“The Arabic word ‘Wahy’ derived from the word ‘Awha’ means to inform secretly. Wahy is the primary way of Allah’s communication with mankind. The word ‘Wahy‘ is used in the Qur’an in many different ways as follows:
1. As an indication of the natural laws of nature when Allah says that He inspired in each heaven the natural order (Fussilat: 12).
2. Inspiration as a natural animal instinct, ‘And your Lord inspired the bee…’ (An-Nahl: 68)
3. As a human intuition or ‘gut feeling’, ‘And We inspired the mother of Moses…’(Al-Qasas: 7)
4. Inspiration from a person to person through signal, ‘… He told them by signs to glorify Allah’s praises…’ (Maryam: 11)
5. Inspiration through evil whispers of Satan, ‘…And certainly, the Shaytaan do inspire their friends (from mankind) to dispute with you…’ (Al-An`am: 121)
6. Allah’s guidance to angels, ‘(Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels…’ (Al-Anfal: 12)
7. Allah’s guidance to Prophets, peace and blessings be upon them. Such Inspiration takes the following two forms:
a) Without intermediaries:
i) By way of dreams: For instance, Prophet Ibrahim, peace and blessings be upon him, saw in a vision that he was slaughtering his son, Prophet Isma`il, peace and blessings be upon him. The fact that he followed the dream and intended to slaughter his son is a proof that the dream serve as a revelation from Allah. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Wahy began with good dreams.” (Al-Bukhari)
ii) By direct speech: “And to Moses, Allah spoke directly.” (An-Nisa’: 164)
iii) By intuitive knowledge: Allah inspires into the hearts of His chosen ones knowledge and commandments. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said that Angel Gabriel inspired into his soul that no soul would pass away until it has completely exhausted its provisions and life span. (Reported by Abu Na`im in Al-Hilya)
2- With Intermediaries:
This consists of guidance sent down to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, via Angel Gabriel. Only Angel Gabriel is known to have delivered Allah’s revelations from the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Revelation to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him
There are two aspects of this:
1. From Allah to Angel Gabriel: There are three views concerning the way Angel Gabriel brought the Qur’an from Allah, from the “Lawhul-Mahfouz” (the well-preserved tablet). The first and most correct opinion is the one that states that Gabriel spoke directly to Allah, “And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels…” (Al-Baqarah: 30) The second opinion is that Angel Gabriel took it directly from the “Lawhul-Mahfouz”. Finally, a rejected opinion is that the Qur’an was inspired by meaning to Angel Gabriel and the words were b
y Angel Gabriel himself. No proof exists for this and this contradicts the very essence of the Qur’an itself, since the Qur’an is the speech of Allah in word and meaning.
2. From Angel Gabriel to the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him: There is a prophetic Hadith that says that the revelation came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sometimes in a form of a ringing bell and sometimes Angel Gabriel appeared in the form of a man. `A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said: “The commencement of the divine inspiration to Allah’s Messenger was in the form of good dreams which came like bright daylight (i.e. true) and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the Cave of Hira; where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days till he had desire to see his family. He used to take with him food for the stay… Once, the truth descended upon him while he was in the Cave of Hira; the Angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “I do not know how to read.” Then the Prophet added, “The angel caught me (forcibly) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read’. Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read, but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read’ (or what shall I read?). Thereupon. he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said: ‘Read, in the name of Your Lord, who created, created man from a clot. Read! And Your Lord is the most bountiful.”
The first revelation that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, received, according to one opinion of Imam As-Suyuti, was the first three verses of Surat Al-`Alaq. Another opinion is that the first revelation was the first five verses of Surat Al-`Alaq.
The Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, over a period of 23 years for many reasons out of Allah’s Wisdom, some of which we can speculate upon. It was perhaps to strengthen the heart of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, slowly and steadily out of consideration for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him; so as to ease his tremendous task. Also, it was meant to implement the laws of Shari`ah gradually so that it would not be of great hardship for the new followers.”
Almighty Allah knows best.