Question:

How Many Forms of Wahy (Divine Revelation) Are There? 

Answer:

The literal meaning of Wahy is:

“الْإِعْلَام فِي خَفَاء”

(To convey a hidden message or secret information.)

The technical definition of Wahy is:

“هُوَ كَلَامُ اللهِ الْمُنَزَّلُ عَلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ وَالرَّسُولِ”

It means the speech of Allah that is revealed to one of His Prophets and Messengers is called Wahy (Divine Revelation).

عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري (14/1):

“والوحي في الأصل: الإعلام في خفاء۔ قال الجوهري: الوحي: الكتاب، وجمعه وحي، مثل حلي وحلي … وفي اصطلاح الشريعة: هو كلام الله المنزل على نبي من أنبيائه والرسول

There Are Two Types of Wahy (Divine Revelation): 

1: Wahy Matlu (Recited Revelation)

2: Wahy Ghair Matlu (Non-Recited Revelation)

1: Wahy Matlu is the type of revelation in which both the words and the meanings are from Allah جل شانہ. 

2: Wahy Ghair Matlu is the type of revelation in which only the meanings and messages were placed into the blessed heart of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم explained these meanings to the Companions رضي الله عنهم through His words, His actions, or both.

(Adapted from: Imdad al-Ahkam, 1/54)

The Three Main Forms of Wahy (Divine Revelation)

Basically, Wahy (Divine Revelation) has the following three forms:

1. Wahy Qalbi (Revelation to the Heart)

In Wahy Qalbi, Allah Almighty places a message directly into the heart of a Prophet without the means of an angel or anyone else.

It has two forms:

1. While awake.
2. In a dream.

2. Direct Speech of Allah

In this form, Allah Almighty directly grants a Prophet the honor of speaking with Him. There is no angel or any other means involved.

The Prophet hears a voice that is different from the voices of all creation, and its reality cannot be understood through human reason.

This is the highest form of Wahy.

3. Wahy Through an Angel

In this form, Allah Almighty sends His message through an angel, and the angel delivers it.

It has three forms:

1. Sometimes the angel is not seen, and only the voice is heard.
2. Sometimes the angel appears in the form of a human being.
3. Sometimes the angel appears in his original form.

The following verse of the Holy Quran refers to these three forms of Wahy.

{وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ} [الشورى:٥١] 

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also received Wahy in some other forms. For more details, see Uloom al-Quran by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (May Allah preserve him), pages 31–39.

And Allah knows best.