As it is said that the whole Quran came in the form of inspiration(wahi) to our beloved prophet Muhammed (Praise be upon him). Apart from the verses of Quran, there is much more what our prophet has been inspired.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
Assalamualaikum
wa Rehmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,
As it
is said that the whole Quran came in the form of inspiration(wahi) to our
beloved prophet Muhammed (Praise be upon him). Apart from the verses of Quran,
there is much more what our prophet has been inspired with, for example, the
stipulated time for each salaath and numerous other ahadeeth. Now my question
is, on what basis is, a part of inspiration became the part of Al-Quran and the
rest of the inspiration was classified as Ahadeeth? Please clarify this strange
question.
Jazak
Allah!
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
Wahi and inspiration
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad
(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 42 Surah
Shura verse 51:
51 It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by
inspiration (wahi), or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a Messenger
(Angel) to reveal with Allah's permission what Allah Wills: for He is Most High,
Most Wise.
The Arabic term ‘wahi’ when used in Islamic terminology
literally means an ‘inspiration’ which Allah Subhanah puts or downloads
directly into someone’s heart.
The Messenger of Allah (saws) received ‘wahi’ or
inspirations of two types and they are termed in Islamic Jurisprudence as:
- Wahi
Jalee: precise, distinct, direct or open inspiration.
- Wahi
Khafi: hidden inspiration.
The complete Quran (except the first five verses of Surah
96 Al-Alaq which Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.) verbally related to the Prophet (saws)
in person) was revealed through the ‘Wahi Jalee’….Words of Allah Subhanah which
the Prophet (saws) distinctly recognized and was under the Precise Command of
his Lord to relay and declare it verbatim as it was received unto all of mankind
as the official ‘Message of Allah Subhanah’.
Other than the Precise and Distinct Message of the
Glorious Quran, the Lord Most High sent many a message or inspiration directly
to the Prophet’s (saws) heart through the ‘Wahi Khafi’….like what to do, what
not to do, how to do, some news of the Hereafter, etc. Although the ‘Wahi Khafi’ were also
inspirations which Allah Subhanah sent directly to the Prophet’s (saws) heart,
the Messenger of Allah (saws) was guided to and able to clearly distinguish
between the Revelations of the Quran (Wahi Jaleel) and the hidden inspirations
(Wahi Khafi).
There are numerous examples of such hidden guidance or
inspiration (Wahi Khafi) in the Glorious Quran which were not necessarily a
part of the Scriptures (Wahi Jalee) which were revealed to various Prophets of
Allah.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 11 Surah
Hud verses 36-37:
36 It was revealed (through Wahi) to Noah: "None of thy
people will believe except those who have believed already! So grieve no longer
over their (evil) deeds.
37 But construct an
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah
Aaraaf verse 160:
160 We divided them (Bani Israel) into twelve tribes or nations. We directed Moses by inspiration (Wahi)
when his (thirsty) people asked him for water: "Strike the rock with thy
staff": out of it there gushed forth twelve springs: each group knew its
own place for water.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 26 Surah
Shuaraa verse 63:
63 Then We told Moses by inspiration (Wahi): "Strike the sea with
thy rod." So it divided and each separate part become like the huge firm
mass of a mountain.
Allah Subhanah sends His Scriptures only to His appointed
Prophets so that they may declare it verbatim as they have received to mankind;
but He inspires through ‘Wahi Khafi’ whomsoever He Wills from amongst His
slaves.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 28 Surah
Qasas verse 7:
7 So We sent this inspiration (Wahi) to the mother of Moses: "Suckle (thy child) but when thou hast fears about him cast
him into the river but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to thee
and We shall make him one of Our Messengers."
Your Question: Now
my question is, on what basis is, a part of inspiration became the part of
Al-Quran and the rest of the inspiration was classified as Ahadeeth? Please
clarify this strange question.
Allah Subhanah guided the Messenger of Allah’s (saws)
heart to recognize and clearly distinguish between the inspirations which
formed the Revelations of the Glorious Quran (Wahi Jalee), and the ‘Wahi Khafi’
or the other inspirations which were not a part of the Glorious Quran. Such was the distinct differentiation between
the two inspirations that never ever was the Prophet (saws) himself, nor even
those whom he conveyed the message to ever in doubt regarding which statements
of the Prophet (saws) were the Verbatim and Very Words of Allah Subhanah
forming the Glorious Quran, and which were not part of the Quran.
An example of the difference between the official ‘text’
and other ‘guidance’ would be the official laws or text which is sent by a king
to his governor on officially stamped documents, and the private directives or
expectations a king conveys to his governor.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister