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Fatwa CenterHow Allah teaches His Prophets
Question
In Surah Al-Maa’idah, it is is stated (what means): {...and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel...} [Quran 5:110] How did Allah teach Jesus, peace be upon him?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Allah, the Exalted, taught Prophet ʻEesa (Jesus), may Allah exalt his mention, the same way He taught all His Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention. He says (what means):
- {Indeed, We have revealed to you (O Muhammad) as We revealed to Noah and the Prophets after him. And we revealed to Ibraaheem (Abraham), Ismaaʻeel (Ishmael), Is-haaq (Isaac), Yaʻqoob (Jacob), the Descendants, ʻEesa, Ayyoob (Job), Yoonus (Jonah), Haaroon (Aaron), and Sulaymaan (Solomon), and to Daawood (David) We gave the book (of Psalms).} [Quran 4:163]
- {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.} [Quran 42:51]
Al-Haafith Ibn Katheer 
commented on this verse, saying:
"The verse underlines the different forms of the divine revelation; it could be in the form of a direct inspiration, of which the Prophet knows with certainty that it is from his Lord. The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, 'The Holy Spirit (angel Gabriel [Jibreel]) has inspired me that no soul shall die until it has completed its appointed term and received its provision in full; so fear Allah and moderately seek provision through good means.' [Ibn Hibbaan]
{...or from behind a partition...} [Quran 42:51] as He spoke to Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention. Moosa asked to see his Lord after He had spoken to him, but this was not granted to him ... {...or that He sends a messenger to reveal, by His permission, what He wills...} [Quran 42:51] as Allah sends Angel Jibreel or other angels to His Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention." [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, wrote:
"The verse mentions the different means of the divine revelation and ways through which He speaks to His slaves. Allah, the Exalted, says (what means): {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.} [Quran 42:51] Based on the verse, we can list three kinds of divine revelation:
a) Direct inspiration to the Prophets, in wakefulness or sleep, as the Prophet's dreams (visions) are part of the divine revelation to them.
b) Speaking from behind a veil/partition, as Allah talked to Moosa ibn ‘Imraan. He called him and brought him near (to confide in him).
c) Conveying revelation through an angel." [Jaamiʻ Al-Masaa'il, 5/284-285]
Allah knows best.
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