Angels – Jibreel

Some angels have specific tasks as told by the Quran and Hadith.

Al Shuara 26:193-194

Which the trustworthy Rûh [Jibril (Gabriel)] has brought down; (193) Upon your heart (O Muhammad SAW) that you may be (one) of the warners, (194)

‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Auf reported: I asked ‘A’isha, the mother of the believers, (to tell me) the words with which the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) commenced the prayer when he got up at night. She said: When he got up at night he would commence his prayer with these words: O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, and Michael, and Israfil, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who knows the unseen and the seen; You decide amongst Your servants concerning their differences. Guide me with Your permission in the divergent views (which the people) hold about Truth, for it is You Who guide whom You will to the Straight Path. (Sahih Muslim, Book #004, Hadith #1694)

Jibreel alaihissalam (Gabriel) is known to be the angel to send wahy to the prophets.

Revelation
Bukhari :: Book 1 :: Volume 1 :: Hadith 2

Narrated ‘Aisha: (the mother of the faithful believers)

Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah’s Apostle “O Allah’s Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?” Allah’s Apostle replied, “Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes ‘ off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says.” ‘Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the Sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).

Lessons
1. The angel jibrael came down with wahy to prophet Muhammad saw
2. Sometimes he comes in his angelic form which was very difficult for the prophet
3. Sometimes he came down as human which is easier for the prophet saw.

Can you name an occasion where the angel jibraeel came to Prophet Muhammad saw as human form?

Jibraeel other missions

Jibraeel’s mission is not only restricted to bringing down wahy from Allah. He also

1. He used to come to the Prophet s.a.w. every year in ramadhan on every night of the month to teach him the Quran

Beginning of Creation
Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 54 :: Hadith 443

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

Allah’s Apostle was the most generous of all the people, and he used to be more generous in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel used to meet him. Gabriel used to meet him every night in Ramadan to study the Holy Quran carefully together. Allah’s Apostle used to become more generous than the fast wind when he met Gabriel

2. Leading the Messenger in prayer

Jibreel led the Messenger saw in prayer so he could learn the prayer as Allah wanted it to be performed

Beginning of Creation
Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 54 :: Hadith 444

Narrated Ibn Shihab:

Once Umar bin Abdul Aziz delayed the ‘Asr prayer a little. ‘Urwa said to him, “Gabriel descended and led the prayer in front of the Prophet ” On that ‘Umar said, “O Urwa! Be sure of what you say.” “Urwa, “I heard Bashir bin Abi Masud narrating from Ibn Masud who heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘Gabriel descended and led me in prayer; and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, counting with his fingers five prayers.”

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)
Dawud :: Book 2 : Hadith 393

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas:

The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said: Gabriel (peace_be_upon_him) led me in prayer at the House (i.e. the Ka’bah). He prayed the noon prayer with me when the sun had passed the meridian to the extent of the thong of a sandal; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when the shadow of everything was as long as itself; he prayed the sunset prayer with me when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when the twilight had ended; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when food and drink become forbidden to one who is keeping the fast.

On the following day he prayed the noon prayer with me when his shadow was as long as himself; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when his shadow was twice as long as himself; he prayed the sunset prayer at the time when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when about the third of the night had passed; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when there was a fair amount of light.

Then turning to me he said: Muhammad, this is the time observed by the prophets before you, and the time is anywhere between two times.

Who taught us how to pray?
Whose prayer should we follow?
Who taught Prophet Muhammad saw how to pray?
Is there any excuse for us to pray other than how Prophet Muhammad saw taught us?

3. Ruqyah for the Messenger saw

Jibreel came to Prophet Muhammad saw to help heal him when he is ill.

The Book on Salutations and Greetings (Kitab As-Salam)
Muslim :: Book 26 : Hadith 5425

Abu Sa’id reported that Gabriel came to AJlah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Muhammad, have you fallen ill? Thereupon he said: Yes. He (Gabriel) said:” In the name of Allah I exercise you from everything and safeguard you from every evil that may harm you and from the eye of a jealous one. Allah would cure you and I invoke the name of Allah for you.”

4. Took Prophet Muhammad saw up into the heavens (Mi’raaj)

5. Jibreel fought alongside the Messenger saw at Badr and Al Khandaq.

Not everyone that Jibreel came is a messenger or a Prophet

Allah sent down Jibreel to Maryam the mother of Isa a.s. and also to Hajr the Mother of Ismaeel a.s.

Sahabahs also saw Jibreel

Allah has sent an angel to a man to convey Allah’s love because he loved a brother for the sake of Allah.

Of those who chose one angel over another

Al Baqarah 2: 97-98

Say (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ): “Whoever is an enemy to Jibrael (Gabriel) (let him die in his fury), for indeed he has brought it (this Qur’ân) down to your heart by Allâh’s Permission, confirming what came before it [i.e. the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] and guidance and glad tidings for the believers. (97) “Whoever is an enemy to Allâh, His Angels, His Messengers, Jibrael (Gabriel) and Mikael (Michael), then verily, Allâh is an enemy to the disbelievers.” (98)

The jews used to hate the Angel Jibraeel but prefer other angels

Prophets
Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 55 :: Hadith 546

Narrated Anas:

When ‘Abdullah bin Salam heard the arrival of the Prophet at Medina, he came to him and said, “I am going to ask you about three things which nobody knows except a prophet: What is the first portent of the Hour? What will be the first meal taken by the people of Paradise? Why does a child resemble its father, and why does it resemble its maternal uncle” Allah’s Apostle said, “Gabriel has just now told me of their answers.” ‘Abdullah said, “He (i.e. Gabriel), from amongst all the angels, is the enemy of the Jews.” Allah’s Apostle said, “The first portent of the Hour will be a fire that will bring together the people from the east to the west; the first meal of the people of Paradise will be Extra-lobe (caudate lobe) of fish-liver. As for the resemblance of the child to its parents: If a man has sexual intercourse with his wife and gets discharge first, the child will resemble the father, and if the woman gets discharge first, the child will resemble her.” On that ‘Abdullah bin Salam said, “I testify that you are the Apostle of Allah.” ‘Abdullah bin Salam further said, “O Allah’s Apostle! The Jews are liars, and if they should come to know about my conversion to Islam before you ask them (about me), they would tell a lie about me.” The Jews came to Allah’s Apostle and ‘Abdullah went inside the house. Allah’s Apostle asked (the Jews), “What kind of man is ‘Abdullah bin Salam amongst you?” They replied, “He is the most learned person amongst us, and the best amongst us, and the son of the best amongst us.” Allah’s Apostle said, “What do you think if he embraces Islam (will you do as he does)?” The Jews said, “May Allah save him from it.” Then ‘Abdullah bin Salam came out in front of them saying, “I testify that None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.” Thereupon they said, “He is the evilest among us, and the son of the evilest amongst us,” and continued talking badly of him.

The Jews claimed that Jibreel was their enemy and Mikael was their friend.

This claim shows pride.
Jibreel brought down a book which confirms the previous books of revelation which is bad news for those who disbelief while a good news for the believers.

Mikail is responsible for rain and plants.

We must be wary of choosing an angel over another for disbelieving even one means disbelieving in the pillar of faith. Allah decreed whoever rejects an angel for another or a messenger to another are disbelievers.

Some other angels that we will talk about soon

– Mikaeel (Michael)
Ordered to bring down the rain, and to manage the lifeforms on Earth be it human, animals and plants.

– Israafeel
Will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgement that will cause all creation to die & be resurrected. Also one of the eight angels who will carry the ‘Arash on the Day of Judgement.

– Maalik
The keeper of Hellfire

– Malakul Maut (Angel of Death)

– Angel who encourages good in human hearts

– the two angels who recor te good and bad deeds

– testing the sons of Adams.

– Munkar and Nakeer.