WAHI
WAHY
highest form of inspiration.
- Muslim belief concerning ~,
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"The recipient knows the medium, ie. the
angel by whom he received the information. This is ''Wahi,'' the
inspiration of prophets, the inspiration of the Quran. The recipient
receives information from an unknown source and in an unknown way.
This is the inspiration of saints and mystics. It is called ''Ilham.''
The difference between ''Wahi'' and ''Ilham'' is that in the former an
angel is the medium of communication, and in the latter he is not. It
comes direct to the mind of the prophet."
(Al-Ghazali, quoted in Encyclopaedia of
Religion and Ethics, Vol 7. p.354)
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* Narrated 'Aisha:
(the mother of the faithful believers) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked
Allah's Apostle "O Allah's Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration
revealed to you?" Allah's Apostle replied, "Sometimes it is
(revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is
the hardest of all and then this state passes ' off after I have
grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of
a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says." 'Aisha added:
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).
(Sahih Bukhari 1.2)
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* see also call to prophethood under MUHAMMAD
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* Narrated Said bin Jubair:
Ibn 'Abbas in the explanation of the Statement of Allah. 'Move not
your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith." (al-Qiyamah 75:16)
Said "Allah's Apostle used to bear the revelation with great trouble
and used to move his lips (quickly) with the Inspiration." Ibn 'Abbas
moved his lips saying, "I am moving my lips in front of you as
Allah's Apostle used to move his." Said moved his lips saying: "I am
moving my lips, as I saw Ibn 'Abbas moving his." Ibn 'Abbas added,
"So Allah revealed 'Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur'an) to
make haste therewith. It is for us to collect it and to give you (O
Muhammad) the ability to recite it (the Qur'an) (al-Qiyamah 75:16-17) which
means that Allah will make him (the Prophet) remember the portion of
the Qur'an which was revealed at that time by heart and recite it.
The Statement of Allah: And 'When we have recited it to you (O
Muhammad through Gabriel) then you follow its (Qur'an) recital'
(al-Qiyamah 75:18) means 'listen to it and be silent.' Then it is for Us (Allah)
to make It clear to you' (al-Qiyamah 75:19) means 'Then it is (for Allah) to
make you recite it (and its meaning will be clear by itself through
your tongue). Afterwards, Allah's Apostle used to listen to Gabriel
whenever he came and after his departure he used to recite it as
Gabriel had recited it."
(Sahih Bukhari 1.4)
- God address man by,
42:51,52
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