• Muslim belief concerning ~,
  • "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)

  • * 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)

  • * see also call to prophethood under MUHAMMAD

  • * 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, al-Jathiyah 45:51,52

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