1. The different kinds of revelations and how the Islamic traditions have explained them. This issue of revelation is beyond the sense of the ordinary person and our knowledge about it is scanty and not detailed but even then there are various explanations about it in Islamic traditions. We will mention some of them.

WE read that the Messenger had explained the various kinds of revelations:

1. The revelations for the apostles and the Messengers as defined by verse 163 of Surah Nisaa:

“Verily We have revealed to you as We have revealed to Moses and the messengers after him. We sent our revelations to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes; to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon and to David we gave the Psalms.”

2. The Inspirational Message: Verse 68 of Surah Nahl says:

“And your Lord inspired the bee, saying, “Make hives in the mountains, trees and in what they build”

3. Through the Signs as God explained to Zachariah in verse 11 of Surah Maryam:

“Then he came out to the people from the sanctuary and signaled to them that they should glorify God morning and eve.”

 The 4th is the “Wahi Taqdeeri” as defined by the verse 12 of Surah Fussilat that says:

“He assigned His will to all the heavens”

The 5th is “Wahi Amri” as we read about the disciples of Jesus in verse 111 of Surah Maidah:

“Believe in Me and my Messenger” they said, “We believe and bear witness that we are Muslims (submitting to God)”

The 6th is the misleading revelation that god sends through the Satan as described in verse 112 of Surah Anam:

“Inspiring each other as adorned speech as a delusion”

The 7th is the News Giving revelation as God says about one group of apostles in verse 73 of Surah Anbiya:

“And We made them leaders guiding by our command and We inspired them to do god deeds.” (1)

From some of the traditions we learn that he Messenger used to feel very constricted when Gabriel came to him with the revelations and he would sometimes swoon as has been explained by Imam Sadiq recorded in Tawhidus Suduq when he was asked, “ Did the Messenger swoon at the time of receiving the revelation ?”He said, “No one used to be between him and God and he swooned when he was shown some glory or some great sign was bestowed upon him.” (2)

Gabriel used to present himself with all due respect and humility as explained by Imam Sadiq, “Gabriel when he came with the revelations used to sit like a slave before the master and he never entered the house without permission.(3)

From other traditional sources we learn that the Messenger used to recognize Gabriel because of the inspiration given by God. Imam Sadiq has said, “The Messenger of God did not recognize Gabriel except by the inspiration of God.” (4)

Now we have to pay attention to the issue of the “Swooning” of the Messenger when he received the revelations. Ibn Abbas is reported to have said, “The Messenger used to be in pain and have headaches when he received the revelations.” This opinion is according to (God’s words) “We send our inspirations to you” I have heard that Gabriel came 6000 times to the Messenger.

1. Behar-ol-Anwar vjol.18 Page 252

2. Tawhidus Suduq as recorded in Behar-ol-Anwar vol.8 page 256 hadith 5.

3. EIlalus Sharai’ from Behar-ol-Anwar vol.18 page 258

4. Behar-ol-Anwar vol.18 page 256