How the Holy Quran was Revealed

There was a man Named Muhammad. He was an honest, and admirable man, known by all the people of his land. His most noteworthy characteristic was his honesty.

One night, alone in the dark, Muhammad was in a cave that he often visited to escape the distractions of the world, and be alone with his thoughts, and talk to God.

Suddenly there appeared a bright light. Muhammad looked to his right hand than to his left, he could not escape the light, and it was frightening him.

Finally something grabbed him and said Iqra. Read. And Muhammad responded I can not read, and than again Iqra, read. And Muhammad insisted I can not read, and finally again Iqra, read, and Muhammad recited Read, In the Name of Your Lord he created man from a clinging thing, and taught him what he knew not.

This was the first verse of the Quran that was revealed to Muhammad from God, through the Angel Gabriel. The same Angel that appeared to Moses in a burning bush and gave him the ten commandments.

Muhammad was very afraid, and rushed to his wife Khadijah. He thought that he had been possessed by something evil, and asked her to cover him. She reassured him, and reminded him that he was a good person, and that God would not allow evil, such as possession, to come over him.

Khadijah went to her uncle who also reassured Muhammad of his goodness, and told him that yes; this is a true revelation and that he, Muhammad had been chosen to be a prophet to mankind, and that he was to tell them what was revealed in the Quran, and live it as a great model for the people.

The revelation of the Quran continued for 32 years of the prophets life until a little before he died. There were various things going on in the prophet's life, and those around him, and often times that is why certain versus were reveled in the order in which they were revealed in. This often leads to misunderstanding of the Quran and its text and content. It is often also mis quoted because of the lack of knowledge about the circumstances in which ayahs were revealed. Whereas the Quran differs from the Bible, because it is not published in a chronological order.

His last revelation was

"Forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that on which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked, and the strangled (animal) and that beaten to death, and that killed by a fall and that killed by being smitten with the horn, and that which wild beasts have eaten, except what you slaughter, and what is sacrificed on stones set up (for idols) and that you divide by the arrows; that is a transgression. This day have those who disbelieve despaired of your religion, so fear them not, and fear Me. This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion; but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining willfully to sin, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."

Surah 5, Ayah 3