The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 1 of 4

IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA?L IBN KATH~R 309
And the Almighty said, L'And do not make haste with the recitation, before its
revelation to yon has been completed. And say, '0 God, increase me in
knowledge!'" (siirat Tabs, XX, v.114).
This was in the beginning. Due to his eagerness to receive from the angel
what God the Almighty and Glorious had revealed to him, he used to join him
through recitation. God Almighty therefore ordered hi to listen on until the
revelation was completed. He assured hi He would store it in his chest and
enable him to recite and announce it. God also said He would clarify and explain
it and enable him to understand it.
For this reason He stated, "And do not make haste with the recitation, before
its revelation to you has been completed. And say, '0 God, increase me in
knowledge! "'
And He said, "Do not move your tongue with it, to speak it in haste. It is up
to Us to put it together" - in your chest, that is - "and to recite it." That is, and
you shall recite it. "So when We do recite it" - that is, when the angel recites it
to you - "follow its recitation." That is, listen to it and consider it. And then, "it
is up to Us to explain it." This is equivalent to saying, "0 God, increase me in
knowledge! "
In both ~ahih collections there is a tradition of Mnsa h. Ahn '.&'isha, from
Sacid b. Juhayr, from Ibn 'Ahbzs, who said, "The Messenger of God would suffer
great strain from revelation. He would move his lips and so God sent down to
him, 'Do not move your tongue with it, to speak it in haste. It is up to Us to put
it together, and to recite it.' He said 'to put it together' in your breast and then
you will recite it. 'And so when We do recite it, follow its recitation.' And hear
it, and listen to it. 'And then, it is up to Us to explain it."'
He went on, "And when Gabriel came to him he would bow his head; and
when he left he would recite it just as God the Almighty and Glorious had
promised him."
Ibn Ishaq stated, "Thereafter revelation came frequently to the Messenger of
God (SAAS) and he fully believed in what he was receiving from God. He
accepted it willingly and because of it received both the approbation and blame
of other men.
"Prophethood brings burdens and troubles that can only be borne by messengers
who are strong and determined through the power and aid of God. Their burdens
arise from the reactions of men to them that result from what it is that God the
Almighty and Glorious has brought them.
"The Messenger of God did continue to fulfil God's orders despite the
opposition and harm he met from his people."