Intro to Sura 68 – The Pen. God’s promises to Abraham, revisited.

Among other things, Sura 68 is a response to Muhammad's sense / fear that his first revelation was from a Jinn (an evil spirit).  It confirms to him that he is not crazy or hallucinating. This second Sura, in order of revelation, is quite long.   Other topics in Sura 68 will be covered in later posts.  But I think this one will be quite revealing for non-Muslims. If you're not a Muslim - I encourage you to read on, and probably notice some things you hadn't considered before. If you are a Muslim - I also encourage you to read on, and maybe see a different perspective towards you as a person - from a Christian. If you're neither one, it will still be a different take on an important world issue.  Nothing like what you'll find in the news reports - where seemingly neither the Bible or the Qur'an are actually being read or understood. Already, this has been a fascinating journey for me.  Something I just need to share. Sura 68 - The Pen Order of Revelation - 2 Traditional order in Qur’an - 68

Sura 68 addresses the following:

1. The sense from the Prophet that his first revelation was actually from an evil spirit. This appears to be confirming what his wife told him - that Muhammad was not crazy / hallucinating / etc. 2. Confirms that God can see what people are doing. 3. Compares the revelations to the Prophet to what others are told by their idols (gods). 4. Says that God can take care of Himself. 5. Tells Muhammad not to be like Jonah.

This is a lot of material, but let’s try to go through it.

1. Concerning the first revelation

After receiving the first revelation, Sura 96 (see articles in the left menu), Muhammad was concerned about what happened.

[68:2] You (O Muhammad) are not, by the Grace of your O Lord, a madman.

The following is from islamawareness.net (sorry, it's not online anymore) - giving a short history of what happened during and after that first revelation -

Muhammad was now approaching his fortieth year, and his mind was ever-engaged in profound contemplation and reflection. Before him lay his country, bleeding and torn by fratricidal wars and intolerable dissension's; his people, sunk in barbarism, addicted to the observation of rites and superstitions, were, with all their desert virtues, lawless and cruel. His two visits to Syria had opened to him a scene of unutterable moral and social desolation, rival creeds and sects tearing each other to pieces, carrying their hatred to the valleys and deserts of Hijaz, and rending the townships of Arabia with their quarrels and bitterness.

For years after his marriage, Muhammad had been accustomed to secluding himself in a cave in Mount Hira, a few miles from Mecca. To this cave he used to go for prayer and meditation, sometimes alone and sometime with his family. There, he often spent the whole nights in deep thought and profound communion with the Unseen yet All-Knowing Allah of the Universe. It was during one of those retirements and in the still hours of the night, when no human sympathy was near, that an angel came to him to tell him that he was the Messenger of Allah sent to reclaim a fallen people to the knowledge and service of their Lord.

Renowned compilers of authentic traditions of Islam agree on the following account of the first revelations received by the Prophet.

Muhammad would seclude himself in the cave of Mount Hira and worship three days and nights. He would, whenever he wished, return to his family at Mecca and then go back again, taking with him the necessities of life. Thus he continued to return to Khadijah from time to time until one day the revelation came down to him and the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) appeared to him and said: "Read!" But as Muhammad was illiterate, having never received any instruction in reading or writing, he said to the angel: "I am not a reader." The angel took a hold of him and squeezed him as much as he could bear, and then said again: "Read!" Then Prophet said: "I am not a reader." The Angel again seized the Prophet and squeezed him and said: "Read! In the Name of Your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created a man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not." (Ch 96:1-4 Quran).