Modes of Revelation

As the Prophet (S) approached the age of 40, he became increasingly fond of
solitude and would go to meditate in the cave of Hira on Jabal-e-Noor. One night,
Jibrael (A.S) appeared before him and asked him to read. When the Prophet (S)
replied he could not read, Jibrael (A.S) squeezed him tightly. This was repeated
thrice until Jibrael (A.S) recited the first five verses of Surah Alaq:
“Read! In the name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). Created man
from a clot of congealed blood. Read! And your lord is the Most Generous. Who
taught by the Pen. Taught man that which he knew not”
The Prophet (S) repeated these verses which were imprinted on his mind. Thus,
the first revelation was revealed, marking the beginning of Prophet Hood for
Prophet (S). After this, the Prophet (S) received revelation throughout his life, for
22 years, 5 months and 14 days. There came a time after the first revelation,
when the revelations did not come, called ‘Fatra-tul-Wahi’. After this, the
revelations came strongly and frequently in different modes.
Sometimes, Prophet (S) saw Jibrael A.S) in his original form when he was
delivering revelations, like on the night journey (Isra-wal-Miraj). At times, Jibrael
(A.S) came to him in the form of a min, which the companions witnessed too. The
revelations also came in the forms of dreams, and also sometimes directly from
Allah, as happened again on Isra-wal-Miraj (The last 2 verses of Surah Baqarah).
The most difficult of these was the ringing of bells, and these were hardest on
him, and used to weigh him down so much that the camel he was riding on felt
the weight too.
The Prophet (S) did not control the revelation or know when they would come,
and they were safeguarded by Allah. The Quran says:
“Move not your tongue with it (O Muhammad) to hasten with the recitation of the
Quran. Indeed upon Us is its collection and its recitation. So when We have recited
it (through Jibrael (A.S)) then follow its recitation. Then upon Us is its
clarification.”
The Prophet (S) experienced different sensations while receiving revelations. He
would become extremely quiet, he would go in a type of stance when Jibrael (A.S)
was talking to him, he would sweat in the cold, and he would become so heavy
that the animal he was riding on and the companions felt the weight of his body.
When a companion asked him how the revelations were revealed, the Prophet (S)
replied:
“They come to me sometimes as the ringing of the bells, and this is hardest on me,
then he (Jibrael (A.S)) leaves me and I remember from him what he says. And
sometimes the Angel comes in the shape of a man and he talks to me and I
remember what he says.”
Aisha (R.A) was narrated:
“I saw revelation coming down on the Prophet (S) in the severest cold, and when
that condition was over, perspiration rolled from his forehead.
Sahih Bukhari reports an incident that one day, Zaid bin Thabit (R.A) was sitting in
such a position that his leg was under the leg of the Prophet (S). Then a revelation
came and he felt that his leg would be crushed would be crushed from the weight
of the Prophet (S)’s leg, as it became extremely heavy.
Whenever a revelation had come, the Prophet(S) would summon for one of the
literate companions (Scribes of the Quran) and dictate the text to him. He then
ensured that it was written perfectly and accurately. Zaid bin Thabit (R.A), one of
the chief scribes, narrated:
“When a revelation came down on the Prophet (S) he felt intense heat and drops
of perspiration rolled from his body like pearls. When this state was over, I used to
fetch a shoulder bone or a piece of something else. He then used to go on
dictating me, and I wrote it down. When I finished writing, the sheer weight of the
transcription gave me the feeling that my leg would break and I would not be able
to walk”
The Quran was revealed in parts, but it did not remain that way for long as scribes
simultaneously recorded it. The Prophet (S) received revelations as Divine
instructions on all important occasions of his life.
The verses revealed during 610-622 CE in Makkah were known as Makkan Surahs.
They were generally brief and focused on the articles of faith, for example
Oneness of Allah, life after death etc. They also focused on the opposition of the
disbelievers and the language used was stronger. During his time in Makkah when
the disbelievers opposed and persecuted him, the Prophet (S) received
revelations that were of comfort and consolation to him and his followers.
In 622 CE, after being instructed by a revelation, the Prophet (S) along with his
followers migrated to Madinah. He was assured of Divine help when Abu Bakr
(R.A) was worried in the Cave of Thawr:
“For Allah did indeed help him, when the disbelievers drove him out. He had no
more than one companion, the Two were in the cave, and he said to his
companion, have no fear, for Allah is with us.”
The verses revealed during 622-632CE were known as Madani Surahs. They were
revealed during battles, I Makkah and Arafat, during and after the farewell
pilgrimage. They focused on the social, economic, political, criminal and spiritual
laws, which were important for the organization and development of the Islamic
state, and were generally lengthy.
In 624 CE, the Prophet (S) received a revelation in which the permission of fighting
was given in these words:
“Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight you”
The Prophet (S) continued to receive revelations till his farewell pilgrimage in
631CE.The last revelation received by him was in the plain of Arafat after he had
completed Hajj and said his sermon:
“This day have I completed your religion for you, completed my favor upon you,
and chosen for you Islam as your religion”
Part b) Hadith:
Significance of being given revelation in word rather than writing:
 Arabs had oral tradition-easy for them
 People committed it to memory-reliable way of ensuring Quran
preservation
 Later helped to confirm authenticity of Divine verses
 Easier to check for changes or add verses in middle
  Revelation in word proved that Prophet (S) did not invent it himself, as
people might have believed so if it came in writing
“He (the Prophet S) said nothing of his own desire; it was nothing more than a
revelation revealed.”
 In writing Prophet (S) would not be able to read it or write
 Quran a book of worship in vocative tone
 Shows importance of reciting Quran aloud rather than just reading it