The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 331
X - A Glance at the Makkan Life 331 Meaning, “And it is not for a man that Allāh should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a veil or by sending a messenger to reveal by His command what He pleases. Surely He is High, Wise. ” 1 In this verse of the Holy Qur’ān, Allāh has mentioned three methods of divine communication: 1. وحی [Revelation]: In other words, direct communication by words, which can have two cases: a. ) That the words of Allāh the Exalted directly reach the ears of an individual. This form of revelation is usually the most awe-inspiring and magnificent. b. ) That the words of Allāh the Exalted are brought to the tongue of an individual. Both of these cases are referred to as Waḥī in Islāmic phraseology. 2. ٍ مِن ْ وَّرَآئ ِ حِجَاب [From behind a veil]: In other words, the order of Allāh is brought to an individual by means of a written document before the eyes, a vision, dream, or heart-felt revelation, etc. 3. ً یُرْسِل َ رَسُوْلا [By sending a messenger]: In other words, if an angel, etc. , comes before an individual from Allāh the Exalted, and speaks to him on behalf of Allāh the Exalted. Similarly, in accordance to this, there is a narration in Ḥadīth , by Ḥaḍrat ‘ Ā’ishah ra that one time, an individual inquired of the Holy Prophet sa that O Messenger of Allāh, how does revelation come to you? Upon this the Holy Prophet sa responded: اَحْیَانًا یَاٴْتِیْنِی ْ مِثْل َ صَلْصَلَة ِ الْجَرْس ِ و َ ھُو َ اَشَدُّہ ٗ عَلَی َّ فَیَفْصِم ُ عَنِّی ْ و َ قَد ْ وَعِیْت ُ عَنْه ُ مَا ُ قَال َ و َ اَحْیَانًا یَتَمَثَّل ُ لِی َ الْمَلِك ُ رَجُلا ً فَیُكَلِّمُنِی ْ فَاَعِی ْ مَا یَقُوْل Meaning, “At times, revelation comes to me like the ringing of a bell (so that an alarm can make me attentive in the likeness of a telephone), and this form of 1 Ash-Shūrā (42:52)