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The resumption of the revelation: the burden of prophethood, Khadija the first believer and the Prophet Mohamed’s consolation, the announcement of her dwelling in Paradise and the original prayer with Jibril at the spring of Zamzam, from Ibn Ishaq, al-Boukhari and Mouslim.
Updated on 07 September 2026 at 11:07 PM
Ibn Ishaq said: the revelation then continued to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who confirmed what reached him from it: he accepted it fully and bore what he bore of it, whatever the contentment or anger of the servants. Prophethood has burdens and charges which none bears, none undertakes, but the men of strength and resolve among the messengers, with Allah’s aid and success against what they meet of the people and the replies made to them of what they bring from Him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) thus pursued what Allah had commanded him, despite what he met from his people of contradiction and harm.
Ibn Ishaq said: Khadija bint Khuwaylid believed and confirmed what reached him from Allah, and supported him in his affair: she was the first to believe in Allah and His Messenger and to confirm what came from Him. Allah thereby lightened the burden of His Messenger: he heard nothing that displeased him, of denial or accusation of lying, without her comforting him on his return: she would strengthen him, relieve him, confirm him and ease for him the people’s affair (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and He was pleased with her.
Hisham ibn Urwa related, from his father, from Abdallah ibn Ja’far: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I was ordered to give Khadija the good news of a dwelling of hollow reeds, wherein there is no clamor and no weariness.” This hadith is related in the two Sahihs from Hisham, and Ibn Hisham explains: the “qasab” here means the hollow pearl.
Ibn Ishaq said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) began to mention in secret, to whoever of his family found reassurance, all that Allah had bestowed on him and on the servants through prophethood. Moussa ibn ’Oqba related, from az-Zuhri: Khadija was the first to believe in Allah and confirm His Messenger, before the prayer was prescribed. Ibn Kathir notes: that is, the five prayers of the night of the Isra; as for the prayer’s origin, it was established during Khadija’s life, as we shall show. Ibn Ishaq said further: when the prayer was prescribed to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Jibril came to him, struck the side of the valley with his heel: a spring of Zamzam water gushed forth for him. Jibril performed ablution, and Muhammad with him; then he prayed two rak’as and prostrated four times. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) returned, his heart settled and his soul at ease, received of what he loved from Allah; he took Khadija by the hand and brought her to the spring: she performed ablution as Jibril had, then prayed two rak’as and four prostrations, and he and Khadija began praying in secret.
Ibn Kathir concludes: this prayer of Jibril is different from the one he performed with him at the House twice, showing him the hours of the five prayers, their first and their last: that was after their prescription on the night of the Isra. The explanation will come, Allah willing: in Him is trust and upon Him reliance.