The Qur’an and Revelation

Abstract

Revelation (wahi) is the act by which God, having created the world, proceeds to disclose Himself to His own creation, acting in His capacity as hadi (Guide). As such the term embraces any act of self-disclosure, beginning with God’s addressing our First Parents in the Garden, and proceeding through a series of disclosures to prophets both major (rusul) and minor (anbiya’), culminating in a final definitive act of disclosure known as khatm an-nubuwwa, or Seal of Prophethood. With the exception of the first, all these acts have made use of intermediaries, and the use, throughout history, of certain lineages forms an essential part of the divine plan. Thus the Qur’an tells us that God has preferred the families of Abraham and 'Imran (3:33) over all others. The Abrahamic Prayers in the darud, or concluding portion of the Muslim liturgy, have the specific function of bracketing Abraham and Mohammad together. In this connec?tion, the Prophet Mohammad as true heir of Abraham, the Prayer of Abraham (du’a’ Ibrahim in sura 2, vv. 127–9) takes on special significance: