Basically, there are 3 kinds of revelation known in Islam. These are:
• Wahy: Divine Inspiration
• Kashf: Behind the veil
• Angelic: Angel Jibril (Archangel)
The Qur’an confirms the above three modes thus:
“It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal with God’s permission what God wills for He is Most High, Most Wise” (Q 42:51)
Meaning of Wahy
Wahy is from the Arabic word Waha and it occurs many times in the Qur’an, each of them indicating the main ideal of inspiration, direction, or guiding someone. Wahy also means intuition as contained in Qur’an 28:7- “so We sent inspiration to the mother of Moses”.
Wahy or divine inspirations given by Allah to Prophet Muhammad is explained in the Qur’an as a confirmation of the divine nature of his message.
For example:
“Remember thy Lord inspired the Angels (with the message)…” (Q 8: 12)
According to Denffer, Wahy in the sense of revelation is guidance from Allah for His creation, brought by the Prophets, who received the word from Him through one of the means mentioned above. An example is a dream as contain in Q 37: 102 where is it related that Prophet Ibrahim received guidance in a vision, while asleep, to sacrifice his son. Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad to say:
“…I follow but that which is reveal to me by inspiration! I am but a Warner, open and clear” (Q 46:9).
The above Qur’anic verse removes the doubt in the minds of the followers as well as detractors of the Prophet as regards his divine messengership. Even when questions are asked and the Prophet does not have the answers readily, he would wait until a revelation came to him. Wahy may come in form of big bang or the ringing of a bell. Only the Prophet hears such sounds, and responds to the instruction that follows.
The effects of such an inspiration on the Prophet are his sweating profusely and uneasy physical conditions while the revelation lasted.
Meaning of Kashf
Revelation through Kashf are the direct communication between Allah and the messenger but under the cover of veil. An example of this was the communication between Allah and Prophet Musa as stated in Q7: 142-143
“We appointed for Musa thirty nights, and completed (the period) with ten more: thus was completed the term (of communication) with his Lord, forty nights. When Musa came to the place appointed by Us, and his Lord addressed him…”
Similarly, the Qur’an spoke of speech hiding away as in Qur’an 27: 8 thus:
“But when he came to the fire, a voice was heard” blessed are those in the fire and those around, and glory to Allah the Lord of the worlds. O Moses, verily, I am Allah the Exalted in might and the wise”.
In the case of Kashf, the messenger hears the voice of the Almighty God, although he may not see him physically. This is because the almighty Allah out of His power communicate with such men of God as a means of telling them how close He is to them and how spiritually elevated they were.
Angelic Mode of Revelation
The angelic kind of revelation is the delivery of revelation by the archangel Jibril. In this form, the angel may disguise in the form of a human being or appear to the prophet in its angelic nature. Since only the prophet sees him, the people around may not know the exact situation except the prophet informs them. The Qur’an says this about the angel:
“Say: whoever is an enemy of Gabriel – for he brings down (the revelation) to thy hearts by God’s will, a confirmation of what went before, And guidance and glad tidings for those who believe” (Q. 2:97).
• Wahy: Divine Inspiration
• Kashf: Behind the veil
• Angelic: Angel Jibril (Archangel)
The Qur’an confirms the above three modes thus:
“It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal with God’s permission what God wills for He is Most High, Most Wise” (Q 42:51)
Meaning of Wahy
Wahy is from the Arabic word Waha and it occurs many times in the Qur’an, each of them indicating the main ideal of inspiration, direction, or guiding someone. Wahy also means intuition as contained in Qur’an 28:7- “so We sent inspiration to the mother of Moses”.
Wahy or divine inspirations given by Allah to Prophet Muhammad is explained in the Qur’an as a confirmation of the divine nature of his message.
For example:
“Remember thy Lord inspired the Angels (with the message)…” (Q 8: 12)
According to Denffer, Wahy in the sense of revelation is guidance from Allah for His creation, brought by the Prophets, who received the word from Him through one of the means mentioned above. An example is a dream as contain in Q 37: 102 where is it related that Prophet Ibrahim received guidance in a vision, while asleep, to sacrifice his son. Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad to say:
“…I follow but that which is reveal to me by inspiration! I am but a Warner, open and clear” (Q 46:9).
The above Qur’anic verse removes the doubt in the minds of the followers as well as detractors of the Prophet as regards his divine messengership. Even when questions are asked and the Prophet does not have the answers readily, he would wait until a revelation came to him. Wahy may come in form of big bang or the ringing of a bell. Only the Prophet hears such sounds, and responds to the instruction that follows.
The effects of such an inspiration on the Prophet are his sweating profusely and uneasy physical conditions while the revelation lasted.
Meaning of Kashf
Revelation through Kashf are the direct communication between Allah and the messenger but under the cover of veil. An example of this was the communication between Allah and Prophet Musa as stated in Q7: 142-143
“We appointed for Musa thirty nights, and completed (the period) with ten more: thus was completed the term (of communication) with his Lord, forty nights. When Musa came to the place appointed by Us, and his Lord addressed him…”
Similarly, the Qur’an spoke of speech hiding away as in Qur’an 27: 8 thus:
“But when he came to the fire, a voice was heard” blessed are those in the fire and those around, and glory to Allah the Lord of the worlds. O Moses, verily, I am Allah the Exalted in might and the wise”.
In the case of Kashf, the messenger hears the voice of the Almighty God, although he may not see him physically. This is because the almighty Allah out of His power communicate with such men of God as a means of telling them how close He is to them and how spiritually elevated they were.
Angelic Mode of Revelation
The angelic kind of revelation is the delivery of revelation by the archangel Jibril. In this form, the angel may disguise in the form of a human being or appear to the prophet in its angelic nature. Since only the prophet sees him, the people around may not know the exact situation except the prophet informs them. The Qur’an says this about the angel:
“Say: whoever is an enemy of Gabriel – for he brings down (the revelation) to thy hearts by God’s will, a confirmation of what went before, And guidance and glad tidings for those who believe” (Q. 2:97).
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