Wikipedia's first sentence called it “event in which the prophet is said to have been visited by the angel gabriel and revealed to him the qur'an”. Today it says “disputed”.
Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.
Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-03.
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The opening as it read in 2020
Life Mecca Hijrah First Islamic state After Conquest of Mecca Farewell Pilgrimage ( Farewell Sermon ) Hadith Milestones and records Career Military Diplomatic Miracles Quran ( First revelation ) Isra and Mi'raj Splitting of the Moon Views and Perspectives Views Jews Christians Perspectives Islam Bible Judaism Medieval Christian Historicity Criticism Succession Saqifah Ghadir Khumm Companions of Muhammad Hadith of the pen and paper Ahl al-Bayt Praise Salawat Naat Mawlid Related Mohammedan Mahound Al-Masjid an-Nabawi Possessions Relics Seal History of Islam Islam portal Biography portal v t e Muhammad's first revelation was an event described in Islam as taking place in 610 AC, during which the Islamic prophet, Muhammad was visited by the angel Jibrīl , known as Gabriel in English, who revealed to him the beginnings of what would later become the Qur’an . The event took place in a cave called Hira , located on the mountain Jabal an-Nour , near Mecca .1As for the exact date of this event, it has been calculated to be on Friday, the 17th of Ramadan at night, i.e. August 6 , 610 C.E. – when Muhammad was 40 lunar years, 6 months and 12 days of age, i.e. 39 Gregorian calendar years, 3 months and 22 days. 6 August 610 ( Julian ) was actually a Thursday. The proleptic Gregorian calendar is two days ahead in the sixth century and three days ahead in the seventh. In his 1998 book Mubarakpuri sets the event as "Late one Monday night, just before sunrise on the twenty-first of Ramadan (August 10, 610 C.E.)" 10 August 610 was a Monday, the phrase "Late one Monday night, just before sunrise" translating as "early one Monday morning". In The Sealed Nectar Mubarakpuri gives preference to the 21st, noting "Then they differ over the day that the Revelation began." Mubārakpūrī, Ṣafī-ur Rahman (1998).2 Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.).
This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 959006313.
The opening as it stood in 2010
This is a sub-article to Muhammad before Medina Muhammad's first revelation is the event in which the Prophet is said to have been visited by the angel Gabriel and revealed to him the Qur'an . It was after this event that Muhammad proclaimed to be a Prophet of Allah .
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 371014113.
The opening as it stood in 2015 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
The event took place in a cave called Hira , located on the mountain called Jabal an-Nour , near Mecca.According to biographies of Muhammad , while on retreat in a mountain cave near Mecca (the cave of Hira), Gabriel appears before him and commands him to recite the first lines of chapter 96 of the Quran.Muhammad's experience is mentioned in the Quran 53:4-9: "It is no less than inspiration sent down to him: He was taught by one Mighty in Power, Endued with Wisdom: for he appeared (in stately form); While he was in the highest part of the horizon: Then he approached and came closer, And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer;"
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 666788151.
The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023 5 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
Foundational event in the Islamic religion Life Mecca Hijrah First Islamic state After Conquest of Mecca Farewell Pilgrimage ( Farewell Sermon ) Hadith Milestones and records Career Military Diplomatic Miracles Quran ( First revelation ) Isra and Mi'raj Splitting of the Moon Views and Perspectives Views Jews Christians Perspectives Islam Bible Judaism Medieval Christian Historicity Criticism Succession Saqifah Ghadir Khumm Companions of Muhammad Hadith of the pen and paper Ahl al-Bayt Praise Salawat Naat Mawlid Related Mohammedan Mahound Al-Masjid an-Nabawi Possessions Relics Seal History of Islam Islam portal Biography portal v t e Muhammad's first revelation was an event described in Islamic tradition as taking place in 610 CE, during which the Islamic prophet Muhammad was visited by the angel Jibril (Gabriel) , who revealed to him the beginnings of what would later become the Qur'an . The event took place in a cave called Hira , located on the mountain Jabal An-Nour near Mecca . Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.).
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1178265525.
The opening as it stood in 2025 2 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear
According to Islamic belief, during this time, Muhammad sought solitude after repeatedly experiencing transcendental dreams in which he was told of his upcoming responsibility as a messenger of God , prompting him to retreat to Jabal al-Nour near Mecca , where, while isolating at the Cave of Hira , he was visited by the angel Gabriel , who revealed to him the beginnings of what would become known as the Quran .Thus, at the age of 40, Muhammad's religious career as the " Seal of the Prophets " had begun. Encyclopaedia of Islam (2nd ed.).
Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1297600573. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.
Today
Wikipedia's first sentence called it “event in which the prophet is said to have been visited by the angel gabriel and revealed to him the qur'an”. Today it says “disputed”. Read the current article and compare.
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What Wikipedia says this is
Every article opens by defining its subject. This one was redefined since 2010, and today's defining sentence is their current revision.
Then
event in which the prophet is said to have been visited by the angel gabriel and revealed to him the qur'an
Now
disputed
Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.
