The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 170
Seal of the Prophets - Volume I 170 hold? Is this message and salutation truly from God, or is it a hidden reflection of my own soul? These questions greatly perplexed the Holy Prophet sa , and it is mentioned in Ḥadīth that during these days the Prophet sa experienced such anxiety that many times he would climb to the top of a mountain and contemplate dropping himself, thus putting an end to his life. Upon every such instance, an angel of God would say, “Look here Muḥammad, withhold yourself, verily you are the Messenger of Allāh. ” Upon hearing this voice, the Holy Prophet sa would restrain himself, but whenever such a state of unease and restlessness would overtake him, he would again consider ending his life. 1 It is quite possible that the above mentioned Ḥadīth , is not to be taken in the literal sense. The actual purport may be that the Holy Prophet sa was under the apprehension that the viewing of that invisible angel might be a reflection of his own thoughts, or might be a trial from God. Thus, the Holy Prophet sa intended to humble his own soul and by vanquishing and overpowering it, was as if for the sake of Allāh, to slay it completely. In this case, to throw oneself from a mountain would be comprehended as a metaphor. Whatever the meaning may be, for the Holy Prophet sa , these days were days of trepidation. In this very state of anguish, one day, the Holy Prophet sa was returning home from the Cave of Ḥirā when suddenly he heard a voice, as if someone was addressing him. The Holy Prophet sa looked forward and behind, right and left, he looked in every direction but could not see anything. Ultimately, the Holy Prophet sa looked up and saw the very same angel he had encountered in the Cave of Ḥirā. He saw him sitting upon a magnificent chair which extended between the heaven and the earth. When the Holy Prophet sa witnessed this vision, he was frightened and quickly returned home dismayed, and said to Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra , دَثِّرُونِی دَثِّرُونِی , “Place a mantle over me! Place a mantle over me!” Khadījah ra hurriedly covered him with a mantle and the Holy Prophet sa lay down. As soon as the Prophet sa lay down, he heard a majestic voice: “O thou that has wrapped thyself with thy mantle! Arise and wake others at the name of God. And thy Lord do thou magnify. And thy heart do thou purify. 1 Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, Kitābu Bad’il-Waḥī, Bābu Minhu, Ḥadīth No. 4