65/74.1. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4922 — Al-Muddaththir and Revelation
(74) Surat al-Muddathir (The One Covered up) (74) سورة الْمُدَّثِّرِ - بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Hadith About Al-Muddaththir and the Early Revelation
Sahih Bukhari : 4922
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4922
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، سَأَلْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَوَّلِ، مَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ. قَالَ {يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ} قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ {اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ} فَقَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ سَأَلْتُ جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضى الله عنهما عَنْ ذَلِكَ وَقُلْتُ لَهُ مِثْلَ الَّذِي قُلْتَ فَقَالَ جَابِرٌ لاَ أُحَدِّثُكَ إِلاَّ مَا حَدَّثَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " جَاوَرْتُ بِحِرَاءٍ، فَلَمَّا قَضَيْتُ جِوَارِي هَبَطْتُ فَنُودِيتُ فَنَظَرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ عَنْ شِمَالِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ أَمَامِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، وَنَظَرْتُ خَلْفِي فَلَمْ أَرَ شَيْئًا، فَرَفَعْتُ رَأْسِي فَرَأَيْتُ شَيْئًا، فَأَتَيْتُ خَدِيجَةَ فَقُلْتُ دَثِّرُونِي وَصُبُّوا عَلَىَّ مَاءً بَارِدًا ـ قَالَ ـ فَدَثَّرُونِي وَصَبُّوا عَلَىَّ مَاءً بَارِدًا قَالَ فَنَزَلَتْ {يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ * قُمْ فَأَنْذِرْ * وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ} ".
Yahya bin Abi Kathir Narrated from:
I asked Aba Salama bin `Abdur-Rahman about the first Sura revealed of the Qur'an. He replied "O you, wrapped-up (i.e. Al Muddaththir)." I said, "They say it was, 'Read, in the Name of your Lord Who created,' (i.e. Surat Al-`Alaq (the Clot)." On that, Abu Salama said, "I asked Jabir bin `Abdullah about that, saying the same as you have said, whereupon he said, 'I will not tell you except what Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had told us. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I was in seclusion in the cave of Hiram', and after I completed the limited period of my seclusion. I came down (from the cave) and heard a voice calling me. I looked to my right, but saw nothing. Then I looked up and saw something. So I went to Khadija (the Prophet's wife) and told her to wrap me up and pour cold water on me. So they wrapped me up and poured cold water on me." Then, 'O you, (Muhammad) wrapped up! Arise and warn,' (Surat Al Muddaththir) was revealed." (74.1)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4922In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 442USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 444
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4922
This Hadith is about the early revelation and the mention of Surah Al-Muddaththir. Abu Salama was asked about the first surah revealed, and he answered with the verse, O you wrapped up. When he was told that people say it was Read in the Name of your Lord, he replied by reporting what Jabir heard from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described being in seclusion in the cave of Hira. After he came down, he heard a voice, looked around, then looked up and saw something. He went to Khadija and asked to be wrapped and cooled with water. Then the verses of Al-Muddaththir were revealed, calling him to arise and warn and to magnify his Lord.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report presents Al-Muddaththir as the answer given by Abu Salama and Jabir in this discussion.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم only reported what he had experienced and what was revealed to him.
- The verses mentioned call to warning people and magnifying Allah.
- Khadija’s home appears in the narration as a place where the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sought covering and care.
