On the way to Mina, two miles from the holy city of Makkah on Jabl al Nur is the Cave of Hira. This is a small cave about 3.5 meters long and a little over 1.5 meters wide. The Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) liked to go to the Cave of Hira to meditate. On the 17th of Ramadan in 611 he received his first divine revelation where the first five verses of the Holy Quran was revealed to him by the Archangel Gabriel.
According to history, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was in this cave when Gabriel first appeared before him ordering him to Read. The Prophet (PBUH), always a modest man, while fearful of the unknown apparition in front of him, responded truthfully and candidly, “I don’t know how to read.” However, Gabriel was not to be deterred and three times in a forceful voice instructed the Prophet (PBUH) to READ. Finally after the third time when the Prophet (PBUH) exclaimed that he did not know how to read, Gabriel instructed him “Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! and your Lord is the Most Generous.’” [Al-Qur’an 96:1-3]
The Cave of Hira is accessible to muslims only. Is it a coincidence or not that the entrance to the cave of Hira also faces the Ka’abah and that the minerets of the Haram (Grand Mosque) can be seen when looking out the entranceway?
While a little lengthy at 10.5 minutes, the video explains in more detail the significant history of the Cave of Hira as well as giving a firsthand view:
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