Islamic Intellectual Theology Lesson 30 The Appointed Leadership “NABOOWAT” ELAHIYAAT of Sh. Ja’far Subhani Part Three Necessity of the Prophet hood Page Revelation and the Characteristics of the Prophets [as] Edited: Dec. 9, BHD

Characteristic of A Prophet 1. Being supported by a miracle (discussed) 2. Infallible (discussed) 3. Revelation (will be discussed in this session) Other: 1. Before the revelation he is a person known in his community by his high moral values, great spirit, great character, abstaining from seeking the world and its temptation, not seeking leadership, observing piety and purity of the soul (infallible with a lower case i), avoiding filth and immoral acts, and being truthful and trustworthy. 2. Preaches against evil and promotes justice and tolerance. 3. Holds an ideology which does not contradict the intellect. 4. Firm and never gives up his claim even if he faces death. 5. Does not seek any worldly status, position and/or rank. 6. If supported his true followers are very strong and firm. 7. Qualities of a true leader and leadership skills.

Literal Meaning of WAHI  Revelation is known in Arabic as WAHI, and the word WAHI has been used in various meanings in the Holy Qur’an. It is related to Prophet hood being the method of communication between God and his Prophet [as] and will be discussed.  WAHI: Literally the linguists explain it as from rapidness, and passing the knowledge in secrecy or in a concealed form. Therefore it could also mean rapid hidden instruction or rapid hidden indication to someone else or passing knowledge to some one else in an unseen or concealed way. Either by pointing out, or by directing or by writing or by concealed verbal talk.  Conclusion: Informing with concealment through any method. God informs his Prophets [as] without the notice of any human or jinn in most cases. Either through a dream, inspiration, and/or an angel.

WAHI in the Holy Qur’an  Some verses indicate a literal meaning and some indicate the metaphorical meaning. Such as setting forth the laws of creation (biological, physical, chemical, and mathematical) from God to govern the movement of the creation is WAHI.  إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ الْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا {1}  [Shakir 99:1] When the earth is shaken with her (violent) shaking,  وَأَخْرَجَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا {2}  [Shakir 99:2] And the earth brings forth her burdens,  وَقَالَ الْإِنسَانُ مَا لَهَا {3}  [Shakir 99:3] And man says: What has befallen her?  يَوْمَئِذٍ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا {4}  [Shakir 99:4] On that day she shall tell her news,  بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَى لَهَا {5}  [Shakir 99:5] Because your Lord had inspired her.

Physical Revelation: Laws of Nature  Setting the laws of astrophysics or gravity in the heavens or earth in the case of earth quake. ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاء وَهِيَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ اِئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَا أَتَيْنَا طَائِعِينَ {11}  [Shakir 41:11] Then He directed Himself to the heaven and it is a vapor, so He said to it and to the earth: Come both, willingly or unwillingly. They both said: We come willingly. فَقَضَاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَى فِي كُلِّ سَمَاء أَمْرَهَا وَزَيَّنَّا السَّمَاء الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيحَ وَحِفْظًا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ {12}  [Shakir 41:12] So He ordained them seven heavens in two periods, and revealed in every heaven its affair; and We adorned the lower heaven with brilliant stars and (made it) to guard; that is the decree of the Mighty, the Knowing.

Biological Revelation: The Desires Genetic direction وَأَوْحَى رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ {68}  [Shakir 16:68] And your Lord revealed to the bee saying: Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in what they build ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلاً يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاء لِلنَّاسِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ {69}  [Shakir 16:69] Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a beverage of many colors, in which there is healing for men; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect.

Symbolic Communication  Prophet Zakariya [as] when he was not able to speak قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّي آيَةً قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا {10}  [Shakir 19:10] He said: My Lord! give me a sign. He said: Your sign is that you will not be able to speak to the people three nights while in sound health. فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا {11}  [Shakir 19:11] So he went forth to his people from his place of worship, then he made known to them that they should glorify (Allah) morning and evening.

Satanic Whispering وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نِبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا وَلَوْ شَاء رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ {112}  [Shakir 6:112] And thus did We make for every prophet an enemy, the Shaitans from among men and jinn, some of them suggesting to others varnished falsehood to deceive (them), and had your Lord pleased they would not have done it, therefore leave them and that which they forge. وَلاَ تَأْكُلُواْ مِمَّا لَمْ يُذْكَرِ اسْمُ اللّهِ عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّهُ لَفِسْقٌ وَإِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ لَيُوحُونَ إِلَى أَوْلِيَآئِهِمْ لِيُجَادِلُوكُمْ وَإِنْ أَطَعْتُمُوهُمْ إِنَّكُمْ لَمُشْرِكُونَ {121}  [Shakir 6:121] And do not eat of that on which Allah's name has not been mentioned, and that is most surely a transgression; and most surely the Shaitans suggest to their friends that they should contend with you; and if you obey them, you shall most surely be polytheists.

Inspiration in the Heart  If the Mother of Moses [as], who was not an Infallible (with a capital I) was given inspiration, why cant our Infallible Imams [as] have an inspiration from God. وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى أُمِّ مُوسَى أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِي الْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِي وَلَا تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ {7}  [Shakir 28:7] And We revealed to Musa's mothers, saying: Give him suck, then when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear nor grieve; surely We wi!l bring him back to you and make him one of the messengers.

Non-Prophet Infallibles & WAHI  The successors and the disciples of the Prophet Jesus [as], received WAHI from Allah [swt] to believe in Jesus [as], and they wanted to confirm or have satisfaction, therefore they asked for table of food.  وَإِذْ أَوْحَيْتُ إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّينَ أَنْ آمِنُواْ بِي وَبِرَسُولِي قَالُوَاْ آمَنَّا وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّنَا مُسْلِمُونَ {111}  [Shakir 5:111] And when I revealed to the disciples, saying, Believe in Me and My messenger, they said: We believe and bear witness that we submit (ourselves).

Non-Prophet Infallibles & WAHI [Cont’d] إِذْ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ يَا عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ هَلْ يَسْتَطِيعُ رَبُّكَ أَن يُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةً مِّنَ السَّمَاء قَالَ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ {112}  [Shakir 5:112] When the disciples said: O Isa son of Marium! will your Lord consent to send down to us food from heaven? He said: Be careful of (your duty to) Allah if you are believers. قَالُواْ نُرِيدُ أَن نَّأْكُلَ مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَمَ أَن قَدْ صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُونَ عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ {113}  [Shakir 5:113] They said: We desire that we should eat of it and that our hearts should be at rest, and that we may know that you have indeed spoken the truth to us and that we may be of the witnesses to it.

Types of Communication  Inspiration in the heart: Prophet Yusuf [as]  Dream: Prophet Ibrahim [as] and Joseph [as]  Creation of a voice from God: Moses [as] & Mohammad [s]  Revelation through an angel: Mariam [as] and arc angel Jibra’il and the Holy Qur’an

Revelation to Angles and Prophets  إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلآئِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُواْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ الرَّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُواْ فَوْقَ الأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُواْ مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ {12}  [Shakir 8:12] When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.  فَلَمَّا ذَهَبُواْ بِهِ وَأَجْمَعُواْ أَن يَجْعَلُوهُ فِي غَيَابَةِ الْجُبِّ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَـذَا وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ {15}  [Shakir 12:15] So when they had gone off with him and agreed that they should put him down at the bottom of the pit, and We revealed to him: You will most certainly inform them of this their affair while they do not perceive.

The Prophet Mohammad [s] كَذَلِكَ يُوحِي إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكَ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ {3}  [Shakir 42:3] Thus does Allah, the Mighty, the Wise, reveal to you, and (thus He revealed) to those before you. قُل لاَّ أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَآئِنُ اللّهِ وَلا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلاَّ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ أَفَلاَ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ {50}  [Shakir 6:50] Say: I do not say to you, I have with me the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel; I do not follow aught save that which is revealed to me. Say: Are the blind and the seeing one alike? Do you not then reflect?

The Prophet Mohammad [s] [Cont’d] وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى {3}  [Shakir 53:3] Nor does he speak out of desire. إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى {4}  [Shakir 53:4] It is naught but revelation that is revealed, عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى {5}  [Shakir 53:5] The Lord of Mighty Power has taught him,

The Holy Qur’an  وَإِنَّهُ لَتَنزِيلُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ {192}  [Shakir 26:192] And most surely this is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.  نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ {193}  [Shakir 26:193] The Faithful Spirit has descended with it,  عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ {194}  [Shakir 26:194] Upon your heart that you may be of the warners