Inspiration
Question:-
Does Islam recognize inspiration for other than Prophets?
Answer:-
Consider the following verses:-
"So when I have fashioned it, and breathed into it of My Spirit, then fall ye down before him, prostrating yourselves before him." 15:29
"Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the faculties of hearing, and sight and hearts; little is it that you give thanks. " 32:9
It follows from these verses that (a) the proof and experience of God can be found within oneself; (b) all are capable of receiving inspiration; (c) the various faculties for knowledge mentioned have an inner and outer aspect and have a natural function which man has ignored.
"We will show them Our signs on the horizons and within themselves, until it become manifest unto them that it is the truth. Is not your Lord sufficient , since He is Witness over all things? " 41:53
"Have they not pondered upon themselves? Allah created not the heavens and the earth, and that which is between them, save with truth and for a destined end. But truly many of mankind are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord." 30:8
The Quran itself can only be understood when it is a revelation to the believer:-
"Nay, but it (the Quran) is a clear revelation in the hearts of those who are endowed with knowledge, and none deny Our revelations save the wrongdoers (or unjust)." 29:24
The capacity for inspiration has atrophied (as 32:9 indicates) owing to attachment to sense objects and worldly interests. This capacity can be restored and to do so is the function of religion. The following verses show that inspiration does not depend on human efforts but upon their receptivity, which is a state of passivity or surrender (Islam). The cultivation of this state, however, may require effort. It is not the effort that produces the result, but it may be regarded as a kind of tuning.
"Allah chooses for Himself whom He will, and guides to Himself him who turns to Him." 42:13
"Say: Allah's is the East and the West, He guides whom He will unto the Straight Way." 2 :142
"He brings wisdom unto whom He will, and he who is brought wisdom is brought much good; but none will remember save those endowed with understanding." 2:269
"It is not thy duty ( O Muhammad) to guide them; but Allah guides whom He will; " 2:272
"Follow what is inspired in thee, and be patient until Allah judges, for He is the best of judges." 10:110
"He sends down the angels with the Spirit at His command upon whom He will of His servants, saying: Give warning that there is no God but Me; therefore, fear (do your duty to) Me." 16:2
"Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth......Allah guides whom He will to His Light; and Allah strikes out parables for men, and Allah knows all things." 24:35
"Have they not traveled through the land? And have they not hearts wherewith to feel (understand), and ears wherewith to hear? For, indeed, it is not their eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts which are within their breasts that grow blind. " 22:46
Islam recognizes three source of knowledge:-
Ilm-ul-Yaqin (102:5, through reason), Ayn-ul-Yaqin (102:7, through experience) and Haq-ul-Yaqin (69:51, various degrees of gnosis, knowledge of the heart rather than intellect, insight, inspiration, revelation.)
In the case of sensory experiences all human beings have more or less the same capacities and agreement can be obtained if they are in the same physical situation or by pointing to things. But even at this level we can have illusions and hallucinations. Reason has to be used to recognize these sources of error. It is also use to extend knowledge by finding the relationship between things. The capacity for reason differs between people. Experience, both inner and outer, must also fall into harmonious self-consistent systems and must be integrated within the person with the law and processes of his own being. This is how we learn, are modified and develop. That is the real function of knowledge.
Inspiration refers to the perception of the patterns of the systems. As inspiration is supra-rational, it is necessary to distinguish it from the sub-rational by the use of reason.
We must be careful not to confuse inspiration with things one has made up oneself, guesswork, wishful thinking, fantasies, prejudices and illusion based on desires and downright lies.
"Who is more wicked than he who devises against Allah a lie, or says: I am inspired, when he has received none at all? And who says: I can reveal the like of what Allah has revealed? But did you see when the unjust are in the floods of death, and the angels stretch forth their hands, saying: Yield up your souls; this day shall you be recompensed with the torment of disgrace, for that you did say against Allah what was not true, and were too proud to hear His signs." 6:94
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