Qoran Shenakht

Revelation and inspiration are two peculiar sources of religious knowledge. Illustrating the meanings and usages of revelation and inspiration in their literal sense, Quranic verses, and traditions, the present article shows in which of the above usages these two concepts are the sources of religious knowledge. The conflict arising at first sight among lexicographical sources concerning the literal sense of wahy can be removed by their profound review. Furthermore, in spite of certain divergences, the literal sense of "whay" is hidden writing and speech without considering a sense of rapidity. Likewise, the literal sense of "Ilhām" is injection into the soul. Having a divine origin is not however regarded as the constitutive part of its literal sense. In its Quranic usages, by "wahy", whether it concerns the prophets or others, is meant its literal sense. Some features which are relevant to the applications of "wahy" do not play any role in the structure of its meaning. This is the Case for "Ilhām" too. However, "wahy" and "Ilhām" as two sources of religious knowledge have their own technical sense in Islamic traditions and Muslim usage.