Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, today’s topic of discussion is how many and what are the methods of revelation to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Revelation Methods in Islam
Revelation was revealed to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in various ways. The methods are described below:
The first method of revelation
In a hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah (RA) said, Once Harith ibn Hisham (RA) asked the Prophet (PBUH), ‘How does revelation come to you?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Sometimes I hear a sound like a bell, and this is the most difficult way of revelation for me. Then this state passes from me, and in the meantime, whatever is said to me in that sound, I memorize it. Sometimes an angel appears before me in the form of a man.” (Bukhari, Vol. 1, p. 2)
In this hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) compared the sound of revelation to the sound of a bell. Shaykh Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi (may Allah have mercy on him) explained that, firstly, the sound of revelation was continuous like the sound of a bell, without any interruptions, and secondly, when the bell rings continuously, it becomes difficult for the listener to determine from which direction the sound is coming. It seems to him that the sound is coming from all directions. One of the characteristics of the Word of Allah is that it has no specific direction; rather, its sound is audible from all directions. Its nature cannot be understood without visual experience, but to bring the matter closer to the understanding of the common man, it has been compared to the sound of a bell. (Fayzul Bari, Vol. 1, pp. 19-20)
If the revelation had been revealed in this manner, it would have put a lot of pressure on the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Hazrat Aisha (may Allaah be pleased with her) says at the end of this Hadith, “I saw the revelation being revealed to him on a very cold day. When the revelation was over, his holy forehead would sweat even on that very cold day.”
In another narration, Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah (RA) said,
When the revelation was revealed, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would be short of breath, his pure face would change colour and become yellow like a date palm, his front teeth would tremble in the cold, and he would sweat so much that the drops of it would shine like pearls. (Al-Itqan, Vol. 1, p. 46)
In this state of revelation, the pressure was sometimes so great that the animal on which he was riding would collapse due to its weight. Once, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was lying with his head on the thigh of Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allaah be pleased with him). In this state, revelation was revealed. As a result, Hazrat Zayd’s (may Allaah be pleased with him) thigh was under such pressure that it almost burst. (Za’dul Ma’ad, Vol. 1, pp. 18-19)
Sometimes the soft sound of revelation could be perceived by others. Hazrat Umar (RA) said, “When revelation was revealed to the Prophet (PBUH), a sound like the humming of bees could be heard near his holy face.” (Musnad Ahmad, Kitabus Siratun Nabawiyyah, Vol. 20, p. 212)
The second method of revelation
The angel would come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the form of a human being and convey the message of Allah. In such cases, Hazrat Jibraeel (peace be upon him) would usually come in the form of the famous companion Hazrat Diya Kalbi (may Allah be pleased with him). Sometimes he would also come in the form of someone else. In any case, when Jibraeel (peace be upon him) brings revelation in the form of a human being, the revelation is easiest for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). (Al-Itqan, Volume 1, Page 46)
The third method of revelation
Hazrat Jibraeel (peace be upon him) did not take on any human form but appeared in his true form. However, this happened only three times in the entire life of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Once, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) expressed his desire to see Jibraeel (peace be upon him) in his true form. The second time was during Miraj, and the third time was at the beginning of his prophethood in Awad in Makkah Mukarramah. The first two times are narrated in the Sahih Sanad, but the third incident is somewhat doubtful as the Sanad is weak. (Fathul Bari, Volume 1, Pages 18-19)
The fourth method of revelation
The fourth method is to talk to Allah directly without any intermediary. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had this privilege once while awake, i.e., during the Miraj. He also had a conversation with Allah in a dream once. (Al-Itqan, Volume 1, Page 46)
The Fifth Method of Revelation
The fifth method of revelation was that Hazrat Jibraeel (peace be upon him) would pour words into the heart of the Prophet (peace be upon him) without appearing in any form. (Pragukto)
