Angels & Jinn
The Prophet’s ﷺ communication with angels and jinn
Amongst the multitude of miracles, illuminating signs and gifts is the Prophet ﷺ communication with angels and jinn that have been made known to us through his prophetic quotations. Allah supported him with both obedient angels and jinn, and many of the Companions were also blessed to see them.
Allah warns, “…and if you come together against him then indeed Allah is hid Supporter, and Jibreel and the virtuous believers are also his aides; and in addition the angels are also his aides.”[2]
He also says, “And when Allah inspiring the angels that, saying, ‘I am with you. So make the believers stand firm…”[3]
Also, “And when you were seeking the help of your Lord, So He Answered your prayers that, ‘I will help you with a row of thousands of angels.”[4]
“And when We sent a number of Jinns towards you, listening attentively to the Qur’an; so when they presented themselves there, they said to each other, “Listen quietly!” [5]
Concerning His Words, “Indeed he saw the supreme signs of his Lord.”[6]
Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Masood tells us that the Prophet ﷺ saw Sayyidina Jibreel. There is a very well known quotation relating to the Night Journey that speaks of his conversation with the Sayyidina Jibreel, Sayyidina Israfil as well as other angels, and also tells how he witnessed the immensity of their number and the appearance of some.
As we said earlier, some of his Companions were also blessed to see angels at different times and places. One of the most famous sightings is the time when his Companions saw Sayyidina Jibreel who had assumed the form of a man and came to ask the Prophet ﷺ about Islam, Belief (Iman) and Perfection (Ihsan). Sayyidina Sa’ad saw the angels Sayyidina Jibreel on the Prophet’s ﷺ right and Sayyidina Michaeel on his left as men wearing white robes.
At the Battle of Badr a Companion reported having seen the heads of the unbeliever’s flying off into the air, but the one who struck them was unseen.
On another occasion, Sayyidina Abu Sufyan, Harith’s son saw men clad in white riding on piebald horses riding between the heaven and earth.
The angels would come to Sayyidina Imran, Hussain’s son and shake him by the hand, and when the Prophet ﷺ showed Sayyidina Hamza the Archangel Jibreel at the Ka’ba, Sayyidina Hamza fainted. On what has become known as the “Night of the Jinn”, Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Masood saw the jinn and also heard them speak. He described them as resembling the men of Zutt (tall Sudanese men).
During the Battle of Uhud, Sayyidina ibn Sa’ad tells us that when Sayyidina Mus’ab was martyred an angel came, took his form and raised the banner. When the Prophet ﷺ said “Advance Sayyidina Mus’ab” the angel replied, “I am not Mus’ab” and he realised it was an angel.
Sayyidina ibn Umar Al Khattab tells of the time when they were sitting with the Prophet ﷺ and an elderly man with a walking stick came and greeted the Prophet ﷺ. He returned the greeting and said, “Your voice is like that of the jinn, who are you?” He replied, “I am Hama, Al Haym’s son and my grandfather is Laqis son of Iblis (satan). He told the Prophet ﷺ that he had met Prophet Noah, peace be upon him, and his successors. The Prophet ﷺ taught him some of the chapters of the Qur’an.
When Sayyidina Khalid was sent to destroy the pagan temple of Al Uzza at Nakhlah, he killed a naked black woman who came out with her hair flying. Upon his return he told the Prophet ﷺ of the occurrence whereupon he said, “That was its pastor who impersonated Al Uzza.”
The Prophet ﷺ was engaged in prayer when suddenly satan, the stoned and cursed, rushed towards him in an attempt to disrupt his prayer, but Allah gave the Prophet ﷺ power over him. After the prayer he told his Companions that he wanted to tie satan to one of the pillars in the Mosque so that they could look at him, but then the Prophet ﷺ recalled to mind the supplication of his brother, Prophet Sulayman, “My Lord! Forgive me and bestow upon me a kingdom, which shall not befit anyone after me; indeed only You are the Great Bestower.”[7]
So the Prophet ﷺ in his excellent manner, let him go.[8] Yet again, this subject is so immense one must be aware that the preceding is just but a taste.
[1] Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 27. P201.
[2] Surah 66. Verse No:4.
[3] Surah No: 8. Verse No: 12
[4] Surah No:8. Verse No: 9
[5] Surah No: 46. Verse No: 29
[6] Surah No:53. Verse:18
[7] Surah No: 38. Verse No:35
[8] Bukhari. Muslim. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 27. P202.