Waraqah ibn Nawfal
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Waraqah ibn Nawfal, Waraqah ibn Nawfal ibn Assad ibn al-Azi ibn Kassi Al-Korshy (Arabic ورقه بن نوفل بن أسد بن عبد العزي بن قصي القرشي ) is the parental cousin of Khadija, Muhammad's first wife.
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[edit] Overview
Waraqah was a Nestorian monk[1], Mecca's priest or preacher according to some sources, and died a Nestorian Christian. He is reputed to have translated the Bible from Hebrew into Arabic and presided over Muhammad's wedding.
[edit] Waraqah according to the Sira
According to the sira, the traditional Muslim biographies of Muhammad, which speaks highly of Waraqah, Waraqah was a pious monk who recognized the signs of prophethood soon after Muhammad received his revelation. Some Muslims regard this as a specific fulfillment of Isaiah 29:11-18. (See surat Al-Alaq for a fuller account.) Some critical historians of Islam have argued that as sabomenoi Waraqah may have helped Muhammad develop the religion that he would preach; such historians also cite other Christian and Jewish sages and monks around Muhammad (such as Bahira), who are described in the Sira. This, however, is a nonstandard viewpoint. During the reception of the first revelation, Muhammad was distressed at seeing the vision of an angel. He was consoled by Khadija who took him to Waraqah, who then told Muhammad that the angel he had seen, Gabriel, was the same one God had sent to Musa (Moses). Waraqah also told Muhammad that his people would drive him out of Mecca and that he would support Muhammad in the cause. Waraqah, however, died a few days after this meeting.
[edit] Waraqah according to the Hadith
Hadith mentions Waraqah as having appeared in a dream in the garb of the people of paradise.