those whom you claim to be gods besides Allah. They possess not an atom’s weight in the heavens or on earth, nor do they have any share in either, nor does He have any helper among them.’”

“Intercession is of no benefit with Him except for one to whom He gives permission.”

The Exalted also says:

“To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and on earth. Those who are with Him are neither too proud to worship Him nor do they grow weary.”

“They glorify Him night and day, without ceasing.”

He has related that the angels came to Abraham, peace be upon him, in human form, and that the angel appeared to Mary as a man, perfectly formed. Gabriel, peace be upon him, would come to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the form of Dihyah al-Kalbī and in the form of a Bedouin, and people would see them in these forms.

Allah Most High has described Gabriel, peace be upon him, as possessing strength, holding an honoured position with the Lord of the Throne, obeyed there and trustworthy. He has stated that Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw him on the clear horizon. He also described him as:

“Mighty in power,
possessed of strength. He stood poised
on the highest horizon.
Then he drew near and came down,
until he was two bow-lengths away or nearer.
Then He revealed to His servant what He revealed.
The heart did not deny what it saw.
Will you then dispute with him about what he sees?
And he certainly saw him on another descent,
by the lote tree of the utmost boundary,
near which is the Garden of Refuge,
when the lote tree was covered by whatever covered it.
His sight neither strayed nor exceeded its bounds.
He certainly saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord.”