Waraqah ibn Nawfal

Waraqah ibn Nawfal
Waraqah ibn Nawfal
Died	610 CE
Parents	Nawfal ibn Asad (father); Hind bint Abi Kathir (mother);
Relatives	Khadijah bint Khuwaylid (cousin)
Family	Banu Asad (Quraysh)

Waraqah ibn Nawfal ibn Asad ibn Abd-al-Uzza ibn Qusayy Al-Qurashi (Arabic ورقه بن نوفل بن أسد بن عبد العزّى بن قصي القرشي) was an Arabian ascetic who was the paternal first cousin of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the first wife of Muhammad. He was considered to be a hanif, who practised the pure form of monotheism in pre-Islamic Arabia. Waraqah died shortly after Muhammad is said to have received his first revelation in 610 CE.^[1]

Waraqah and Khadija were also cousins of Muhammad: their paternal grandfather Asad ibn Abd-al-Uzza was Muhammad's matrilineal great-great-grandfather.^[2] By another reckoning, Waraqah was Muhammad's third cousin: Asad ibn Abd-al-Uzza was a grandson of Muhammad's patrilineal great-great-great-grandfather Qusai ibn Kilab. Waraqah was the son of a man called Nawfal and his consort—Hind, daughter of Abī Kat̲h̲īr. Waraqah was proposed to marry Khadija, but the marriage never took place.^[3]

The Christian scholar in the field of Oriental studies, Irfan Shahîd, says that there is no evidence that the Ebionites remained until the 7th century AD, much less that they had a presence in Mecca.^[4]

Waraqah is revered in Islamic tradition for being one of the first hanifs to believe in the prophecy of Muhammad.^[5]

^ "Sahih Bukhari". 10 January 2009. '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 Waraqah died[...]
^ Muhammad ibn Saad, Tabaqat vol. 1. Translated by Haq, S. M. Ibn Sa'd's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, p. 54. Delhi: Kitab Bhavan.
^ Robinson, C. F. (2012). Encyclopedia of Islam (Second ed.). Brill. ISBN 9789004161214.
^ Irfan Shahîd. Islam And Oriens Christianus: Makka 610-622 Ad. in Mark Swanson et al, eds. The Encounter of Eastern Christianity with Early Islam. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2006. p18.
^ Encyclopedia of Islam, Online ed., "Waraqah bin. Nawfal".

[1] "Sahih Bukhari". 10 January 2009. '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 Waraqah died[...]

[2] Muhammad ibn Saad, Tabaqat vol. 1. Translated by Haq, S. M. Ibn Sa'd's Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, p. 54. Delhi: Kitab Bhavan.

[3] Robinson, C. F. (2012). Encyclopedia of Islam (Second ed.). Brill. ISBN 9789004161214.

[Irfan-4] Irfan Shahîd. Islam And Oriens Christianus: Makka 610-622 Ad. in Mark Swanson et al, eds. The Encounter of Eastern Christianity with Early Islam. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2006. p18.

[5] Encyclopedia of Islam, Online ed., "Waraqah bin. Nawfal".

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