Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: By Him in Whose hand is my soul, a time will surely come when the son of Maryam (Isa, peace be upon him) will descend among you as a just and fair ruler. He will break the cross, kill the swine, and abolish the jizya. At that time, wealth will become so abundant that no one will be found to accept it.

Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What will be your condition when Isa ibn Maryam descends among you (while you are praying) and your imam will be from among yourselves?"

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The Hour will not be established until the sun rises from the west. When the sun rises from the west and people see it, then all will believe, but that will be the time when faith will not benefit anyone. Then he recited this verse: Are they waiting for anything except that the angels should come to them, or your Lord should come, or some of the signs of your Lord should come? On the day when some of the signs of your Lord will come, no soul will benefit from its faith if it had not believed before, nor earned good through its faith. Say: Wait, we too are waiting. (: Al-An'am 158)

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that I entered the mosque and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting. When the sun set, he said, "O Abu Dharr, do you know where it goes?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said, "It goes and seeks permission to prostrate, and it is granted permission. And it is as if it is said to it, 'Return to where you came from.' Thus, it rises from the west." Then he recited this verse: "That is its appointed course."

Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the initial period of revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) began with good, true, and pure dreams. Whatever he saw in his dreams would come true as clearly as the morning light. Then, by divine will, he became fond of solitude and adopted seclusion in the Cave of Hira. He would remain there for several days and nights in continuous worship, remembrance of Allah, and contemplation, until he felt inclined to return home. He would stay there with provisions (food and drink) until they ran out, and only then would he return to his noble wife, Sayyidah Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), to take more provisions and go back to seclusion. This continued until the truth was revealed to him while he was staying in the Cave of Hira. Suddenly, Angel Jibreel (peace be upon him) appeared before him and said,“O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)! Read.”He replied,“I do not know how to read.”He (the Prophet) says that the angel took hold of me and squeezed me so hard that I lost all strength, then released me and said,“Read.”I again replied,“I am not learned.”Upon this, the angel squeezed me again with great force, causing me severe pain, and then said,“Read.”I said,“I am not learned.”The angel seized me a third time, squeezed me, and then released me, saying,“Read in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot of blood. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous.”() (Al-‘Alaq 1-3)

So (after hearing these verses from Angel Jibreel), he returned from the Cave of Hira in a state that his heart was trembling from this strange incident. He went to Sayyidah Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (may Allah be pleased with her) and said,“Cover me! Cover me!”She covered him with a blanket. When his fear subsided, he narrated the entire incident in detail to his noble wife, Sayyidah Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), and said,“Now I fear for my life.”His noble wife, Sayyidah Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her), comforted him and said,“Your thought is not correct. By Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You possess excellent character, you care for your relatives, you bear the burdens of the helpless, you earn for the poor, you are unmatched in hospitality, and you support the truth in times of difficulty. (A person with such noble qualities cannot die a disgraceful and humiliating death.)”

Then, for further reassurance, Sayyidah Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) took him to Waraqah bin Nawfal, who was her cousin and had adopted Christianity during the pre-Islamic era. He was a scribe of the Hebrew language and used to write the Gospel in Hebrew as per the will of Allah. He had become very old, to the extent that he had lost his eyesight. Sayyidah Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) described the situation to him and said,“O cousin, listen to your nephew (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) and hear about his condition.”He said,“Nephew, tell me what you have seen.”So the Prophet narrated the entire incident from beginning to end. Upon hearing this, Waraqah exclaimed,“This is the same Namus (the noble confidant angel) whom Allah sent to Musa (peace be upon him) with revelation. If only I were young when your prophethood begins! If only I could live until your people drive you out of this city!”The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was surprised and asked,“Will they drive me out?”(Even though I am truthful, trustworthy, and accepted among them.) Waraqah replied,“Yes, this is all true. No one has ever come with the truth as you have without becoming the enemy of his people. If I live to see your time of prophethood, I will fully support you.”

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), describing the circumstances during the cessation of revelation, said: One day I was walking when suddenly I heard a voice from the sky. I raised my head towards the sky and saw that the same angel who had come to me in the Cave of Hira was sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I became afraid of him, and upon returning home, I again expressed the desire to be covered with a blanket. At that time, these verses were revealed from Allah Almighty: "O you who are wrapped up! Arise and warn, and magnify your Lord, and purify your garments, and keep away from impurity." (Al-Muddathir 51) After that, revelation began to come rapidly and continuously.

Yahya bin Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that I asked Abu Salamah bin Abdur Rahman (may Allah have mercy on him): Which verse of the Qur'an was revealed first? Abu Salamah replied: "Ya ayyuhal muddathir (O you who are wrapped up in a garment)." I said to him: "I have heard that 'Iqra' bismi rabbika allathee khalaq' was revealed first." He said: "I am telling you what I heard from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I secluded myself in the cave of Hira. When I had completed that period and came down and reached the middle of the valley, I was called. I looked in front of me, behind me, to my right and to my left, and I saw that the angel was sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. Then I came to Khadijah and said to her: 'Cover me with a cloth and pour cold water over me.' And this verse was revealed to me: 'O you who are wrapped up in a garment, arise and warn, and magnify your Lord.' (Al-Muddathir: 31)"

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this hadith that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The roof of my house was opened while I was in Makkah, then Jibreel (peace be upon him) descended and split open my chest, then washed it with the water of Zamzam. Then he brought a golden basin filled with wisdom and faith, and placed it in my chest, then joined my chest together. Then he took my hand and ascended with me towards the sky. When I reached the first heaven, Jibreel said to the gatekeeper of the heaven, "Open (the gate)." He asked, "Who are you?" He replied, "Jibreel." Then he asked, "Is there anyone with you?" He replied, "Yes, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is with me." He asked, "Has he been sent for?" He said, "Yes." Then when he opened the door, we ascended to the first heaven. There we saw a man sitting, with groups of people on his right and groups on his left. When he looked to his right, he smiled, and when he looked to his left, he wept. When he saw me, he said, "Welcome, O righteous Prophet and righteous son." I asked Jibreel, "Who is this?" He said, "This is Adam (peace be upon him), and the groups on his right and left are the souls of his children. The groups on the right are the people of Paradise, and the groups on the left are the souls of the people of Hell. That is why when he looks to his right, he smiles with happiness, and when he looks to his left, he weeps (with sorrow)." Then Jibreel ascended with me to the second heaven and said to its gatekeeper, "Open (the gate)." The gatekeeper of this heaven also asked as the previous one had asked, then opened it.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) found Adam, Idris, Musa, Isa, and Ibrahim (peace be upon them) in the heavens, and Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) did not mention the station of each one, except that he stated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) found Adam (peace be upon him) on the first heaven and Ibrahim (peace be upon him) on the sixth heaven.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that when Jibreel passed by Idris (peace be upon him) with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he said, "Welcome, O righteous Prophet and righteous brother." I asked, "Who is this?" He replied, "This is Idris (peace be upon him)." Then I reached Musa (peace be upon him), he said, "Welcome, O righteous Prophet and righteous brother." I asked, "Who is this?" Jibreel said, "This is Musa (peace be upon him)." Then I reached Isa (peace be upon him), he said, "Welcome, O righteous Prophet and righteous brother." I asked, "Who is this?" Jibreel said, "This is Isa (peace be upon him)." Then I reached Ibrahim (peace be upon him), he said, "Welcome, O righteous Prophet and righteous son." I asked, "Who is this?" Jibreel said, "This is Ibrahim (peace be upon him)."

Then Jibreel ascended with me, and I reached such a high place where I heard the sound of pens (the pens of the angels writing). Then Allah the Exalted made fifty prayers obligatory upon my Ummah. I returned with this command, and when I reached Musa (peace be upon him), he asked, "What has your Lord made obligatory upon your Ummah?" I said, "Fifty prayers have been made obligatory." He said, "Return to your Lord, for your Ummah will not be able to bear this." I returned to the presence of the Lord of Might, and He reduced a portion from it. Then I came to Musa and said, "A portion has been reduced." He said, "Go back again, for your Ummah will not be able to bear even this." Then I returned to the presence of the Lord of Might, and again a portion was reduced. When I reached Musa, he said, "Return to your Lord again, for your Ummah will not be able to bear even this." Thus, I kept going back and forth, until Allah the Exalted said, "These prayers are (in practice) five, but (in reward) fifty. My word does not change." Now when I came to Musa, he again said, "Go to your Lord," but I said, "Now I feel shy before my Lord."

Then Jibreel took me to Sidrat al-Muntaha, which was covered with various colors, the reality of which I do not know. After that, I was taken to Paradise, where I saw that its domes were of pearls and its soil was of musk.

Sayyiduna Malik bin Sa’sa’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Once, I was in a state between sleep and wakefulness near the House (the Ka’bah). Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned a third man lying between two men. (Then he said:) After that, a golden basin was brought to me, filled with wisdom and faith. My chest was split open up to the lowest part of my belly, then my belly was washed with Zamzam water and filled with wisdom and faith. After that, a mount was brought to me, smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey, that is, Buraq. I mounted it and went with Jibreel (peace be upon him). When we reached the lowest heaven, it was asked: Who is this? He said: Jibreel. It was asked: Who is with you? He replied: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It was asked: Has he been sent for? He said: Yes. Then it was said: Welcome to him, what an excellent arrival in a good place! Then I came to Adam (peace be upon him) and greeted him. He said: Welcome, O dear son and good Prophet.

After that, we reached the second heaven. The same question was asked: Who is this? He said: Jibreel. It was asked: Is there anyone with you? He said: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It was asked: Has he been sent for? He said: Yes. Then it was said: Welcome to him, what an excellent arrival in a good place! There I met ‘Isa and Yahya (peace be upon them), and they also welcomed me, saying: Welcome, O brother and Prophet.

Then we came to the third heaven. Again, it was asked: Who is this? He replied: Jibreel. It was asked: Is there anyone with you? He said: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It was asked: Has he been sent for? He replied: Yes. Then it was said: Welcome to him, what an excellent and righteous arrival in a good place! There I met Yusuf (peace be upon him) and greeted him. He said: Welcome, O dear brother and Prophet, what an excellent arrival in a good place!

From there, we came to the fourth heaven. The same question was asked: Who is this? He replied: Jibreel. It was asked: Who is with you? He said: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It was asked: Has he been sent for? He replied: Yes. Then it was said: Welcome to him, what an excellent arrival in a good place! There I met Idris (peace be upon him) and greeted him. He said: Welcome, O brother and Prophet.

From there, we came to the fifth heaven. Again, it was asked: Who is this? He replied: Jibreel. It was asked: Who is with you? He said: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It was asked: Has he been sent for? He replied: Yes. Then it was said: Welcome to him, what an excellent arrival in a good place! There we met Harun (peace be upon him), and I greeted him. He said: Congratulations, O brother and Prophet, you have come to a good and spacious place.

From there, we came to the sixth heaven. Again, it was asked: Who is this? He replied: Jibreel. It was asked: Is there anyone else with you? He said: Yes, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It was asked: Has he been called? He said: Yes. It was said: Welcome to him, what an excellent arrival in a good place! There I met Musa (peace be upon him) and greeted him. He said: O brother and Prophet, welcome to a good and spacious place! When I moved ahead from there, he began to weep. Someone asked: O elder, why are you weeping? He replied: O Allah, this young man who has been given Prophethood after me, more people from his Ummah will enter Paradise than from my Ummah.

After that, we came to the seventh heaven. Again, it was asked: Who is this? He replied: Jibreel (peace be upon him). It was asked: Is there anyone with you? He replied: Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It was asked: Has he been sent for? He said: Yes. Welcome, what an excellent arrival! There I met Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and greeted him. He said: O my son and Prophet, welcome, you have come to a blessed and spacious place.

After that, I was shown the Bayt al-Ma’mur. I asked Jibreel (peace be upon him) about it, and he said: This is Bayt al-Ma’mur. Seventy thousand angels pray in it every day, and once one leaves after praying, he never returns. And I was also shown Sidrat al-Muntaha. Its fruits were like the jars of Hajar (a place), and its leaves were like the ears of elephants. Four rivers flowed from its roots: two hidden and two visible. I asked Jibreel (peace be upon him) about them, and he said: The two hidden rivers are in Paradise, and the two visible ones are the Nile and the Euphrates in the world.

After that, fifty prayers were made obligatory upon me. When I returned and met Musa (peace be upon him), he asked: What have you been commanded? I replied: Fifty prayers have been made obligatory upon me. He said: I know people better than you; I have had much experience with the Children of Israel. Your Ummah will not be able to bear so many prayers. So return to your Lord and request a reduction. I returned, and Allah reduced them to forty. Still, Musa (peace be upon him) insisted on his advice (i.e., to seek further reduction). This time, they were reduced to thirty. Again, he said the same, so Allah reduced them to twenty. Again, Musa (peace be upon him) said the same, and this time, when I presented my request before the Lord of Might, Allah reduced them to ten. When I came to Musa (peace be upon him), he still insisted on seeking further reduction, and this time Allah reduced them to five. When I met Musa (peace be upon him), he again asked: What happened? I said: Allah has made them five. Even then, he insisted on seeking further reduction. I said: Now I have entrusted it to Allah. Then a voice came: I have established My obligation (of five prayers) and have reduced it for My servants, and I reward one good deed tenfold.

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: On the night of Mi'raj, I saw Musa (peace be upon him); he was wheat-colored, tall in stature, and had curly hair. He looked as if he was a man from the tribe of Shanu. And I also saw Isa (peace be upon him); he was of medium height and medium build, his complexion was a mixture of red and white, and the hair of his head was straight (i.e., not curly). And I saw the keeper of Hell and also the Dajjal among those signs which Allah the Exalted showed me. (In Surah Sajda 23, this is mentioned that) (O Prophet) do not have any doubt or suspicion about meeting them (i.e., meeting Musa, peace be upon him).