Archangel Gabriel

A section from John Renard’s book All the King’s Falcons, Rumi on Prophets and Revelation concerning the Archangel Gabriel, his position, and a description of him.

Since the Creation, the angel Gabriel has been God’s emissary to earth.  When God commissioned the angel to go and collect a handful of earth for Adam’s body, the earth dissuaded Gabriel from his mission by telling him he was meant for greater things.  He was, said the earth, the greatest of the four angelic Throne bearers because of his superior awareness.  He would become the messengers’ messenger for he was the “life of the spirit of revelation,” possessed of knowledge from the tablet of divine decrees.  Because he was a “mine of reverence and respect,” Gabriel honored the earth’s plea in God’s name not to embroil her in human affairs.  God then sent Michael in his place (V:299, H.317, 1556-80).

Gabriel’s next task, that of ushering the fallen Adam from Paradise (V:962-6), was not a pleasant one; but thereafter Gabriel became for all the prophets a bringer of “apples from paradise” (V:2540) in the form of revelation (III:3583).  If a prophet felt, as Abraham did, that the angels intermediacy was unnecessary (III:4215-18; IV:H.2173-77), or where there was simple no room for him between the prophet and God, as during Muhammad’s Ascension, Gabriel withdrew (I:2953).  The angel escorted Jesus and Idris on their heavenward journeys (VI:2964ff.), put power into the incantation of Jesus and Moses (D:738:4), and Jesus was “produced from the breath of Gabriel” (V:3982).  Mawlana’s most remarkable description of Gabriel occurs in two texts in which the angel visits Mary.  So beautiful that Joseph himself would have cut his hand, Gabriel “blossomed from the earth like a rose before her- like a fantasy that lifts its head from the heart” (III:3705-6).  The angel describes himself in a later text as the “trusted” of the Lord and a “king and standard-bearer in nonexistence.”  Rumi continues the heart image as Gabriel addresses Mary:

O Mary, look (well), for I am a difficult form (to apprehend): I am both a new moon and fantasy in the heart.

When a fantasy comes into your heart and settles, it is with you wheresoever you flee-

Except an unsubstantial and vain fantasy which is one that sinks like the false dawn.

I am the light of the Lord like the true dawn, for no night prowls around my day.

To Muhammad, Gabriel was a comforter on Mt. Hira (V:H 3535-41), deliverer of wahy and of the Qur’an (F 171/163; I:2539).  He ministered not only to the Prophet, but to others on behalf of the Prophet, as in the story of the suckling infant who addressed the Messenger.  When the child’s mother scolded and asked whence came its verbal proficiency, the following dialogue ensued:

“… God taught (me), then Gabriel: I am Gabriel’s accompanist in (this) declaration.”

She said, “Where is (Gabriel)?”  It replied, “(I see him) shining above you like a perfect full-moon.

He is teaching me the qualities of the Messenger and delivering me by means of that sublimity from this degradation.”  (III:H.3220-23)

Gabriel’s power, derived from his vision of the Creator, was such that the dust from his horses’ hoof could make the golden calf low at Sinai.  His wings are the prototype of saintly “reason.”  Reason alone, however, is limited.  There remains a truth that even Gabriel does not know, and that would singe his wings (I:1732).  One who does know that truth, the ‘arif, is a thousand Gabriels in human form (VI:4584).  Gabriel longs to carry off even the tears of such a knower’s eye and rub them on his own wings and beak (IV:2645-46).  Unfortunately for the angel, once the spirit of Ahmad has “bitten the lip” of a knower, Gabriel can come no nearer lest he be lost in the flames (IV:1888-90).  Many more images of Gabriel in the Diwan fill out Rumi’s picture of the angel in essence and in action.

The last paragraph of the quotation reminds me of the late spiritual master of irfan/tasawwuf, Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Bahjat (q.s.) who recently passed away on the 17th of May, 2009.  May God preserve his heart, bless him, and raise him with those whom he loves on the Final Day.