It’s a wonderful thing that we can share this story because it recounts what happened soon after the Revelation was received by Prophet Muhammad
There are some good things to say about Waraqa bin Neufal… He had become a Christian and was a cousin of Khadijih the wife of Prophet Muhammad… All we really know about him is from Arabic sources…
Waraqah had become a Christian… We’re really not sure what kind of Christian…some think he was a Nestorian…some a Nazorean and some think an Ebionite…which is Jim’s contention. I simply don’t think there’s enough evidence either way.
“Waraqa attached himself to Christianity and studied its scriptures until he had thoroughly mastered them.”
(Ibn Ishaq, Life of Muhammad, tr. Guillaume, 1967, p. 99)
Waraqah it is said studied the scriptures and translated Syriac and Hebrew texts… up to that time there was no Arabic translation of the scriptures.
After the Prophet received Divine revelation Khadijih asked that her Husband share what He had experienced with Waraqah
“Quddus, quddus! By Him in whose hand is Warqa’s soul, if you are telling me the truth, O Khadija, (it means that) there has indeed come to him the great Namus,” and by Namus he meant Gabriel, upon whom be peace, who used to come to Moses, “so he will assuredly be the prophet to his own people. Tell him so and have him stand firm.” So Khadija returned to the apostle of God — upon whom be God’s blessing and peace, and inform him of what Waraqa had said, and that eased somewhat the anxiety he felt.
(Al-Tabari, ibid, p. 1152)
The words above “Quddus Quddus” refer to the exclamation by Waraqah that mean "Most Holy " "Most Holy "! or as some suggest “Holy Spirit!”
Here is the account of Bukhari:
"Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin
Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza,
who, during the PreIslamic Period became a
Christian and used to write the writing with
Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel
in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write.
He was an old man and had lost his eyesight.
Khadija said to Waraqa, “Listen to the story of
your nephew, O my cousin!” Waraqa asked, “O
my nephew! What have you seen?” Allah’s
Apostle described whatever he had seen.
Waraqa said,
**“This is the same one who keeps
the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent
to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up
to the time when your people would turn you
out.” **
Allah’s Apostle asked, “Will they drive me
out?”
Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said,
“
Anyone (man) who came with something similar
to what you have brought was treated with
hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day
when you will be turned out then I would support
you strongly.” But after a few days Waraqa died
and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a
while.
There was also a Hadith attributed to the Prophet regarding Waraqah:
“Do not slander Waraka ibn Nawfal, for I have seen that he will have one or two gardens in Paradise.”
