Wahi (revelation) -P2

Assalamu alaikum warahmathullahi wabaraqathuhu! 

We know that Jibreel (A) brought wahi from Allah to prophet (SAL) . And in this lesson we will look at the ways in which prophet received them.

In terms of how the Prophet (SAL) received revelation, we note that there are two different modes of revelation as mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book of Revelations, Hadith No. 2. 

1. Sometimes like a ringing of a bell

2. Sometimes جبريل comes in the form of a man.

Narrated 'Aisha:

(the mother of the faithful believers) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah's Apostle "O Allah's Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?" Allah's Apostle replied, "Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes ' off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says." 

NOTE: The phrase "ringing of a bell" does not indicate the"actual"bell sound but it is a metaphor which is used because of either:
a) The continuity of the sound
b)The direction of the sound of the bell. ( It seems to come from all directions.)
(Reference :Shaykh Anwar Shah Kashmiri's  quote from Shaykh Ibn Arabi)

The exact perception of this state is not possible without actual observation but the Prophet (PBUH) used the simile of ringing bells to bring it as near to the common understanding as possible,’ 
(Source :An Approach to Qur’anic Sciences p.40 cf. Faidh Al-Bari 1/19-20)

Also we have to understand that  "revelation cannot be described in a simple manner" .
(Source:Muhammad Prophet of Our Time, p.49 pub. Harper Press 2006)

 Several ahadith narrate about the various experiences the prophet experienced during revelation.

To the above mentioned hadith عائشة(Aysha (R)) added:Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the Sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).

Several companions also relate their observations.

• "Whenever a revelation came to him, a sort of rest (immobility) captured him."
• "The load almost broke the leg of the camel with a crack" 
• "Whenever the revelation came, he suffered therefrom and his face darkened. "      (Ibn Hanbal)
•  "Whenever the revelation came to the messenger of God, he was overwhelmed and remained in this state a while as if he was intoxicated."    
• "I saw the Prophet while he was on his camel when a revelation came to him. The camel began to foam with rage and twist its legs to the point that I feared that they would break with a crack. In fact sometimes the camel sat down, but sometimes it would obstinately try to stand, with legs planted like pegs all through the time of revelation, and this lasted until the state (of revelation) vanished, and sweat would fall from him like pearls."                                                (Ibn Sa'd)      
• Zaid Ibn Thabit reports his personal experience of a certain day in the following words: "His leg lay on my thigh and weighed so heavy that I feared that my femur would break with a crack" 
• "The revelation came to him in the coldest day, and when it ceased, the front of the Prophet perspired with (sweat falling as) pearls."                                     
• "Once when the moment (of revelation) arrived, he bent his head inside (a garment?), and, the face of the messenger of God had become red, and he snored; later the state vanished"                                                                          (Bukhari).

NOTE:We have to understand that receiving revelation was not an easy task but the Prophet(SAL) bore it with patience and perseverance.Let us take this deep into our hearts and try our utmost to understand the book of Allah In Sha Allah.