Inspiration Al Wahy

Chapter 3

The Concept of Wahy• It is the concept where Allah has communicated with humanity

by choosing some of them as Prophets and Messengers, and inspiring them with His message, to guide mankind from the darkness of shirk to the light of Islam, and from immorality of their desires to the purity of Worship.

ه�د�اي� �ع� �ب ت ف�م�ن ه�د�ى �ي م�ن �م �ك �ن �ي ت� �أ ي �م�ا ف�إ

�ون� ن �ح�ز� ي ه�م� و�ال� �ه�م� �ي ع�ل خ�و�ف' ف�ال�

Allah states, “Then whenever there comes to you (mankind) guidance from Me – and whoever follows my guidance, there shall

be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.” (2:38)

The Concept of Wahy Continued…• …there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.” (2:38)

• The first part (No fear on them) refers to the day of Judgment• The second part (nor shall they grieve) refers to this life.

• In fact, this inspiration of Allah to His prophets has been so common, that when the disbelievers of Makkah were amazed at the prophethood of Muhammad, Allah revealed:

ج�ل+ ر� �ى/ �ل إ �ا �ن ي و�ح�� أ �ن� أ �ا ب ع�ج� �اس� �لن ل �ان� �ك أ�ه�م� م�ن

• “Is it a cause of wonder for mankind that We have sent Our inspiration to a man from themselves.” (10:2)

The Concept of Wahy Continued…• The last to receive this wahy was Muhammad (sAws), the son of

Abdullah, the Qurashee.

• When the Prophet was called by his Lord to return to his eternal resting place, his servant Umm Ayman was found crying. She was told, “Do not grieve; Verily he is now in a better place than where he

used to be.” • She responded, “I am not crying because of his death, for indeed I know that what he has received from his Lord is better for him than this life. I am

crying because now Allah has stopped the revelation to mankind.”

• When she said this Abu Bakr and Umar started to weep. (Muslim)

The Meaning of Wahy• Wahy means to inspire, or to communicate in a way that is not

apparent or obvious to anybody else, in a swift manner.

Various ways Wahy is used in the Quran• The Natural order and laws of nature.

• “Then He completed and finished their creation as seven heavens and He inspired in each heaven its affair.” (41:12)

• Natural Animal Instinct.• “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 way of your Lord.” (16:68-69)

• Ilham – is human intuition and emotion. • i.e. “And we insprired in the mother of Musa, “Suckle him! But when you

fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve.” (28:7)

Various ways Wahy is used in the Quran• Signals or gestures to communicate

• “He came out unto his people, and inspired them (by gestures and signs) to glorify Allah’s praises in the morning and afternoon.

• Evil whispers from Shaytaan.• “And of a certainty the devils inspire their cohorts (amongst mankind) to

dispute with you.” (6:121)

• Guidance to the Angels from Allah• “Remember when your Lord inspired the Angels, I am with you, so keep

firm those who have believed.” (8:12)

• The Inspiration to the Prophets• “It is not possible for any human being that Allah should speak to him

unless it be by Inspiration, or from behind a veil, or that He sends a Messenger to reveal what He will by His permission.” (42:51)

The procedure of Wahy• Wahy can occur in two ways:

1. Without an Intermediary2. With an Intermediary

With an Intermediary1. By way of dreams2. Direct dreams from Allah

By way of dreams• Aishah said, “The commencement of the divine inspiration upon

the Prophet 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)

By way of dreams• In these dreams, the prophets are either shown some event of

the future, or given commandments by Allah. • i.e. Ibrahim seeing in a dream that he was commanded to sacrifice his son

Isama’eel.

• The Prophet NEVER received any Quran in this manner.

Direct speech from Allah• In this manner Allah communicates with the Prophets directly. • Allah speaks to the Prophet, but he does not see Allah.

• i.e. Musa on mount toor. “And when Musa came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord spoke to him, Musa said, O My Lord! Allow me to look at you! Allah said, You will not see Me.”

Direct speech from Allah• Abu Dharr asked the Prophets, “Did you see your Lord on the

night of journey of Al Israa?” The Prophet replied, “Light – how could I see Him.” • Meaning there was a veil of light that came between the Prophet and

Allah.

With an Intermediary• This was the primary and most common method of wahy. • In this method Allah sends an Angel with the wahy.• This Messenger was sometimes seen by the Prophet and

sometimes hidden.• i.e. Hadith Jibreel when he showed up in the form of a man.

Muhammad sees Jibreel for the first time• When Muhammad saw Jibreel for the first time, Khadija took him

to her cousin, Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who had converted to Christianity, and was knowledgeable of the torah and injeel.

• After the Prophet informed him of what he saw. Waqaqah told him, “This angel is the same Namoos (keeper of secrets), whom Allah sent to Musa.

The Revelation of the Quran to Jibreel• Jibreel heard the Quran directly from Allah.

• Imam Ahmad said, “Jibreel heard the Quran from Allah, and the Prophet heard the Quran from Jibreel, and the Companions of the Prophet heard the Quran from the Prophet. Therefore the Quran is uncreated.”

The revelation of the Quran to the Prophet from Jibreel• Jibreel after hearing it from Allah, he communicated to the

Prophet in one of two ways:1. The revelation came in a very severe manner, like the ringing of a bell.

This was the hardest form of revelation on the Prophet.

It is said that he would break into sweat, even on very cold nights, when he was being inspired. Allah stated, “Verily, We shall send down to you a heavy speech.” (73:5)

2. Jibreel took the form of a man and came to the Prophet. This type of inspiration was easier for him.

• In the beginning the Prophet would be fearful that he would forget the revelation, so he used to repeat quickly after Jibreel, even before Jibreel would be able to finish his recitation.

The revelation of the Quran to the Prophet from Jibreel Continued..• This is why Allah revealed:

�ا �ن �ي ع�ل �ن� إ �- �ه ب �ع�ج�ل� �ت ل �ك� ان ل�س� �ه� ب ك� �ح�ر� ت ال��ه� - آن ق�ر� �ع� �ب ف�ات �اه� ن

� أ ق�ر� �ذ�ا ف�إ �ه� آن و�ق�ر� ج�م�ع�ه�

• “Do not move your tongue with haste concerning the Quran; It is for Us to collect it and recite it. After we have recited it to you, then follow its recital.” (75:16-18)

• Muhammad was assured that he would not forget the Quran. • Even though the companions saw Jibreel in the form of a man,

he never inspired Muhammad with the Quran during these times.

The revelation of the Quran to the Prophet from Jibreel Continued..• Jibreel also came to the Prophet in his angelic form like when he

came to him in the cave of hiraa.

• Also on the night of Al Israa and the Prophet reported the Jibreel has 600 wingss, and that Jibreel was so large that he reached the heavens in height.

• Ubaadah ibn Saamit said that when the Prophet received revelation he would become pale and he would lower his head, and the companions would lower their heads out of respect and love for the prophet.

The difference betweent the Quran and Hadith Qudsi• A Hadith Qudsee is a narration that the Prophet gives and states

that it is from Allah. • i.e. The Prophet said that Allah said, “O my servants, I have made

injustice forbidden for Me, and I have made it forbidden for you as well, so do not be unjust to one another.” (Muslim)

1. The Quran is the speech of Allah revealed to the Prophet in meaning and wording. The hadith qudsi is only in meaning.

2. The Quran is miraculous, whereas the hadith qudsi is not.3. Allah promised to preserve the Quran and not the hadith qudsi4. Quran is in the mutawattir form where hadith qudsi mainly exist

in the ahad form. There are weak and unauthentic hadith qudsi.

5. To recite the Quran is an act of worship and this is not the case for the Hadith Qudsi.