Jabal al-Nur and the Hira Cave located on it are the places where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) first received divine revelation. The verses that were revealed here are:
"Read in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from a clinging substance. Read, and your Lord is the most Generous—He who taught by the pen—taught man that which he knew not." (Al-‘Alaq 96:1-5)
Even before he was appointed as a prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him) detested idolatry. During the month of Ramadan, he would take provisions and withdraw to the Hira Cave on Jabal al-Nur, where he would stay for days in meditation and reflection. He derived great spiritual pleasure and solace from this practice. The Hira Cave, which still exists today, is only tall enough for a person to stand and long enough to lie down.