How Angel Jibreel (Gabriel) taught the religion (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

The mention of one of the most revered angels Jibreel " جبريل " (Angel Gabriel), Angel of Revelation, echos in the history of Divine revelations, for he had been entrusted to convey the Divine Commandments to the selected prophets and messengers of God. And so, it was he who met Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Cave of Hira, outside Makkah, and revealed to him the very first five verses from God, which later became as the opener of Sürah 96. Al 'Alaq (The Clinging Clot).

That was the beginning of interaction between Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Angel Jibraeel for the next 23 years till the completion of revelation of the entire Qur'an. Other than bringing Allah's commandments to the revered prophet of Allah, he also taught Prophet Muhammad ﷺ practical manifestation of many rituals, that is how to offer Salat / prayer, and also appeared as ordinary human being, asking questions from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about the religion so that others could also listen to the questions and how the Prophet of Allah responded. This was yet another way of teaching religion to the newly reverted Muslims.

The following Hadith narrates one such occasion when Angel Jibraeel appeared as an ordinary person, unknown to companions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and asked basic questions about Deen e Islam. This Hadith is mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 2 Belief كتاب الإيمان/ Chapter 37: The asking of (angel) Jibrll (Gabriel) from the Prophet (saws) about Iman, Islam, Ihsan and the knowledge of the Hour بَابُ سُؤَالِ جِبْرِيلَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الإِيمَانِ وَالإِسْلاَمِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَعِلْمِ السَّاعَةِ‏) as Hadith 50, given herein under:

Narrated by Abu Huraira:

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو حَيَّانَ التَّيْمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَارِزًا يَوْمًا لِلنَّاسِ، فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ فَقَالَ مَا الإِيمَانُ قَالَ ‏"‏ الإِيمَانُ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَبِلِقَائِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَعْثِ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ مَا الإِسْلاَمُ قَالَ ‏"‏ الإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكَ بِهِ، وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ، وَتُؤَدِّيَ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ، وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ مَا الإِحْسَانُ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ مَتَى السَّاعَةُ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ، وَسَأُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا إِذَا وَلَدَتِ الأَمَةُ رَبَّهَا، وَإِذَا تَطَاوَلَ رُعَاةُ الإِبِلِ الْبُهْمُ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ، فِي خَمْسٍ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ تَلاَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏{‏إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ‏}‏ الآيَةَ‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ رُدُّوهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَلَمْ يَرَوْا شَيْئًا‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ هَذَا جِبْرِيلُ جَاءَ يُعَلِّمُ النَّاسَ دِينَهُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَعَلَ ذَلِكَ كُلَّهُ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ‏.‏

One day while the Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "What is faith?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." Then he further asked, "What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents:

• When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.
• When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah.

The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited: "Verily, with Allah (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour--." (31. 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet (ﷺ) asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion." Abu 'Abdullah said: He (the Prophet) considered all that as a part of faith.

We as Muslims must know the answers to the questions as appended above not only to educate ourselves but be able to reply if same questions are put to us by non-Muslims.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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The Miraculous Journey of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) to Jerusalem (Israa) and Heavens (Mairaj)

Just a year before migration (Hijrah) of Prophet Muhammad (peace by upon him - ﷺ) from Makkah to Medina, a miracle took place when Allah had the prophet toured Masjid Al Aqsa in Jerusalem and from their his accession to the seven skies and Heavens when Allah spoke to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  with a hijab in between. His flight at night from Makkah to Jerusalem is called as "Israa (In Arabic Israa means walking or traveling at night)" and his accession to Heavens is known as Mairaj (in Arabic Mairaj means ladder, rising or accession). This miraculous journey happened on the night of 27 Rajab, 621 CE.

The event is described in the Holy Qur'an as under:

Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing." (Al Qur'an Surah Al Israa 17:1)

As later revealed by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself to his companions, he was taken on a heavenly steed called "Buraq" brought by Angel Jibraeel (Gabriel) from Makkah to the farthest mosque in Jerusalem. The mosque is quoted to be the Masjid Al Aqsa, the first Qibla or the direction in which Muslims were asked to offer their prayers. From here Angel Jibraeel and Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) ascended to the Heavens and had the honour of speaking directly to Allah Almighty.

The event of Mairaj is mentioned in Qur'an not directly but those who can correlate the events can best understand the Heavenly language:

"And [remember, O Muhammad], when We told you, "Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the people." And We did not make the sight which We showed you except as a trial for the people, as was the accursed tree [mentioned] in the Qur'an. And We threaten them, but it increases them not except in great transgression." (Al Quran Surah Al Israa 17:60)

And he certainly saw him in another descent,
At the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary -
Near it is the Garden of Refuge -
When there covered the Lote Tree that which covered [it].
The sight [of the Prophet] did not swerve, nor did it transgress [its limit].
He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.
(Al Qur'an Surah Al Najm 53:13–18)

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) offed prayers at a place of Prophet Musa (Moses) and then Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) lead a prayer at Masjid al Aqsa which was attended by a number of exalted prophets like Prophets Ibraheem (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Eesa (Jesus), peace be upon them all.  

From the same place, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was taken up to the Heavens by Angel Jibraeel and shown the seven levels of the sky and Heavens. At each level Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) met the most revered prophets:  At the first level he met the father of all prophets Adam, followed by Prophet Zackariah (John the Baptist and Prophet Eesa (Jesus), Prophet Yousaf (Joseph), Prophet Idris, Prophet Haroun (Aaron), Prophet Musa (Moses) and last Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham).

After the prayer, Angel Jibraeel (Gabriel) brought two bowls; one of had wine and the other had milk, and asked to “Have either of them!" Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) chose the milk. Angel Jibraeel said to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), "You chose the natural one; if you had chosen the wine, your ummah would have gone astray after you. You were led to the natural state by choosing the milk; your ummah was led to the natural state, too. Wine was rendered haram (forbidden) for you!” 

Thereafter, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) visited Bayt al Mamoor (the much frequented house), which seventy thousand angels visited every day. This was followed by visit to to Sidra al-Muntaha (Lote Tree of the Extremity). Sidra al-Muntaha is a tree the roots of which are on the sixth level with branches all over the seventh level, thus providing a shadow that covers the whole sky and Paradise; its leaves are like elephant ears and its fruits are like large jars.

Form thereafter, Angel Jibraeel told the prophet that from then on he was to travel alone to the seventh level as his wings would burn from the Noor (Light) of the Allah Almighty. There on the seventh level, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  met his Creator Allah the Almighty with a hijab in between, though at some places it is mentioned that Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  met Allah face to face. This seems a little exaggeration as Allah is not a human form but a source of immense light as was witnessed by Prophet Musa (Moses) at Jabl e Toor when he received the famous Ten Commandments.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  is also said to have toured the Heaven and Hell and was shown how the blessed and the cursed will live their lives in hereafter. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  was also asked by Allah that all Muslims should pray for 50 times a day. When he descended and Prophet Mus asked him what he brought for his followers, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  replied: 50 prayers. To this Prophet Musa asked Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  to go back as his followers will not able to pray 50 times a day. Prophet Muhammad (?) went and had the prayers reduced to 45 times. Once again Prophet Musa showed his reservation and asked to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  to have the number reduced. This continued till the number was finally reduced to five. Although Prophet Musa still insisted for a further reduction, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  replied that he would fell embarrassed for any more request. Thus Muslims since then offer prayers five times a day, though some still not completing the total count as appreciated by Prophet Musa.

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) then descended to place of Masjid Al Aqsa where he had tied the heavenly steed Buraq at the gate of the masjid, mounted on Buraq and returned to Makkah. The entire journey took place between the the night prayer and the morning prayer. This is just a shortened description of Israa and Mairaj. For complete details you may consult the sites given in reference.

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