Waraqah ibn Nawfal

Waraqah ibn Nawfal
Died610 CE
Parents
  • Nawfal ibn Asad (father)
  • Hind bint Abi Kathir (mother)
RelativesKhadijah bint Khuwaylid (cousin)
FamilyBanu 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 a Christian 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]

Waraqah is revered in Islamic tradition for being one of the first hanifs to believe in the prophecy of Muhammad.[4]

  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.
  4. ^ Encyclopedia of Islam, Online ed., "Waraqah bin. Nawfal".