At forty, in the cave of Hira, Jibril embraced him and said "Iqra — Read!" The first verses of Surah al-Alaq came down, and the final prophethood began.
He returned trembling to Khadijah, who wrapped him and said: "Allah will never disgrace you — you keep ties, carry the weak, honour guests and help in every truth." Her cousin Waraqah confirmed it was the same angel who came to Musa.
For thirteen years in Makkah he called to Allah while the believers — like Bilal, Sumayyah and Yasir — endured persecution. The message was one: La ilaha illa Allah.