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J:AF

Gabriel (Hebrew: man of God; Arabic:

Jibril)

Gabriel is the angel of revelation in Islamic

belief and is counted among the archangels. His

name first appears in the pre-Islamic period in

two late books of the Bible—the book of Daniel

(8:15–26, 9:21–27) in the Old Testament and

the Gospel of Luke (1:11–20, 26–38) in the

New Testament. Gabriel is also mentioned in the

extra-biblical book of 1 Enoch (9:1–10, 40:6)

and in rabbinic Bible commentaries. In these

texts, he is portrayed as a divine messenger and

as an intercessor on behalf of God’s people. In the

qUran, Gabriel’s name occurs three times as one

of God’s angels; he is the bringer of revelation (Q

297–98) and mUhammad’s supporter (Q 66:4).

Though not specifically mentioned in other parts

of the Quran, medieval commentators identified

Gabriel with the angelic spirit (ruh) that appeared

to mary as a perfectly formed man to announce

to her that she would give birth to JesUs (Q

19:17–21). He was also thought to be the spirit

that descended on the night oF destiny (laylat

al-qadr), when the Quran was first revealed (Q

97), and in Q 27:192–194 he was said to be the

“trustworthy spirit” who brought God’s revela-

tion to Muhammad’s heart.

Gabriel plays a bigger role in later accounts

of Muhammad’s life. He is one of the angels

involved in cutting open Muhammad’s breast and

cleansing his heart so as to prepare him for his

prophetic mission. In Ibn Ishaq’s biography of

Muhammad (eighth century), Gabriel confronts

the prophet on Mount Hira and commands him

to recite the Quran’s first verses. According to

ibn ishaq (d. 767) and Quran commentators, he

guided Muhammad on his miraculous journey

from mecca to JerUsalem, then through the seven

heavens, where he had visions of heaven and

hell, former prophets, and God. According to the

hadith, Gabriel once appeared to Muhammad and

his companions in the form of a man with black

hair, dressed in white garments, and interrogated

him about Islam, Faith (iman), and right action

(ihsan). He also was linked to the events sur-

rounding Muhammad’s hiJra to medina in 622,

having warned him that his life was in danger.

In collections of legends about the prophets

who preceded Muhammad, such as al-Thalabi’s

Lives of the Prophets (11th century), Gabriel’s role

in human history was greatly expanded. For exam-

ple, Gabriel taught Adam the skills he needed in

order to survive after being expelled from para-

dise. He also came to the aid of abraham, Joseph,

G