The Holy Prophet of Islam Receives His Mission

"Hira" is a high and beautiful mountain that is situated
near the city of Mecca, and the cave, Hira, is a small cave
near the peak of this mountain.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.), before his
prophethood, from time to time used to go to the cave of
Hira, and in that quiet and secluded spot he would spend his
time in worship and reflection. At night, he used to stand on a
stone slab at the entrance of the cave and look out for a while
over the clear sky of Mecca and its multitudes of beautiful
stars.
He used to gaze at the splendor and grandeur of the
creation, then he would go into the cave and pray to the
Creator of this great world.
He would say, "O Lord, You did not create this great
world and the beautiful sun, and stars in vain. You have an
aim and a purpose for Your creation!"
It was a beautiful dawn and Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) was
praying inside that cave when he experienced the prophetic
glory with all his existence. Jibrail, the angel, had come and,
in his heavenly tones, he said, "0 Muhammad! Thou art now
God's Prophet. God has commanded you to save mankind
from polytheism, idolatry and misery, and to call them to the
freedom and grandeur of worship of the "One" and of Unity.
O Muhammad! Now thou art God's Prophet. Call people to
Islam."
Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) saw Jibrail and heard the message
which he had brought from God with all his being.
Then, with an illuminated heart, an aware conscience,
and full of certainty, he came down from Mount Hira and
went in the direction of home. Khadija, his affectionate
wife, opened the door for him and, on seeing his shining face,
became very pleased.
Muhammad (P.B.U.H.)- who had now become God's
Prophet... said to his wife, "I was on Mount Hira when I
beheld God's great angel, Jibrail, who said to me in his
heavenly voice.
'O Muhammad, behold, you are God's Prophet!
`Thy God has commanded that you save mankind from
polytheism, idolatry and misery and that you call them to the
freedom and grandeur of worship of the "One" and of Unity,'
`!An arduous task and difficult responsibility has been
placed on my shoulders." he said.
Khadija. that great lady, said to her trustworthy and
truthful husband, "I already knew that you would become a
Prophet of God, and I was waiting for such a glorious day.
The Prophet `Isa gave the tiding of your Prophethood.
`Yes, God has placed a weighty responsibility on your
shoulders; I testify to the Oneness of God, and believe in your
Prophethood, and become a Muslim, and in all
circumstances I am your supporter and helper."
Imam `Ali, who was an aware and intelligent boy,
believed in the Prophethood of Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) and was
the first to become a Muslim.
For some time the number of Muslims was not more
than these three Muslims, but with the high ambition and
heavenly determination which they had, they decided to fight
the world of idolatry and irreligion. At the start, only these
three people used to stand for prayer and, in front of
astonished eyes, they would beseech and speak to the One
True God.
A man relates, "One day, I was sitting in the Holy
Mosque of Mecca. I saw a handsome man enter the mosque,
he threw a glance at the sky and stood still, a youth stood on
his right side, and then a woman came and stood behind
them.
"For a while they stood still, saying something, then they
bent, stood up again, sat down and put their heads on the
ground.
"I was astonished and said to the person sitting next to
me, `Abbas, who are these three people? What are they
doing?'
"The handsome man standing in front is Muhammad,
my nephew', said Abbas. "That woman is Khadija, his
faithful wife. The youth is `Ali, another nephew of mine.
Muhammad says that God has selected him for
Prophethood. The woman and the youth both believe in him
and have accepted his religion. Other than these three people,
no one has accepted their religion.
"`Muhammad says the religion of Islam is for all the
people of the world and they will quickly accept this religion
and great numbers will become Muslim."'
Our Holy Prophet was made Prophet on the 27th of the
month of Rajab. This day is called the Day of Mab'ath. Our
Holy Prophet was 40 years old at that time.