Seerah · Shortly after the first revelation · Makkah

The Pause in Revelation

After the first revelation there was an interval, the fatrah, during which nothing came. The reports describe it as a period of severe distress.

It ended when he saw the angel again and revelation resumed with the opening of Surah al-Muddaththir, commanding him to arise and warn. From this point his mission became active rather than private.

On the sources: The pause is established by sahih narration. Its length is reported variously and is not fixed.