says, What has befallen her? On that day she shall tell her news, as if thy Lord had revealed to her” (99:1-5). In the first instance, God’s speaking to the earth and the heavens and His revelation to the heavens shows that there is a kind of revelation through which the Divine laws are made to operate in the universe; in the second, a great revolution that is brought about upon earth — its “bringing forth its burdens”, explained as the laying open of its treasures (R.) in the form of minerals and other products — is spoken of as a kind of revelation. There is also a revelation to the lower animals: “And thy Lord revealed to the bee: Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in what they build, then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of thy Lord submissively” (16:68, 69). This is really an example of the Divine revelation being granted also to the lower creation, so that what they do by instinct is really a revelation. These two examples show that Divine revelation is intended for the development and perfection of everything within its ordained sphere. Here may also be mentioned the revelation to angels: “When thy Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, so make firm those who believe” (8:12). As revelation itself is communicated through angels, it appears that there are various orders of angels; and it is for this reason that Gabriel, the angel who brings revelation to the prophets of God, is regarded as the greatest of them all.

Revelation to auliyā’

Much misconception prevails as to the sphere of revelation to man. It is generally thought that revelation is limited to the prophets of God. This is not true, for the Holy Qur’ān regards it, in one form or another, as the universal experience of all humanity. Rāghib, already quoted, defines revelation, in a strictly technical sense, as meaning the word of God as conveyed to the prophets (anbiyā’) and to other righteous servants (auliyā) of God. And on several occasions the Holy Qur’ān speaks of revelation (waḥy) having been granted to such righteous servants of God who were not prophets, men as well as women. The mother of Moses is said to have received a revelation though she was undoubtedly not a prophet, and so are the disciples of Jesus who were not prophets: “And We revealed (auḥainā) to Moses’ mother, saying: Give him suck; then when thou fearest for him, cast