The Islamic Personality by Sheikh Taqīuddīn An-Nabahānī

Each and every Muslim must believe in revelation, as it is a fundamental aspect of belief. However, the evidence for revelation is not rational, rather it is accepted on the basis of authentic texts. Since revelation does not have a tangible sensation or reality, the mind cannot verify its validity. Therefore every attempt to prove revelation by means of the intellect will be incorrect, as it is not possible to use the mind to prove something without a tangible reality.

Hence, as mentioned earlier, the evidence for revelation is not intellectual; rather it is established on the basis of authentic narrations. The Definite text of the Qur’ān verifies that the messenger Muhammad  recieved revelation. Allah  says,

The revelation that descended on the messenger  had three states, all prophets before him recieved the revelation through these only and not another. These states are all categorised under the revelation which Allah  explains in the Qur’ān. He  says,

That is, Allah  only communicates with man through inspiration, through verbal contact via a veil or by sending messengers. The revelation that descended upon the messenger  had two states. He  informed about them when he was once asked, "How does the revelation come to you?" He  replied,

These two states are as follows: Firstly- the angel inspires the prophet  by indication and without using words or language. The revelation is inspired into the mind of the prophet , just as he  said,

Also the messenger  whilst dreaming had visions that he received from Allah  both in the states of consciousness and sleep. Some of it was inspired to him whilst he was awake and he would have certain visions in his dreams all of which were revelation. As the mother of the believers, Aisha  said,

The messenger  would also feel that some form of revelation was about to come, but it didn't come. Aisha  narrated that Harith ibn Hashim  asked the messenger , "O messenger, how does the revelation come to you?" The messenger  said,

All these variations i.e. inspiration, dream, revelation without talk and everything similar constitute one state and fall within the saying of Allah ,

Because linguistically when the verb "to reveal to someone" is used it means to indicate or shake ones head. Thus Allah  reveals to him and inspires him. Allah  says,

Thus the inspiration to the bee is: the inspiration and the innate knowledge within the bee’s heart.

The second state is the revelation inspired by means of oral communication from the angel. It is transmitted orally to the prophet  after he learns through decisive evidence that this is revelation and the message bearer is the angel, i.e. Jibril. Allah  says,

In other words, Allah  sends Jibril who speaks with the messenger who simultaneously both hears and preserves his words. Aisha  narrated that the prophet  said,

There are a number of incidents mentioned in Ahadith in which Jibril  descended and talked to the prophet  and he would listen. This was a form of revelation for the messenger, as the angel would tell the messenger the meanings in the form of a conversation. The revelation by words and meaning is restricted to the Noble Qur’ān. As for revelation by meaning, the messenger  would express this by using his own words, through application i.e. his actions, or by silence and this is the Sunnah.

The Hadith Qudsi is regarded as Sunnah because although its meaning is revealed from Allah  its words are from the prophet . The words of the Hadith Qudsi are not from Allah  because the words that are from Allah  are specifically for the Qur’ān and this is proven by its inimitability. Although the Sunnah comes in the forms of inspiration, dream and is cast directly in the heart, it also comes both in wakefulness and as a dialogue between Jibril and the messenger .

The Qur’ān is only revealed through the messenger  because its words are from Allah . There are numerous ayats detailing the revelation of the Qur’ān. Allah  says,

The book referred to is the Qur’ān and “min” here is to indicate representation.

It is the Qur’ān. There are other ayats as well, which mention the revelation in general including the Sunnah. For example, Allah  says,

And He  says,

And He  says,

These two mentioned states have been discussed in the texts, The third state is mentioned in His  saying,

This is what happened with Musa . This Ayat is indicating to the incident in which Allah  spoke to Musa  from behind a veil. That is, just as the veiled person speaks with some dignitaries and with people of distinction. He speaks from behind a veil and although one hears the other person’s voice, he does not see him. This is the manner in which Allah  spoke with Musa .

Such an incident only occurred once with the prophet  during the al-Isra wal-Miraj, which has not only been mentioned in an authentic Hadith, but has also been indicated by Sura al-Najm. Allah  says,

With the exception of this event i.e. al-Isra wal-Miraj, the revelation descended upon the prophet  in the form of an inspiration and through a messenger.

All the types of revelation are forms of evidence. The communication between the angel and the messenger by talk or indication or conversation is a clear revelation. The inspiration and visions are clear revelations and Allah  speaking to the prophets is also a form of revelation. This revelation is a categorical proof as it has been reported in the most authentic and definite texts of definite meaning.