Discover the meaning of the term Wahy (وحي) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 3 min readWahi’s origin is swift indication; for the swiftness it holds, a matter was called wahi; it may be by speech as symbol and allusion, by a sound free of composition, by some limb’s gesture, or by writing. His word is reported to that: « he came forth to his people from the sanctuary and signalled them: glorify at morn and eve ».
A divine word sent down upon a prophet by the angel’s mediation, or by casting a meaning into the dream.
Casting the meaning into the soul in secret; the attribute wahi applies only to a prophet, mentioned by al-Hourali. Ar-Raghib said: wahi’s origin is swift indication; for its swiftness said a wahi matter; hence it may be by speech as symbol and allusion, by sound without composition, by some limb’s gesture, by writing and other. The divine word cast to his prophets and elects is called wahi: by a seen messenger whose essence is seen and speech heard, as Jibril’s message in a determined form; or by hearing speech without beholding, as Moussa hearing His speech.
With waw fatha and ha sukun, waha: all cast to another that he may know it. What Allah casts upon a prophet’s heart of the prophets, by an angel’s mediation or without angel’s. Inspiration. Jibril.
Its origin is the hidden, swift indication; as a term: the divine word cast to a prophet of the prophets, the chain having closed by the seal of the prophets.
﴿وَٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا وَلَا تُخَـٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ﴾
« And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration and do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are [to be] drowned." »
Surah هود : 37
﴿فَتَعَـٰلَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُقْضَىٰٓ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُۥ ۖ وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا﴾
« So high [above all] is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth. And, [O Muhammad], do not hasten with [recitation of] the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." »
Surah طه : 114
﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُنذِرُكُم بِٱلْوَحْىِ ۚ وَلَا يَسْمَعُ ٱلصُّمُّ ٱلدُّعَآءَ إِذَا مَا يُنذَرُونَ﴾
« Say, "I only warn you by revelation." But the deaf do not hear the call when they are warned. »
Surah الأنبياء : 45
﴿فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْهِ أَنِ ٱصْنَعِ ٱلْفُلْكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَوَحْيِنَا فَإِذَا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا وَفَارَ ٱلتَّنُّورُ ۙ فَٱسْلُكْ فِيهَا مِن كُلٍّۢ زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلَّا مَن سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْقَوْلُ مِنْهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُخَـٰطِبْنِى فِى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّهُم مُّغْرَقُونَ﴾
« So We inspired to him, "Construct the ship under Our observation, and Our inspiration, and when Our command comes and the oven overflows, put into the ship from each [creature] two mates and your family, except those for whom the decree [of destruction] has proceeded. And do not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are to be drowned. »
Surah المؤمنون : 27
﴿۞ وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًۭا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌۭ﴾
« And it is not for any human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a partition or that He sends a messenger to reveal, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise. »
Surah الشورى : 51
﴿إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْىٌۭ يُوحَىٰ﴾
« It is not but a revelation revealed, »
Surah النجم : 4