Peaceful Beginning of the Prophetic Mission

experienced was from the same source as the messages of the Prophet Moses and Jesus. Then, gradually, he began to understand—his quest had finally been rewarded. His restless soul had been joined with his Lord. The Prophet continued to receive divine revelations from time to time over the next twentythree years when the Archangel Gabriel would come to him in different forms. Sometimes he would be huge and fill the whole horizon, and sometimes he would be just a pair of eyes watching him. At other times he remained invisible, and only his voice could be heard. Sometimes the voice was muffled, like a ringing in the Prophet’s head. However, the meaning was always evident. Khadijah was the first to respond to the call of the Prophet. Her cousin, the wise man Waraqah, explained that just as Gabriel had come to Moses earlier on Mount Sinai and told him to guide his people, so would Muhammad become the Prophet of his people. However, Waraqah also warned that not all the people would listen to the Prophet, and some would even try