Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis Salaam)
Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis salaam) is the Arch-Angel – the Chief of all the Malaai’kah. His actual name is Abdullah. In the heavens, among the Malaai’kah, Hadhrat Jibraeel’s title is Khaadimu Rabbi Azza wa Jal (The Servant of Rabb, the Mighty and Glorious). The winds and the armies in the universe are subjugated to Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis salaam). By Allah’s Command, he harnesses and controls these forces.
Allah’s Decrees of Punishment are executed by Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis salaam) who has been tasked with destroying nations when their transgression reaches the ultimate limit to justify their destruction. When Allah wills to have a nation defeated and destroyed, He commands Jibraeel (Alaihis salaam) to aid in the wars against the enemies of Allah.
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) once saw Hadhrat Jibraeel descending. So massive was his physical stature that the entire sky between east and west was hidden from sight. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had seen Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis salaam) in his original form on two occasions only. Once here on earth, and the second time was on the Night of Mi’raaj at the Sidratul Muntaha in the seventh heaven. Sidratul Muntaha is the furthest point beyond which no creation besides Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had ventured. When Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis salaam) is not on a Divine errand, he stands at this point and engages in Tasbeeh and Thikrullah.
Hadhrat Jibraeel informed Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that there are seventy veils of fire and noor between him and Allah. Once Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked Hadhrat Jibraeel if he had ever seen Allah. He replied: “Between me and my Rabb there are seventy veils of fire and noor. If I should see just the first of these veils, it would reduce me to ashes.”
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) narrated that he saw huge pearls and precious stones adorning the wings of Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis salaam). Hadhrat Jibraeel has six hundred wings of pearls, which he opens like a peacock spreads its tail. Nabi-e-Kareem (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “It appeared to me that the space between his two eyes blocked off the horizon in the sky.”
According to the Hadith, the distance between the two shoulders of Hadhrat Jibraeel is so vast that it would take a swift flying bird five hundred years to traverse the distance.
According to one Hadith, he will be the very last being of creation to die. When Allah will command him to die, he will fall into sajdah and his soul will depart from his body.
On the Day of Qiyaamah, Hadhrat Jibraeel (Alaihis salaam) will be the very first being from whom a reckoning will be taken. Thereafter, he will be in charge of the Scale on which the deeds of creation will be weighed.
(Awake Archives)