1/73. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 161b — Revelation Resumes After a Pause
The beginning of the revelation to the messenger of Allah (saws)
Hadith About the Pause in Revelation and Its Return
Sahih Muslim : 161b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 161b
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ شُعَيْبِ بْنِ اللَّيْثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ جَدِّي، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، يَقُولُ أَخْبَرَنِي جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " ثُمَّ فَتَرَ الْوَحْىُ عَنِّي فَتْرَةً فَبَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي " ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مِثْلَ حَدِيثِ يُونُسَ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " فَجُثِثْتُ مِنْهُ فَرَقًا حَتَّى هَوَيْتُ إِلَى الأَرْضِ " . قَالَ وَقَالَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ وَالرُّجْزُ الأَوْثَانُ قَالَ ثُمَّ حَمِيَ الْوَحْىُ بَعْدُ وَتَتَابَعَ
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
It is narrated on the authority of Jabir b. Abdullah that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) says: The wahi was intermitted for me for a small span of time and while I was walking, and then the hadith like the one narrated by Yunus was transmitted but with the exception of these words: I was terror-stricken till I fell on the ground. Abu Salama said: Defilement means idols. After this the revelation was speeded up and followed rapidly.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 161bIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 312USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 305
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 161b
This hadith is a close narration of the report about the pause in revelation. The Prophet said that the wahi stopped for a small span of time. While walking, he then experienced the event like the narration of Yunus, with the added wording that he was terror-stricken until he fell to the ground. Abu Salama also explained that “defilement” means idols. The report ends by saying that revelation then became strong and followed rapidly. For people searching for a hadith about revelation stopped or revelation resumed, this narration gives a focused account of fear, divine command, and the renewed flow of wahi.
What we learn from this hadith
- The pause in revelation is mentioned as a limited period in this report.
- Seeing the angel brought intense fear to the Prophet.
- The word “defilement” is explained in the narration as idols.
- The report says revelation became rapid after this event.
