Since the creation of mankind. Allaah has communicated with them through prophets and messengers from amongst them whom He inspired with His message. This inspiration occurs in a manner that is swift and usually not obvious to anyone else, This special manner of communication is known as wahy,
The Meaning of Wahy linguistically, the word inspiration (Wahy) could mean different things depending on its context and usage, Some of these contexts could be glimpsed from the Qur'an. Sometimes. wahy could mean the natural order and laws of nature as Allaah says:
"Then He completed and finished their creation (as) seven heavens, and He inspired in each heaven its affair," (Q41[Ha Mim]: 12)
Wahy could also mean natural animal instinct as Allaah says:
"And your Lord inspired the bee, saying, Take as habitations mountains, and in the tree and in what (mankind) builds. Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord..." (QI6[NahI1:68-69)
This signifies the natural animal instinct that every creature is endowed with.
Human instincts and emotion (ilham) is also a literal meaning of wahy. This type of inspiration does not make its recipient a prophet. This is what the mother of Musa (alayhi salaam) experienced when she left her baby to float on the river:
"And we inspired the mother of Musa, 'Suckle him! But when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve"(Q28[Qasas]:7)
When Allaah forbade Prophet Zakariyyah (alayhi salaam) to speak for three days except by gestures. Allaah described Zakariyyah's signals and gestures as a form of inspiration since he did not verbalise his intent.
"... he came out unto his people, and inspired them (by gestures and signs) to glorify ALlaah's praises in the morning and afternoon" (QI 9[Maryam]: I I)
This is also the description of Allaah's guidance to the angels as He mentioned:
"(Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, 'I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed'" ...(Q8[Anfal]: 12)
and the evil whispers between cohorts among the jinn and men as Allaah says:
"And Thus We have appointed for every prophet an enemy evils among mankind and Jinns, inspiring one another ...."(Q6[An'am]: 112)
The Inspiration To The Prophets
When the word wahy is used in the context of the Shari'ah, it means the process by which Allaah's word is revealed to His prophets.
"It is not possible for any human being that Allaah should speak to him unless it be by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or (that) He sends a Messenger to reveal what He wills by His Permission. Verily, He is the Most High, Most Wise" (Q42[Shu'ra]:5I )
How Does Wahy (inspiration) Occur?
Allaah sends His revelation in two ways: The first is directly, without an intermediary. and the second way is through an intermediary.
Direct Revelation case reveals His message directly to His prophet and this occur in two forms:
DREAM: in their dreams, prophet are either shown some events of the future or given some commands. The prophethood of Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) started in this form. 'A'ishah (RA) reported:
"The commencement of the divine inspiration upon the Prophet (sallallaahu 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)
Impliedly, before the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) received his mission of prophethood, he would see dreams of events, which would eventually come true.
The only surah that is reported to have been revealed through dream is Surat-al-Kawthar (QIO8). Anas ibn Maalik (RA) narrated:
"Once while Allaah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was among us in the masjid, he dozed off, then raised his head, smiling. I asked him, 'what has amused you 0 Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)?' He replied, 'A surah has just been revealed to me.' Then he recited, (inna atayna ... till the end). (Muslim)
Another prophet who received Allaah's command through this form was Ibrahim (alayhi salaam).
When he saw himself sacrificing his son Ismail, both he and his son understood perfectly that this was a command from Allaah and they therefore set about carrying it out. "And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "0 my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allah), so look what you think!" He said: "0 my father! Do that which you are commanded, Insha' Allaah (if Allaah will), you shall find me of As- Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.)." (Q3 7[5affat]: 102)
Direct Speech: This comes in the form of actual words emanating from Allaah and heard directly by the prophets in their wakeful state. A veil of light would separate them from seeing Allaah. This is the main manner in which Prophet Musa (alayhi salaam) received revelation; hence, he was given the title Kaleemul/ah (the one spoken to by Allaah).
"And when Musa (Moses) came at the time and Place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke to him," (Q7[A'raf]: 143)
Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) also experienced this form of communication and this occurred only once in his lifetime. It happened at the time of the his ascension up into the heavens (Mi'raaj) The Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa sallam) conversed with Allaah but did not see Him. There was a veil of light between them. (Muslim)
Revelation With An Intermediary
This is the primary and most common method of inspiration. The vast majority of Allaah's revelation was conveyed to the prophets by way of the angel of revelation - Jibril. He receives the inspiration from Allaah for onward transmission to the recipient messenger. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Whenever AIlaah desires to inspire a matter (to His servants), He speaks with the inspiration. and (because of this) the heavens themselves shake out of fear of AIlaah. When the people of the heaven (i.e .. the angels) hear of it, they fall down in a swoon and prostrate to Him. The first one to raise his head is Jibril and AIlaah speaks to him with the inspiration that He wishes. Then Jibril passes by the angels; whenever he goes by any heaven, the angels of that heaven ask him. 'What did our Lord say, 0 Jibril?' He answers, 'He has Spoken the Truth. and He is the Most High. the Most Great." (Bukhari)
Forms Of Revelation To The Prophets
The passing of revelation to the recipient prophet is done in two ways: like the Ringing of a bell: First, the revelation would come to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in a very severe manner, like the ringing of a bell. This was the hardest form of revelation. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would break into sweat even on very cold nights, when he was being inspired. Aisha (RA) said:
"Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over)." (Bukhari)
Angel in Human form: Second, the angel would at other times take the form of a man to deliver Allaah's message to the prophet. For instance, angels 'took human form to visit Prophets Ibrahim and Lut (alahimus-salaam). This is easier on the recipient prophet. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) described the manner revelations come down to him,
"Sometimes it comes to me like the ringing of a bell. This form is the hardest on me and this state passes off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the angel comes to me in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp what he says." (Bukhari)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited