Revelation

===Islam===
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[[File:Muhammad-Majmac-al-tawarikh-1.jpg|thumb|Muhammad's Call to Prophecy and the First Revelation; leaf from a copy of the [[Majmac al-tawarikh]] (Compendium of Histories), ca. 1425; [[Timurid dynasty|Timurid]]. From [[Herat]], [[Afghanistan]].]]
[[Muslims]] believe that [[Islamic concept of God|God]] (Arabic: ألله ''[[Allah]]'') revealed his final message to all of existence through [[Muhammad]] via the angel [[Gabriel]].<ref>Watton (1993), "Introduction"</ref> Muhammad is considered to have been the [[Seal of the Prophets]] and the last revelation, the [[Qur'an]], is believed by Muslims to be the flawless final revelation of God to humanity, valid until the [[Eschatology|Last Day]]. The Qur'an claims to have been revealed word by word and letter by letter.{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

Muslims hold that the message of Islam is the same as the message preached by all the messengers sent by God to humanity since [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]]. Muslims believe that Islam is the oldest of the monotheistic religions because it represents both the original and the final revelation of God to [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[David]], [[Jesus]], and Muhammad.<ref>Esposito (2002b), pp.4–5</ref><ref>{{qref|42|13|b=y}}</ref> Likewise, Muslims believe that every [[prophet]] received revelation in their lives, as each prophet was sent by God to guide mankind. [[Jesus]] is significant in this aspect as he received revelation in a twofold aspect, as Muslims believe he preached the [[Injil|Gospel]] while also having been taught the [[Torah]].

According to Islamic traditions, Muhammad began receiving revelations from the age of 40, delivered through the angel Gabriel over the last 23 years of his life. The content of these revelations, known as the Qur'an,<ref>The term ''Qur'an'' was first used in the Qur'an itself. There are two different theories about this term and its formation that are discussed in [[Quran#Etymology and meaning]]</ref> was memorized and recorded by his followers and compiled from dozens of [[Hafiz (Qur'an)|hafiz]] as well as other various parchments or hides into a single volume shortly after his death. In [[Muslim theology]], Muhammad is considered equal in importance to all other [[Prophets in Islam|prophets of God]] and to make distinction among the prophets is a [[sin]], as the Qur'an itself promulgates equality between God's prophets.({{qref|3|84|b=y}})

Many [[scholar]]s have made the distinction between revelation and [[Biblical inspiration|inspiration]], which according to Muslim theology, all righteous people can receive. Inspiration refers to God inspiring a person to commit some action, as opposed to revelation, which only the prophets received. Moses's mother, [[Jochebed]], being inspired to send the infant Moses in a cradle down the [[Nile river]] is a frequently cited example of inspiration, as is [[Hagar]] searching for water for the infant [[Ishmael]].