The Six Types of Revelation and Early Stages of Prophethood | ZAD Academy Audio | Blogpost by Zayd Haji
By Zayd Haji – Student at Zad Academy
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,
In this article, we explore the sixth lecture from Seerah – Semester 1 by Shaykh Assim Al-Hakeem, where he explains how revelation began for our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the early years of his secret da’wah. The journey of revelation marks the foundation of Islam and provides profound lessons about patience, wisdom, and divine connection.
The scholars classified divine revelation (Wahy) into six distinct types experienced by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
Revelation began with true dreams, which would unfold exactly as the Prophet ﷺ had seen them. This occurred six months before the first revelation in the Cave of Ḥirā’. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The truthful dream of a believer is one forty-sixth part of Prophethood.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 6989 – sunnah.com/bukhari:6989)
Some scholars explain this fraction based on the Prophet’s ﷺ 23 years of prophethood — six months being one forty-sixth of that duration.
At times, Angel Jibrīl (Gabriel), peace be upon him, appeared as a man and spoke directly to the Prophet ﷺ. The famous hadith of Jibrīl illustrates this:
“A man came to us, dressed in white clothes, with black hair... and asked the Prophet about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.”
(Sahih Muslim 8 – sunnah.com/muslim:8)
Jibrīl would sometimes inspire the Prophet’s heart without appearing. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The Holy Spirit has inspired me that no soul will die until it has received all its provision.”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 2144 – sunnah.com/ibnmajah:2144)
This was the hardest form. The Prophet ﷺ would receive the revelation with a sound resembling that of ringing bells, and it would cause physical strain. His companions noticed sweat on his forehead even on cold days during this intense form of revelation.
The Prophet ﷺ saw Angel Jibrīl in his true form twice, with 600 wings, an image beyond human comprehension:
Narrated `Abdullah: Regarding the Verses: 'And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; So did (Allah) convey the Inspiration to His slave (Gabriel) and then he Gabriel) conveyed (that to Muhammad...' (53.9-10) Ibn Mas`ud narrated to us that the Prophet (ﷺ) had seen Gabriel with six hundred wings.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4856
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4856
“He has been taught by one mighty in power, Dhu Mirrah (with mighty wings)...”
(Surah An-Najm 53:5-6 – quran.com/53/5-6)
The final and greatest level was when Allah directly revealed to His Messenger ﷺ without any intermediary during the Isra’ wa al-Mi‘raj (Night Journey). It was during this encounter that the commandment of five daily prayers was made obligatory.
“Then He revealed to His servant what He revealed.”
(Surah An-Najm 53:10 – quran.com/53/10)
After the first revelation, Allah commanded His Messenger ﷺ:
“Arise and warn.”
(Surah Al-Muddaththir 74:2 – quran.com/74/2)
The Prophet ﷺ began calling those closest to him in secret. The first to accept Islam included Khadijah (RA), Abu Bakr (RA), Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), and his freed slave Zayd ibn Harithah (RA). For three years, Islam spread quietly, and around 130 men and women embraced the faith privately.
During this period, Muslims prayed two units (rak‘ahs) connecting with Allah spiritually, before the five daily prayers were made obligatory in the heavens.
The Prophet ﷺ’s mission emphasized faith, purification of the heart, and righteous character — all essential foundations for the believers even before formal laws were revealed.
Key Lesson: Revelation began gradually, preparing the Prophet ﷺ and his followers spiritually and emotionally for the immense mission ahead. The early secret da’wah teaches us that change begins with inner purification and close, sincere companionship for the sake of Allah.