REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAKKAH -- The process of the descent of revelation as mentioned in the hadith is that the Prophet (pbuh) dreamed first. Then, he liked to be alone in the Cave of Hira and then the revelation came down.
in a hadits, Aisyah radhiyallahu anha narrates it as follows.
“Our message is to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him),” and “Revelation first came down to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the form of a true dream when he slept.
And the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) does not dream unless it comes like the light of dawn.”
Aisyah radhiyallahu anha continues his statement:
أول ما بدئ به رسول الله ﷺ من الوحى الرؤيا الصادقة فى النوم، وكان لا يرى رؤيا إلا جاءت مثل فلق الصبح
He went to Hira Cave and worshipped there for several nights before returning to his wife (Khadijah). He brought provisions to rest, then he returned again to Khadijah, and then prepared such provisions again. Until the angel Gabriel came and he was in the Cave of Hira”.
Aisyah radhiyallahu anha continued his tuturanya
ثم حبب إليه الخلاء فكان يخلو بغار حراء فيتحنث فيه - وهو التعبد - الليالى ذوات العدد قبل أن ينزع إلى أهله، ويتزود لذلك ثم يرجع إلى خديجة فيتزود لمثلها، حتى جاءه الحق وهو فى غار حراء
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him, 'I cannot read! Then he held me up and covered me until I was bored. Then he let me go and said, 'Read it! 'I replied; 'I can't read! He held me up again and covered me a second time until I was bored, then let me go again saying, 'Read it! ' I replied; 'I can't read'. So he decapitated me and covered me for the third time until I was exhausted, then released me again and said;
ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ
Read by the name of your Lord who created)
until the verse
عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
He teaches man what man does not know) (Narrated by Bukhari).