Tafsir of Ash-Shura 42:51

{And it is not for any human} It is not valid for any human being {that Allah should speak to him except} in one of three ways:

1. By way of Wahy (revelation): This is inspiration, casting something into the heart, or a dream—as He revealed to the mother of Moses and to Abraham (peace be upon him) regarding the sacrifice of his son. Mujahid said: "Allah revealed the Psalms to David (peace be upon him) in his chest." Ubayd ibn al-Abras said:

And Allah revealed to me that they have conspired Against the camels of Abu Awfa, so I stood upon a leg. Meaning: He inspired me and cast it into my heart.

2. By speaking to him from behind a veil: This is by making him hear His speech, which He creates in some physical body, without the listener seeing the speaker, for He is in His essence invisible. His saying {from behind a veil} is a metaphor; just as a king who is veiled speaks to some of his elite from behind a curtain—they hear his voice but do not see his person. This is how He spoke to Moses and how He speaks to the angels.

3. By sending a messenger: That He sends a messenger from among the angels, and the angel reveals to him what Allah wills, as He spoke to the prophets other than Moses. It is also said: {or sends a messenger}—meaning our Prophet (peace be upon him), just as He spoke to the nations of the prophets through the tongues of their messengers.

Grammatical Note: "Wahy" (revelation) and "sending" are verbal nouns acting as the state (hal). "From behind a veil" is an adverbial phrase also acting as a state, similar to His saying: {and upon their sides} (Al 'Imran: 191). The estimation is: "It is not valid for Him to speak to anyone except by revealing, or by making him hear from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger." It is possible that "Wahy" is placed in the position of "speech," because Wahy is speech that is hidden and swift.

Regarding the reading: It is read "or He sends a messenger, so he reveals" in the nominative case, meaning "or He sends." Or, it is in the sense of "a sender," coordinated with "revelation" in the sense of "a revealer."

Context: It is reported that the Jews said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Do you not speak to Allah and look at Him if you are a prophet, just as Moses spoke to Him and looked at Him? We will not believe you until you do that." He replied: "Moses did not look at Allah," and this verse was revealed.

From Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her): "Whoever claims that Muhammad saw his Lord has fabricated a great lie against Allah." Then she said: "Have you not heard your Lord say?" and she recited this verse.

{Indeed, He is Exalted} above the attributes of created beings, {Wise} in that He conducts His actions according to the requirements of wisdom; sometimes He speaks through an intermediary, and other times without one—either by inspiration or by direct address.

{And thus We have revealed to you a spirit of Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor what faith was, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, you guide to a straight path. The path of Allah, to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Unquestionably, to Allah do all matters return.}