three. Gabriel is entrusted with revelation, through which hearts and souls receive life; Michael is entrusted with rain, through which the earth, animals, and plants receive life; and Isrāfīl is entrusted with the Trumpet, which, when he blows into it, will by Allah’s permission bring the dead to life and bring them forth from their graves.
Likewise, He—glorified be He—chose the prophets from among the descendants of Adam, numbering one hundred and twenty-four thousand, and chose from among them three hundred and thirteen messengers, according to the hadith of Abū Dharr narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Hibbān in his Sahīh (1). He chose from among them the messengers of firm resolve: the five (2) mentioned in the two surahs (3), al-Ahzāb and al-Shūrā, in His words, exalted be He:
“And when We took from the prophets their covenant, and from you, and from Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, son of Mary.” [al-Ahzāb: 7]
And He, exalted be He, said:
“He has prescribed for you the religion He enjoined upon Noah, and that which We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: ‘Establish the religion and do not become divided in it.’” [al-Shūrā: 13]
He chose from among them the two whom He took as intimate friends, Abraham and Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon them both.
Another example is His choosing—glorified be He—the descendants of Ishmael from among the peoples descended from Adam. Then He chose from among them the descendants of Kināna ibn Khuzayma; then from the descendants of Kināna He chose Quraysh; then from Quraysh He chose