The Meaning Of Wahee (revelation)

[AbuMubarak]

The word awha, from which 'wahy' (revelation) is derived, occurs in


a number of shades of meaning in the Qur'an, each of them indicating


the main underlying idea of inspiration directing or guiding


someone. In each example below, the italicised words in the


translation are forms of the root word wahy in the original text of


the Qur'an:


- Guidance in natural intuition:


'so we sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses . . .' (28: 7).


- Guidance in natural instinct:


'and thy Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees


and in (man's) habitations' (16: 68).


- Guidance by signs:


'So Zakaria came out to his people from his chamber: he told them by


signs to celebrate God's praises in the morning and in the evening'


(19: 11).


- Guidance from evil:


'Likewise did we make for every messenger an enemy evil ones among


men and jinns, inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way


of deception ...' (6: 112).


- Guidance from God:


'Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message) ...' (8:


12).