The Methods of Revelation

Author: Sheikh Maulana Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Al-Hammad (حفظه الله)

The Explanation by Umm al-Mu'minin Aisha (رضي الله عنها)​

Umm al-Mu'minin, Aisha Siddiqa (رضي الله عنها), narrates that once Harith bin Hisham (رضي الله عنه) asked the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ):
"O Messenger of Allah! How does revelation come to you?"

The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"Sometimes, the revelation comes to me like the ringing of a bell, and this form of revelation is the hardest on me. When it ceases, I remember what has been conveyed. At other times, the angel comes to me in the form of a man and speaks to me, and I memorize what he says."

Aisha (رضي الله عنها) further stated:
"I have seen the Prophet (ﷺ) receiving revelation on very cold days, and when the process of revelation ceased, his forehead would be covered in sweat."

(Sahih al-Bukhari: 2, 3073)

Benefit:​

Revelation continued to descend upon the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) for a period of 23 years. The methods of revelation varied at times. In this hadith, two specific methods have been mentioned. However, further details of other methods are provided in other hadith collections.
 
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