Revelation ceased for a period of time – Historians differ on its length, but the most feasible of their views is forty days – to increase the longing of the Messenger, peace be upon him, for it; and that is exactly what happened. The situation became so intense for him, peace be upon him, that every time he came to a mountain peak he felt the urge to fling himself off, fearing that Allah Almighty may have severed His relationship after showing him the greatest of blessings. The blessing of choosing him to be the connector between Himself and His creation. So an angel would appear before him proclaiming: “You are truly the Messenger of Allah.” This would calm him and he would desist from his intention, peace and blessings be upon him. This continued until Allah Almighty wished to reveal the light of Islam to all existence, so revelation returned to him.

On an occasion whilst he, peace be upon him, was walking he raised his gaze to the source of a voice he heard [1]. There, lodged between heaven and earth, was the very angel that had visited him in the cave of al-Hirā. He, peace be upon him, was in awe as he recalled what he had done the first time. So he returned and requested: “Cover me, cover me.” So Allah Almighty revealed [Blessed Quran – al-Muddaththir – 74:1-7]:

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ . قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ

“O you, wrapped in a cloak, arise and warn”; warn people of Allah’s punishment if they don’t shun their sins and what their forefathers worshiped.

وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ

“Proclaim the greatness of your Lord”; only glorify Him and do not include others as His partner in it.

وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ

“Purify yourself”; so you are prepared to stand in the court of Allah, for it is not appropriate for a believer to be filthy and impure.

وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ

“Shun all dirt”; shun all causes of the (absolute) dirt which is the punishment, by obeying Allah Almighty and establishing His command.

وَلَا تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ

“Do not give out of a desire for gain”; don’t bestow a gift on anyone whilst desiring that you be returned something greater by your beneficiary. This is not the way of the generous.

وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ

“Be steadfast for your Lord”; in the face of the torment you will receive from your people when you call them to Allah Almighty.

[1] Reported by the respected companion Jābir bin ‘Abdullah. He participated in nineteen Jihads and passed away in Madina at the age of ninety-four. Bukhārī and Muslim have included the narration in the Chapter of the Beginning of Revelation.