ABSTRACT
As to the vision in whicb Mubammad heard these five verses sUmilloning him to tbe prophetic office, one tradition regards it as a real occurrence, while another tradition, said to have emanated from the same source, declares the whole incident to have been 'a dream. The former of these traditions is that of Urwa Ibn al Zubair, received from Ayesha, who heard it !rpm Muhammad many years after the event. It is given as follows by N oeldeke :-" The revelation commenced with real dreams, which illuminated Mubammad like the glow of the dawn. Thereupon he retired to the solitude of Mount Hir.L When he had spent some time there in devotion, the angel appeared to him and said, • Read !' Muhammad answered, 'I cannot read.' Thereupon the angel pressed him mightily, and repeated the command. This was an repeated three times, when at last the angel pronounced these five verses. Mubammad was greatly frightened at seeing this, and hastened to his wife, Kbadija, who comforted him."
