984 — Abū Bakr Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Hamīd al-Wāsitī narrated to us, saying: Muhammad ibn al-Muthannā, Abū Mūsā al-Zaman, narrated to us, saying: Hajjāj ibn Minhāl narrated to us, saying: Abd Allah ibn Umar al-Numayrī narrated to us, from Yūnus ibn Yazīd al-Aylī, who said: I heard al-Zuhrī when he was asked about this verse—the saying of Allah, Mighty and Majestic:

“It is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger who reveals, by His permission, whatever He wills. Indeed, He is Most High, All-Wise.” [al-Shūrā: 51]

He said: “This verse was revealed to encompass all the prophets who received revelation. The speech is the Speech of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, with which He spoke to Moses from behind a veil. Revelation is what Allah, Mighty and Majestic, reveals to one of His prophets. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, firmly establishes in the prophet’s heart whatever He wills of His revelation, which the prophet then articulates and preserves. It is Allah’s Speech and His revelation. Some revelation remains between Allah and His messenger: no prophet communicates it to anyone, for it is an unseen secret between Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and His messengers. Some revelation is spoken by the prophets, though they neither write it down for anyone nor command that it be written. Rather, they relate it orally to the people and explain that Allah, Mighty and Majestic, commanded them to make it clear to the people and convey it to them. Another form of revelation is that Allah Most High sends whomever He wills from among the angels He has chosen, and they speak to His human prophets. Another form is that He sends whomever He wills with it, and they deliver it as revelation into the hearts of whichever of His messengers He wills. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has made clear that He sends Gabriel—peace be upon him—to Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says in His Book: ‘Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel—it was he who brought it down upon your heart by Allah’s permission, confirming what came before it, and as guidance and glad tidings for the believers.’ [al-Baqara: 97] He also described him as the Trustworthy Spirit. Allah Most High says: ‘Indeed, it is a revelation from the Lord of all worlds, brought down by the Trustworthy ⦗1465⦘ Spirit upon your heart, so that you may be one of the warners, in a clear Arabic tongue.’ [al-Shuarā: 193]”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said: This is al-Zuhrī’s explanation of the verse. Yet something clearer than al-Zuhrī’s explanation has been narrated from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When al-Hārith ibn Hishām asked him, “How does revelation come to you?” the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “At times it is like the ringing of a bell; then it leaves me after I have understood and retained what was said. At other times, he comes to me in the likeness of a man and speaks to me, and I retain what he says.” A similar report is narrated from Ibn Abbās, from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.