Page:Thomas Patrick Hughes - Notes on Muhammadanism - 2ed. (1877).djvu/68



to Muhammadan theologians, inspiration is of two kinds, Wáhí and Ilhám. Wáhi, is that which was given to the prophets, and is used especially for the Qurán; Ilhám being the inspiration to Walis, or saints.

Ilhám is the word generally used by Christian missionaries for the inspiration of the sacred Scriptures, and we believe it is sometimes used by Arabic divines for a higher form of inspiration, but always in the compound form of Ilhám Rabbáni.

Shaikh Ahmad in his book, the Núr-ul-Anwár, defines inspiration as follows:—"Wáhí, or inspiration, is either Záhir (external), or Bátin (internal). Wáhí Záhir is divided into three classes:—(1) Wáhí Qurán, that which was given by the mouth of the angel Gabriel, and which reached the ear of the Prophet after he knew that it was Gabriel who spoke to