Prophets do not act on their own accord and everything that they do is based on divine revelations. The Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam was asked by Allah Subhanatallah to say to the people: “I but follow what is revealed to me.” Al Quraan 6:50
Allah Subhanatallah also says of him: “Your companion is neither astray nor being misled, nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him.” Al Quraan 53:2
There were only four Prophets whose revelations were made into books while the rest of them taught their people what was revealed to them by Allah Subhanatallah without recording it in the form of a book.
Although the revelations that these prophets received were not recorded in the form of books, they are still revelations of Allah Subhanaallah. In other words, Allah’s revelations to humanity comprise of much more than that which is contained in the four books.
Therefore, not only is our Holy Quraan a revelation, but everything that our Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam said and did was also divine revelations from Allah Subhanatallah.
The Holy Quraan asks us to pray but it does not give us details on how to pray. These details that were revealed to the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam are not recorded in the Quraan but they can be found in his traditions.
The Quraan was not revealed in the order that it is today but it was put into this order by the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam because he was instructed by Allah to put it in this order by divine revelations.
Divine revelations came to the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam even on simple everyday matters. “once the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam was using a miswak and two men came in front of him. Revelation came to him about the excellence of the miswak. Choose the older. Give the miswak to the older of the two.” Abu Daud.
Even on personal issues the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam used to receive revelations. Take the following incident which is recorded in the Quraan Shareef as an example: “When the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhe Wasallam disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his wives and she then divulged it (to another), Allah made it known to him. He made a part of it known to her and passed over a part. She said: Who has told you? He said: The Knower, the Well Acquainted has told me. Al Quraan 66:3
Allah Subhanatallah has promised to guard His revelations. “We have without doubt sent down the Message and We will assuredly Guard it from corruption.” Al Quraan 15:9
This does not mean that only the Holy Quraan is guarded but it also includes the sacred “hadith” of the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam. We all know that one of the ways in which the Holy Quraan is protected is that it is remembered by the hufaaz.
The traditions of the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam are also protected in a similar manner because they are remembered and practiced by every Muslim. Study any Muslim and you would notice that he practices at least a few sunnaths and knows of many more.
The traditions of the Prophet Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam are not to be taken lightly. Although they are second to the Holy Quraan, they are also revelations. It is actually the Quraan translated into action.
“certainly, you have got in the Apostle of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day…”33:21
Prophethood has come to an end with our Holy Prophet Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam. Our religion is complete.
However divine revelations still continued within this framework to the chosen ones of Allah SWT, the saints or Aulia Allah. This is termed differently. It’s called ‘ilhaam’.
As a person perfects himself and realises Allah SWT he learns to communicate with Allah SWT and this communication from our Creator is called “ilhaam”.
We need to listen to such people too and we also need to perfect ourselves and learn to communicate with our Creator.
END
Peace and Salutations be upon Muhammad Salallahu Alayhe Wasallam.
Published by Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi in 2011
Anjuman e Waris e Mohammedi was founded by Dr/Hakim Hazrath Khwaja Sayed Shareef Ahmed Ali Shah RA, (lovingly known as Hazrath Poona Wale Shah Saib RA).
Author: Mohammed Hassan Gaffoor (WhatsApp +27849101486)