Wahy (revelation) can occur in two ways: without an intermediary, and with an intermediary .
Without Intermediary
In this, Allaah reveals His message directly to His servant. This can occur in two forms:
By Way of dreams
This is the first type of inspiration that the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) received. Aishah (RA) reports, "The commencement of the divine inspiration upon the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) was in the form of good dreams. He never used to dream about anything except that it came true like the rising of the sun." (Bukhari) In other words, before the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) received his mission of prophethood, he (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) would see dreams of events which would eventually come true, just like the sun rises every morning.
The dreams of all the prophets are an inspiration from Allaah. In these dreams, the prophets are either shown some event of the future, or given commandments by Allaah. This is proven by the dream in which Ibraaheem saw himself sacrificing his son Ismaaeel. Ibraaheem understood that this dream was a command from Allaah directing him to sacrifice his son. "And when he (lsmaa!eel) was old enough to walk with.him, he said, O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you, so what do you think", (Ismaaeel) said. O my father, do what you have been commanded! Verily, you will find me, inshaa Allaah, from amongst the patient (Q37[Saffat]:102). Ibraaheem understood that this was a command from Allaah, as did Ismaaeel, even though it was in the form of a dream.
Another example of this is the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) had been shown a vision in which the Muslims were performing the rites of Umrah, and the Companions set out with the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) from Madeenah to Makkah hoping to perform the Umrah. The pagans of Makkah, however, did not allow the Muslims to enter Makkah, and a treaty was enacted between the Muslims and the pagans, later to be known as the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. One of the conditions of the treaty was that, in the following year, the Muslims would relum and complete the rites of Umrah. As the Muslims returned sad-heartened to Madeenah, Allaah revealed "Indeed, of surely shall Allaah fulfil the dream which He showed His Messenger; you shall enter the Masjid al-Haraam, if Allaah wills, secure, with your heads shaved or trimmed (after performing the rites of pilgrimage), fearing none" (Q48[Fathi]:27). The following year, the Muslims performed the Umrah as per the terms of the agreement. The dream that the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam). had seen eventually came true. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) never received any Quraan in this manner, but he did say, "Nothing is left of prophethood except mubashiraat(glad tidings)." When he was asked what this was, he replied, "A true dream." (Bukhari)
In other words, the only type of inspiration that is left after the death of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) is in the form of true dreams to a believer. In another narration, he said, "A true and pious dream is one out of forty-six parts of prophethood." (Daarimi)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited