Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/310

 commanded to flee; and he fled and remained a fugitive (at Madina) for ten years. And he died when he was sixty- three years of age.' Muslim, Al Bukhdri.

It is related from Ibn 'Abbas that he said, 'The Apostle of God remained at Mecca for fifteen years. He heard a voice and saw a light for seven years, but saw nothing else. And for eight years he received revelations. And he lived in Madina ten years, and died when he was sixty-five years of age.' Muslim, Al Bukhdri.

It is related from Anas that, 'God caused the Prophet to die when he had completed sixty years.' Muslim, Al Bukhdri.

It is related from ' Ayesha that, ' The first revelations which came to the Apostle of God were true visions in sleep. And he never saw a vision, but it came like the dawn of the morning. After that solitary retirement became pleasing to him, and he used to retire to a cave of (Mount) Hira' and worship therein. And he would worship the whole night before he returned to his family; and he used to provide food for the purpose. After that he would return to Khadijah, and again provide himself with food as before, until the truth came to him when he was in the cave of Mount Hira'. An angel came to him and said, "Recite!" He replied, "I am not a reciter." The Prophet said, " Then he seized me and squeezed me until fatigue overtook me. Then he let me go, and said, 'Recite!' and squeezed me a second time until fatigue over- took me. After that he said, 'Recite!' I replied, 'I am not a reciter.' Then he seized me and squeezed me a third time, until fatigue overtook me. After that he let me go and said, ' Recite in the name of thy Lord who created, created man from a clot of blood. Recite! thy Lord is the most noble who taught by the pen: taught man what he did not know.' Then the Apostle of God repeated these words, his heart trembling the while. And he entered in to Khadijah and said, 'Wrap me up! wrap me up!" Then they wrapped him up until the fear went from him. Then he spoke to Khadijah and informed her of the matter, saying " I certainly feared for my life." Then Khadijah said, "Never by God! God will never bring thee to shame. Verily thou dost perform acts of mercy, and thou dost speak the truth, and bearest weariness, and dost