Muslims worldwide celebrated the Islamic holiday known as Eid Al-Mab’ath on Saturday, which fell this year on the 17th of January. Mab’ath refers to the beginning of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him and his family) mission, the moment he received the very first revelation from his Lord. This took place while he was meditating, reflecting, and worshipping in Cave Hira on Mount Noor, just outside Mecca. For nearly ten years before the revelation, the Prophet regularly withdrew to this cave, sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a week, and on some occasions for forty days and nights, dedicating himself to reflection, worship, and communion with his Lord.

On the twenty seventh night of the Islamic lunar month of Rajab, the Archangel Gabriel descended upon the Prophet, with the first five verses of the Holy Quran from Chapter al Alaq (The Clot). While in the cave, the Prophet heard the command “Iqra,” meaning recite in the name of your Lord who created. The verses spoke of the creation of the human being from a clot, described God as the Most Generous, and emphasized knowledge, teaching, and learning through the pen. These five verses marked the beginning of revelation and the start of the Prophet’s public mission.

The Quran was revealed to the Prophet in two ways. One was the complete descent, known as an nuzul al jam’ee, in which the entire Quran descended upon the heart of the Prophet at once, as mentioned in Surah al Shu’ara. The second was the gradual revelation, an nuzul al tadreeji, through which verses were revealed over a period of twenty three years in response to events and circumstances. The first moment of this gradual revelation occurred on the twenty seventh of Rajab, giving this date its central importance in Islamic history.

Muslims across the world mark Eid al Mab’ath as a day of reflection, gratitude, and renewed commitment to faith. It is commonly observed through prayers, recitation of the Quran, gatherings that recall the life and character of the Prophet, and sermons that emphasize the values introduced by the first revelation, such as knowledge, justice, mercy, and moral responsibility. For many, the day serves as a reminder of the transformative moment when divine guidance began to reshape society and continues to guide humanity today.