The Emotional Realism of Prophethood: Surah Al-Qalam and the Early Struggles of Muhammad (PBUH)

 

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam

2 June 2025

The early years of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) mission offer a deeply human and psychologically complex picture that stands in stark contrast to what one might expect from a fabricated narrative. One of the most revealing glimpses into the Prophet's inner world during this period is provided by Surah Al-Qalam (Surah 68), which was revealed second in chronological order. This surah does not merely deliver abstract teachings; it performs two critical functions: it reassures a troubled prophet, and it morally contrasts his position with that of his fiercest adversaries.

Genuine Fear and Reluctance

The Prophet's reaction to the first revelation by Gabriel was not of exultation or immediate acceptance. Instead, it was of deep fear and bewilderment. According to multiple reports, he returned to his wife Khadijah (RA) shaken and fearful, asking to be covered and expressing genuine doubt about what had just occurred. This kind of response is strikingly authentic. A fabricator is unlikely to portray their spiritual founder as hesitant, frightened, or unsure of his sanity.

Surah Al-Qalam opens with a powerful reassurance:

"Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe, you are not, by the grace of your Lord, mad or possessed." (68:1-2)

This statement responds directly to the taunts of the Quraysh leaders, particularly Abu Jahl, who labelled the Prophet as possessed or mentally unstable. But it also addresses the Prophet's internal fears. The need for such reassurance indicates that even the Prophet himself may have been grappling with the enormity of his experience.

Reassurance and Moral Elevation

Verses 3 and 4 continue:

"Indeed, for you is a reward uninterrupted. And indeed, you are of a great moral character." (68:3-4)

At a time when the Prophet had not yet gained widespread support, and when public preaching had not even begun, these verses highlight the divine assurance given to him. They elevate his moral stature and reaffirm his sense of purpose. This marks a psychological turning point: the Prophet is being told that his path is correct and that the derision of his opponents should not shake his resolve.

Confronting the Opposition

The rest of the surah goes on to characterize the Prophet's primary adversary in stark moral terms:

"Do not obey every worthless habitual swearer, a slanderer going about with malicious gossip... because he possesses wealth and sons." (68:10-14)

This is almost certainly a reference to Abu Jahl, who was known for these very traits. The surah unmasks the social arrogance and moral bankruptcy of the Quraysh elite, while positioning the Prophet as the bearer of divine truth.

"When Our verses are recited to him, he says, 'Legends of the former peoples!' Soon shall We brand him on the snout." (68:15-16)

Here, the Quran responds to the claim that its messages are mere ancient tales with a threat of divine justice. The imagery of branding the "snout" (an insult likening the arrogant to animals) demonstrates the Quran's rhetorical power in dismantling false pride.

A Gradual Mission

Historical records confirm that the Prophet's mission started slowly. For several years, he confined his preaching to close family and friends. The Quran's own tone during this phase is intimate and cautious. There is no triumphant declaration, no mass conversions, and no signs of worldly power. Instead, we see a man growing into his role as a prophet, facing hostility, doubt, and personal struggle.

This evolution reflects the Quran's deep emotional realism. Muhammad (PBUH) was not a charismatic revolutionary conjuring a new religion from thin air; he was a sincere man confronted by a reality so immense that it initially terrified him. The Quran, particularly in its earliest revelations, does not hide this. Rather, it records it faithfully, lending credibility to the truth of the experience.

The Command to Arise: Surah Al-Muddaththir

One of the most poignant follow-ups to this early internal struggle appears in Surah Al-Muddaththir (Surah 74), which is the fourth surah in chronological order. It directly addresses the Prophet in his state of retreat:

(1)O thou wrapped up (in the mantle)!
(2) Arise and deliver thy warning!
(3) And thy Lord do thou magnify!
(4) And thy garments keep free from stain!
(5) And all abomination shun!
(6) Nor expect, in giving, any increase (for thyself)!
(7) But, for thy Lord’s (Cause), be patient and constant!

This surah shows the Prophet still cocooned in his cloak, emotionally overwhelmed. But now, God commands him to rise and begin his public mission. The gentle yet firm directives are not grandiose political slogans, but deeply personal instructions—clean your garments, purify your life, expect no personal gain, and prepare for patient struggle. These instructions capture the raw emotional pivot from fear to resolve.

Surah Al-Qalam and Surah Al-Muddaththir together provide an authentic window into the early prophetic experience. They show us a Prophet who was deeply human, troubled by his calling, and forced to confront both inner fears and external hostility. The Quran’s reassurance that he was neither mad nor deluded, along with its moral condemnation of his critics and its measured call to action, reflects a narrative that is emotionally honest, theologically profound, and historically grounded. This is not the voice of myth-making; it is the voice of revelation — raw, unvarnished, and deeply human.

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A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation.

 

 URL:    https://www.newageislam.com/debating-islam/emotional-realism-prophethood-surah-al-qalam/d/135746

 

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