‘We do not descend but by the command of your Rabb. To Him belongs what is before us, what is behind us, and what is between. And your Rabb never forgets ‘ (19: 64)

‘We do not descend but by the command of your Rabb. To Him belongs what is before us, what is behind us, and what is between. And your Rabb never forgets ‘ (19: 64)

Gibrael (as) used to come every year for the purpose of listening to the Quran from Muhammad (saaw) and checking the memorization. In the year in which Muhammad

(saaw) passed away, Gibrael (as) went to Muhammad (saaw) twice to listen to his (saaw) recitation.

12.1.1 Forms of Wahi’y (Revelation)

Although the word Wahi’y (revelation) was used linguistically in various meanings in the Quran, as a term it means:

Allah’s (swt) teachings revealed through a medium to one of His Messengers.

The Wahi’y could mean the speech of Allah (swt) or could mean the process of relaying it to the Prophets, or the angel who used to carry the Message from Allah (swt) to the

Prophets.

Those who claim to be Messengers must provide proof that they have actually received the revelation. This proof is called Mu’ajizah or miracle. Aliracle is the actual altering of one or more of the natural or universal laws. Since any such altering can only be achieved by the Will of Allah (swt), if a person is imbued with any such ability then such a person could only have done so by the Will of Allah (swt). This would prove that whatever

he has was sent by Allah (swt). Regarding this issue, Allah (swt) says in Surah Ash- Shura: 51:

“It is not fitting for a human that Allah should speak to Him by revelation or behind a veil or by sending of the angel of revelation to reveal, with Allah’s permission, what Allah wills.” (Ash-Shura: 51)

The Ayah mentions the three forms of revelation:

A. Talking to a Prophet behind a veil. This happened to Musa (as).

‘And to Musa Allah Spoke’ (An-Nisa: 164)

This also happened to Muhammad (saaw) once and was mentioned in Surah An-Najm: 5-10.

“He was taught by one Alighty in Power. Endued with Wisdom: For he appeared (in stately form). While he

was in The Highest part of the horizon. Then he approached And came closer. And saw at a dIstance

of but bowlengths or (even) nearer. So did (God) convey the inspIratIon to His Servant-(Conveyed) what He (meant) To convey.” (An-Najm: 5-10)

B. Relaying the meaning to the Prophet (saaw) either while he is awake or sleeping (dream).

C. Sending of the Angle Gibreal(as) himself. In Sunnah 26:192-193, Allah(swt) say’s:

‘With it comes down the truthful spirit to your heart.’ (Ash-Shura: 192-193)

Gibrael used to come in the following forms:

The loud ringing of a bell, heard only by the Prophet (saaw). The Prophet (saaw) say’s

“Sometimes the Wahi’y comes like the ringing of the bell and this is the hardest of all. When this State passes, I grasp what was

revealed:” (Bukhari)

When this would happen, thosewho were around the Prophet (saaw) would realize the presence of the Wahi’y without being able to sense or comprehend it. It was reported on the authority of Ayesha (raa):

“I saw the Prophet (saaw) once receiving the revelation on a very cold day and noticed the

sweat dropping from his forehead once the revelation was over” (Bukhari)

2. In the shape of a man.

“And sometimes, the angel would come in the form of a man”

(Bukhari)

3. The angel would come in the form of his original shape, as it was the case at the first time of the revelation.

12.1.2 Differences Between the Revelation of Quran and Sunnah

Although the Wahi’y has different forms, the Quran was revealed directly through the angel of revelation, Gibrael (as). It was never revealed to the Prophet (saaw) by a dream

or any other means. The Sunnah, however, can be revealed to the Prophet (saaw) through any of the aforementioned forms of al Wahi’y. Needless to say, all forms of Wahi’y have the same validity. The Prophet (saaw) said:

“One of you who while reclining says, ‘this is the book of Allah (Quran), what is in it from that is halal, we’ll use it as halal, and what is in it from the haram, we’ll take as haram.’ But whoever delivers from me a Hadith and he lies in it, he has told a lie on Allah and his Messenger...” (Both of the above mentioned Ahadith are reported

in many sayings by Abu Daoud, Ahmad and many others.)

The Quran and Sunnah are the only two ways by which Allah (swt) has chosen to reveal Islam. The revelation can be of two kinds:

A. By the word and meaning.

B. By meaning alone.

The Quran was revealed with the words and its meanings. For example, the words Malikiyoummidiin in Surah al Fatiha is revealed by Allah (swt) with the words and its meaning. The Prophet (saaw) did not insert or delete any part of the Quran. On the other hand, the Sunnah is revealed by the meaning and the Prophet (saaw) expressed it in his (saaw) own words.