THE MODES OF DIVINE COMMUNICATIONS

 

The modes of Divine Communications used in the Glorious Qur’an is known as Vahi or Revelation. The word “Vahi” has been used 78 times. The Glorious Qur’an was revealed on the heart of the last and Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). The late Ayatullah Tabatabaei has said: Heart denotes self of man, which has the power of perception, perhaps the reason why the Glorious Qur’an mentions in Surah al-Shu’ra’ Ayah 193-194, “…(Qur’an) brought down by the Trustworthy Spirit upon your heart…” The word “Vahi” was also in other cases also like when Adam’s son Qabeel killed his brother Habeel, then Allah (s.w.t.) sent a black crow who demonstrated how to cover the dead body of Habeel; Surah al-Ma’idah Ayah 31, “Then Allah sent a crow, exploring in the ground, to show him how to bury the corpse of his brother”.  Allah (s.w.t.) revealed to the mother of Prophet Musa when his life was in danger as a newborn baby and directed her to place him in a box and put it in the river Niles. Surah al-Qasas Ayah 7 refers. Also, Allah (s.w.t.) revealed to the bees in Surah al-Nahl Ayah 68, “And Allah inspired the bee (saying): Make your homes in the mountains, and on the trees and the trellises that they erect.”

Another mode of communication was Allah produced speech from other sources like a tree when Prophet Musa saw fire flame in the jungle and he approached it then he heard a voice from inside the tree as stated Surah al-Qasas Ayah 30, “Then when he came to it (he) was called (by a voice) from the right side of the valley, in the blessed spot, from the tree, saying:’ O Moses! Verily I am Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”

Revelation on the heart of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) was also two types one was the Glorious Qur’an and other was the Divine Communications other than the Glorious Qur’an e.g., Surah al-Najm Ayah 3-4, “Nor does he speak of concupiscent desire. His word is only Revelation revealed to him.” The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)’s words arise from his heart connected to the higher world. Similarly, it is narrated that Hazrat Hamza asked the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), “Why did you blocked all the gates opening to the mosque but left in-tact Ali’s house?” The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) repeated the above Ayahs from Surah al-Najm, “His word is only Revelation revealed to him.” Thus, he intended to say that he did so based on Divine command. (Tafsir Durr al-Manshure by Suyuti). When the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.) was assigned as the “Imam” and “Successor” of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) at the Ghadir-e-Khumm, he (s.a.w.a.s.) was criticized, but he recited the blessed Ayah, “His word is only Revelation revealed to him.”

Yet another mode of the Divine Communications is the “Hadees-e-Qudsi”. In case of Qur’an, both the concept and the words are revealed from Allah to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) but in case of “Hadees-e-Qudsi”, only concept is revealed to him but the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) expressed it in his own words.

 

Sources: Tafsir-e-Namoona by Ayatullah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

                 The Qur’an – English Translation by Maulana Ali Quli Qara’i