early Islamic History — Page 9
9 Chapter 3 Call to Prophethood It was a Monday of the month of Ramazan. Muhammad was in prayer in the cave Hira. Suddenly an angel appeared before him and asked him to “Read out. ” Muhammad replied, “I cannot”. The angel then took hold of him in a tight embrace. Again he asked him to rea d out. The answer was the same. Then he embraced him a second time and then a third time and said. “Read out in the name of thy Lord who created man from a blood clot. Read out and thy Lord is of great honour. He taught with the pen, taught man what he knew not. ” After this the angel disappeared. Muhammad was over awed. With trembling heart he went home. He asked the lady Khadija to cover him up. When she did as asked, he told her of his strange experience. He said that he was in mighty fear. The good lady replied, “Fear not, be happy, God will not cause you any harm. For, you are kind to relations. You speak the truth, you bear the burdens of others. You possess virtues that have become lost. You respect your guests and you help all people in all right things. ”