Jibril
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Jibril, Jibrīl, Jibreel, Jabril or Djibril (Arabic جبرئيل,جبرﺍئيل,or جبريل, IPA [dʒibræːʔiːl], [dʒibrɛ̈ʔiːl], or [dʒibriːl]) is Arabic for Gabriel, an archangel in Jewish and Christian angelology. In Islam, Gabriel is the angel who revealed the Qur'an to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, sura by sura, and thus Gabriel is considered the most prominent angel, as well as the spirit of truth.
It is said about his physical appearance in the hadith, Vol 4, Book 54. Beginning Of Creation. Hadith 455 (Sahih Bukhari), that: Narrated By Abu Ishaq-Ash-Shaibani:
I asked Zir bin Hubaish regarding the Statement of Allah: "And was at a distance Of but two bow-lengths Or (even) nearer; So did (Allah) convey The Inspiration to His slave (Gabriel) and then he (Gabriel) Conveyed (that to Muhammad). (53.9-10) On that, Zir said, "Ibn Mas'ud informed us that the Prophet had seen Gabriel having 600 wings."
According to Muslim beliefs, the angel's primary task was to bring messages from God to the messengers, and the other tasks include accompanying the angel Azrael ("Angel of Death") to take the soul of a person who dies with ablution. Gabriel is also said to be the angel that informed Mariam (Mary) of how she would conceive Isa (Jesus):
- She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [angel Jibrael (Gabriel)], and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allâh) from you, if you do fear Allâh." (The angel) said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son." She said: "How can I have a son, when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?" He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allâh): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allâh), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allâh).' "
(Quran, 19:17-21)
In Islam, Gabriel accompanied Muhammad in his ascension to the heavens, where he (Muhammad) met with previous messengers of God, and was informed about the Islamic prayer. This ascension is termed as Mai'raj.
Muslims also believe that this angel descends to Earth on the night of Lailat-ul-Qadr ("The Night of Power"), a night in the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar.
References
Hadith explaining how Gabriel accompanied Muhammad, in his ascension to the heavens