Islamic Path » Quran http://islamicpath.org Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:55:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 The Modes of Descent of Wahy http://islamicpath.org/the-modes-of-descent-of-wahy/ http://islamicpath.org/the-modes-of-descent-of-wahy/#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:27:37 +0000 admin http://islamicpath.org/?p=157 Wahy (Divine Revelation) is the inspiration and guidance given by Allah Almighty to his Prophets. Wahy came to Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) in several modes.

1. Chiming of Bells

Sayyidah Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) says that Sayyidna Harith ibn Hisham (Radhi Allahu Anhu) once asked the Holy Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) how Wahy came to him. The Holy Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said “There are times when I hear something like the chiming of bells and this mode of Wahy is the hardest on me. After the chiming ends, the revelation is committed to my memory. And there are times when the angel appears before me in the shape of a man and talks to me.”

Sayyidah Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) adds,  ”I saw the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) being inspired with Wahy on a very cold day and when the Wahy ceased, sweat would be dripping from his forehead in spite of the cold weather.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 2/1)

In another narration, Sayyidah Aishah (Radhi Allahu Anha) relates, “When Wahy came to the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), his breath would seem to stop, the radiant face would turn pale like the branch of a date palm, the front teeth would shiver from cold and he would perspire so much that its drops would roll like pearls.” (Al-Itqan, 1/46)

On one occasion the camel that the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was riding at the time of revelation knelt down unable to bear the weight.

Once, when the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was resting his head on the lap of Sayyidna Zayd ibn Thabit (Radhi Allahu Anhu), the descent of Wahy started and this put so much weight on Sayyidna Zayd’s thigh that Sayyidna Zayd felt it would break. (Zad al-Ma’ad, 1/18, 19)

There were times when a low-volumed sound of this Wahy was sensed by others as well. Sayyidna Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhu) says, “When Wahy came to the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), a sound similar to the buzzing of honey-bees could be heard close to the Prophet’s (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) most bright face.” (Tabwib Musnad Ahmad, Kitab al-Sirah al-Nabaviyah, 20/212)

2. Jibrail (Alayhis Salam) in Human Form

In this mode of Wahy, Sayyidna Jibrail (Alayhis Salam) would come to Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) in human form and deliver Allah’s message. Sayyidna Jibrail (Alayhis Salam) usually came in the form of Sayyidna Dihyah al-Kalbi (Radhi Allahu Anhu), a companion of Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). Sayyidna Jibrail (Alayhis Salam) also came in other human forms. This mode of Wahy was the easiest on the Holy Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). (Al-Itqan, 1/46)

3. Jibrail (Alayhis Salam) in Angelic Form

In this mode of Wahy, Sayyidna Jibrail (Alayhis Salam) would appear in his angelic form. This occured only thrice. First, when the Holy Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) wished to see Jibrail (Alayhis Salam) in his real form. Second, during Miraj (the Ascent to Heaven) and third at Ajyad in Makkah al-Mukarramah during the very early days of prophethood. The first two happenings are authentic, however, the last one suffers from weak chains of authority and is, therefore, doubtful. (Fath al-Bari, 1/18,19)

4. Conversation with Allah Almighty

Another mode of Wahy was direct conversation with Allah Almighty. This honour was bestowed upon the Holy Prophet (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) only once while awake, during Miraj (Ascent to Heaven). Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) also conversed with Allah Almighty in a dream once.

5. Blowing into the Heart

In this mode of Wahy, Sayyidna Jibrail (Alayhis Salam) without appearing physically, would let some words of the message fall into Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam)’s heart. This is known as Nafth Fi al-Rau (blowing into the heart). (Ibid)

Reference: Ma’ariful Quran (The Wisdom of the Holy Qur’an) – Volume 1 by Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi’

]]> http://islamicpath.org/the-modes-of-descent-of-wahy/feed/ 1 Wahy – The Divine Revelation http://islamicpath.org/wahy-the-divine-revelation/ http://islamicpath.org/wahy-the-divine-revelation/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:53:04 +0000 admin http://islamicpath.org/?p=137 Wahy (Divine Revelation) is the inspiration and guidance given by Allah Almighty to his Prophets. The Holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) by means of Wahy.

Allah Almighty sent man to this world and has placed the whole universe under his service. Life in this world is a test and man must…

  1. Make the best use of this world and of things created in it.
  2. Keep the laws of Allah Almighty in mind and do nothing that goes against His will and pleasure.

To perform these two functions man needs knowledge. Unless he knows the properties of different things and the manner in which they can be put to use, he cannot use anything in this world to his advantage. And unless he knows the will of Allah Almighty, what pleases or displeases Him, it will be impossible for man to lead a life in accordance to the will of Allah Almighty.

So Allah Almighty, has created three sources through which man can receive this knowledge. These are…
  1. Man’s senses
  2. Man’s reason
  3. Wahy

Man learns many things through his senses, many others through reason, and the knowledge of things he cannot get through these two sources are bestowed upon him through Wahy.

The knowledge gained through the senses cannot be deduced through reason.  For instance, you know by seeing a wall with your eyes that its colour is white. But, it will be impossible to close your eyes and try to find out the colour of the wall on the sole strength of your reason.

Similarly, the knowledge gained through reason cannot be discovered by the senses. For instance, you cannot find out who made that wall by simply seeing it with your eyes or touching it with your hands. But you could use your reason to arrive at this knowledge.

Then there are things the knowledge of which can neither be acquired through the senses nor through reason. For instance, to find out what manner of use of that wall will please Allah Almighty and what manner of its use will displease Him, is possible neither through the senses nor through reason.

In order to give man the answer to such questions, the source that Allah Almighty has prescribed is Wahy. This makes it clear that Wahy is the highest source of knowledge for man which offers to him the answers to questions about his life and provides guidance that cannot be attained by means of the senses and reason.

If you have faith in the fact that this universe has been created by Allah Almighty and He has sent man to this world for a purpose, how then is it possible to imagine that He, after creating man, would leave him in total darkness, without telling him why he was sent to this world, what his duties are, where he is destined to go and how he can realize the purpose of his life?

When a man of ordinary reason would not send someone on a mission without telling him the objective of the mission, how can Allah Almighty, under Whose ultimate wisdom this whole universe is functioning, leave man without guidance?

If there is faith in the ultimate wisdom of Allah Almighty, then it is mandatory to believe that He did not leave His servants in the dark. On the contrary, He has instituted a system for their guidance, which is Wahy (Divine Revelation) and Risalah (Prophethood).

Reference: Ma’ariful Quran (The Wisdom of the Holy Qur’an) – Volume 1 by Maulana Mufti Muhammad Shafi’

]]> http://islamicpath.org/wahy-the-divine-revelation/feed/ 4 The Chronology of the Revelation of the Quran http://islamicpath.org/the-chronology-of-the-revelation-of-the-quran/ http://islamicpath.org/the-chronology-of-the-revelation-of-the-quran/#comments Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:15:42 +0000 admin http://islamicpath.org/?p=70 The noble Quran is the word of Allah. Before the creation of the heavens and the earth, it was written by the order of Allah into a book known as the Preserved Tablet (al-Lauh al-Mahfuz). Along with the Quran, all events that will occur from the start of creation till the Day of Judgment are recorded in the Preserved Tablet.

Allah says in the Quran…

 

Nay! This is a Glorious Quran, (inscribed) in al-Lauh al-Mahfuz (The Preserved Tablet)!

- Quran (Al-Buruj, 85:21-22)

 

From the Preserved Tablet, its descent took place twice. The first time, the entire Quran descended to The House of Honor (al-Bayt al-Izza). The House of Honor is a house in the first (lowest) heaven, facing Ka’bah. It serves as the place of worship for angels. This descent took place in the month of Ramadan during the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr).

Allah says in the Quran…

 

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran as a guidance for mankind and with clear proofs of (earlier) guidance and the Criterion (between right and wrong)…

- Quran (Al-Baqarah, 2:185)

 

By the manifest Book that makes things clear. We sent it down on a blessed night; for we (ever) wish to warn (against evil).

- Quran (Ad-Dukaan, 44:2-3)

 

The second time, the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). This revelation was made gradually, as needed, and took twenty three years to complete. The verses of the Quran were brought down by the Angel Jibr’il (Gabriel) and inspired directly into the heart and mind of Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam). The beginning of this descent also took place in the month of Ramadan during the Night of Power (Laylat al-Qadr).

Allah refers to this revelation in many verses of the Quran. In one such verse Allah says…

 

And this (Quran) is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds. It is brought by the Trusted Spirit down to your heart, so that you become one of the warners. In plain Arabic language.

- Quran (Ash-Shuara, 26:192-195)

 

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