Waraqah bin Nawfil, Khadijah’s (rtaf) paternal cousin, played a critical role at the time when the Prophet (sa) received his prophethood. Some scholars refer to him as the Mussadiq (one who affirms), because when Khadijah (rtaf) took the shaken and shocked Prophet Muhammad (sa) to him and explained how he had experienced divine appointment, he confirmed that this was indeed the Namoos – Angel Jibreel, whom Allah (swt) had sent to Musa (as).
Saheeh Bukhari mentions Waraqah in the very beginning of the Book of Revelation. He had been rejecting idol worship all his life and had travelled to As-Sham in search of truth. However, unlike Zaid bin Amr (rtam), he was not combative about the Makkans’ erroneous beliefs. Instead, he believed Allah (swt) would clarify it in due time, and he knew that their support of idol worship stemmed not so much from spirituality but from the commerce that benefitted them from idols.
He belonged to one of the noblest families of Makkah and had been expected to become Khadijah’s (rtaf) suitor, more so because they both rejected idolatry and were much respected for their high morals and character. Even though he was Khadijah’s (rtaf) first cousin, he was almost 25-30 years older than her, and combined with his status as a monk, he played the role of her guardian during her marriage to the Prophet (sa).
Startling Facts
- Aisha (rtaf) narrated that he was a blind old man, probably in his nineties, when the Prophet (sa) received the first Wahy.
- He was the only one of the Hanifeen alive in Makkah, because Zaid bin Amr had died five years before the revelation.
- Waraqah had converted to Christianity and had become a scholarly monk, well versed in Hebrew and the Gospels.
- He had adopted a celibate lifestyle and rejected his family’s wealth. He dressed simply, avoided the marketplaces, and ate only once a day.
- He was the dream interpreter of the Makkans because he had studied language, religion, and philosophy.
- Khadijah (rtfa) once dreamt that the sun descended in her home. Waraqah bin Nawfil interpreted this to mean that she would be married to a pious person or a prophet. Khadijah (rtaf) had been married and widowed twice or thrice, before her marriage to the Prophet (sa), and the dream had not materialized. Even though the Prophet (sa) had not received prophethood at the time of his marriage to Khadijah (rtaf), yet Waraqah had seen distinguishing signs in him and served as the guardian in their marriage, approving 500 dirhams as bridal gift. It was after he contextualised the first revelation that Waraqah’s interpretation of her dream came true.
Points to Ponder
- He confirmed that the Prophet (sa) had indeed been given prophethood through Jibreel, the ‘Namoos’ (the one who bears secrets) mentioned in the scriptures as having visited Musa (as). As a Christian, he should have talked about Isa (AS), but he mentioned Musa (as), because he could see many similarities between the Prophet’s (sa) and Musa’s (as) situations.
- As soon as he realized that Muhammad (sa) was indeed the much-awaited prophet, he wished he still had the strength of his youth, so that he could help the Prophet (sa), when his people would turn him out. Notice that he does not ask Allah (swt) that he should be spared the trials, which will await the followers of the Prophet (sa), because he had the vision of the Akhirah and wanted to be rewarded for supporting the Prophet (sa).
- He warned the Prophet (sa) that his people would take him as their enemy. The Prophet (sa) never had a single person complain against him, as he was the peacemaker and a keeper of trusts – so he found this hard to believe. Waraqah told him that the people will disgrace him because of the message he had received, and this has happened with all the prophets.
- The purity of his intention and commitment to monotheism is evident in the fact that he was able to see the signs of prophethood and could foresee the trials associated with it, yet he wanted to be a righteous disciple like the disciples of Isa (as).
- He asked Allah (swt) for strength and forbearance to support him and achieve the full reward instead of ease. His burden would have been difficult, because he was an influential person. Later we see how his own nephew Nawfil bin Khuwaylid (Khadeejah’s (rtaf) brother) tied Abu Bakr (rtam) and Zubair (rtam) and tortured them. The powerful ones were tortured in private by their own tribesmen.
- He died just a few days after the first revelation. He did not live to see the message of the Prophet (sa) – he just caught the appointment of the Muhammad (sa) as a prophet. Hence, scholars classify him as a Musaddiq but not as a Muslim in response to Dawah.
Khadeejah (rtaf) once asked the Prophet (sa) about Waraqah’s Akhirah, since he had confirmed the Prophet (sa) but died before the message was made public. The Prophet (sa) responded that he had dreamt of him dressed in white, which would not have been his attire, if he were from the people of Hell. Another narration says that the Prophet (sa) saw him in the middle of Jannah wearing silk. Hakim narrates through Aisha (rtaf) that he heard a man cursing Waraqah, and he stopped him, because he saw Waraqah not just with one, but two levels of Paradise.
Zaid bin Amr is also mentioned as having two levels of Jannah. The scholars have given different interpretations for them being rewarded two levels of Jannah. One reason could be that they consciously stopped sinning and sought to do good. Another reason could be that they sought the truth as monotheists and then accepted the Prophet (sa). Therefore, Waraqah bin Nawfil is rewarded by Allah (swt) for having believed twice – once as a Hanif and then as an affirmer.
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