Lesson 6: Types of revelation

Question 1

What are the 4 different types of revelation?

Answer 1

1. الوحي إلى الأنبياء | Revelation to the Prophets
2. وحي الله لغير أنبيائه من البشر | Allah’s revelation to non-prophets among humans
3. الوحي إلى الملائكة | Revelation to the Angels
4. Revelation to other creations of Allah (that don’t have ‘Aql)

Question 2

Understanding the first type of revelation and the evidence for it

Answer 2

الوحي إلى الأنبياء | Revelation to the Prophets
- Can be direct or indirect (Ilham-Inspiration)

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**فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ ٱلسَّعْىَ قَالَ يَـٰبُنَىَّ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰ فِى ٱلْمَنَامِ أَنِّىٓ أَذْبَحُكَ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَىٰ ۚ قَالَ يَـٰٓأَبَتِ ٱفْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ ۖ سَتَجِدُنِىٓ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ**

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> And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion,1he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.” He said, “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allāh wills, of the steadfast.”

The scholars say when Ismael عليه السلام said do as you are commanded was revelation in the form of inspiration from Allah to guide him to those words.

Question 3

Understanding the second type of revelation and the evidence for it

Answer 3

وحي الله لغير أنبيائه من البشر | Allah’s revelation to non-prophets among humans
- Like the Wahy Allah sent to the mother of Musa عليه السلام

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**وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ ۖ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحْزَنِىٓ ۖ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ**

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> And We inspired to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.”

• Allah used Wahy for the mother of Musa عليه السلام

Question 4

Understanding the third type of revelation and the evidence for it

Answer 4

الوحي إلى الملائكة | Revelation to the Angels
- Like the angels during the battle of Badr

<aside>

**إِذْ يُوحِى رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ أَنِّى مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ۚ سَأُلْقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلرُّعْبَ فَٱضْرِبُوا۟ فَوْقَ ٱلْأَعْنَاقِ وَٱضْرِبُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍۢ**

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> [Remember] when your Lord inspired to the angels, “I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieved, so strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip.”

Question 5

Understanding the fourth type of revelation and the evidence for it

Answer 5

1. Revelation to other creations of Allah (that don’t have ‘Aql)
   - Like The bees

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**وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى ٱلنَّحْلِ أَنِ ٱتَّخِذِى مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًۭا وَمِنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ**

</aside>

> And your Lord inspired to the bee, “Take for yourself among the mountains, houses [i.e., hives], and among the trees and [in] that which they construct.

• to the Heavens

<aside>

**فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَاتٍۢ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِى كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمْرَهَا ۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَحِفْظًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ**

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> And He completed them as seven heavens within two days and inspired [i.e., made known] in each heaven its command. And We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps [i.e., stars, for beauty] and as protection.1That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.

• To the Earth

<aside>

**إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا**

**وَأَخْرَجَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا**

**وَقَالَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا لَهَا**

**يَوْمَئِذٍۢ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا**

**بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا**

</aside>

> When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquakeAnd the earth discharges its burdensAnd man says,”What is [wrong] with it?” -That Day, it will report its newsBecause your Lord has inspired [i.e., commanded] it.

Question 6

What was the mistake of Ibn Hazm with regards to revelation and what the reason for his mistake it?

Answer 6

He fell into the mistake of believing revelation is only for the prophets because of this term, as he thought that since Allah used Wahy for the mother of Musa, a women could be a prophet.