Jibreel
The Duolingo for Fiqh
Angel Jibrīl (AS) – known as Gabriel in English – is the noble archangel who delivered Allah’s revelations to the prophets. He played a vital role in Prophet Muhammad’s life and mission, from bringing down the verses of the Quran to offering guidance through wisdom and support.
One famous example is the Hadith of Jibril, where the angel came in human form to teach the basics of Islam (faith, prayer, etc.).
In addition to such well-known incidents, there is an authentic narration in which Jibril (AS) gave the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) five profound pieces of advice. These five advices are timeless life lessons covering the reality of death, the importance of good deeds, the nature of love in this world, the virtue of night prayer, and the dignity of trusting Allah.
In this article, we will explore each of these five gems of wisdom, understand their meanings with some historical context, and see how Jibril’s advice remains relevant to our everyday lives today.
According to a narration from the Companion Sahl ibn Sa’d (RA), the Angel Jibrīl came to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said:
Arabic: عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ جَاءَ جِبْرِيلُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ عِشْ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ، وَاعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مَجْزِيٌّ بِهِ، وَأَحْبِبْ مَنْ شِئْتَ فَإِنَّكَ مُفَارِقُهُ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ شَرَفَ الْمُؤْمِنِ قِيَامُ اللَّيْلِ، وَعِزَّهُ اسْتِغْنَاؤُهُ عَنِ النَّاسِ
Transliteration: …Ya Muḥammad, ʿish mā shiʾta fa-innaka mayyitun, wa’ʿmal mā shiʾta fa-innaka majzīyun bih, wa’ḥbib man shiʾta fa-innaka mufāriquhu, wa’ʿlam anna sharafal-muʾmin qiyāmul-layl, wa ʿizzahu istighnāʾuhu ʿani-n-nās.
English Translation: “…O Muhammad, live as you wish, for you will surely die. Do whatever deeds you wish, for you will be repaid accordingly. Love whomever you wish, for you will part with them. And know that the nobility of a believer is in prayer at night, and his honor is in being independent of people.”
This beautiful hadith is found in Imām al-Ṭabarānī’s al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ (Hadith 4410) and was graded ḥasan (trustworthy) by Imām al-Albānī . It was also recorded by Imām al-Ḥākim, who declared it ṣaḥīḥ (authentic), and Imām al-Dhahabī concurred with his assessment.
In the sections below, we will break down each of these five advices from Angel Jibril (AS) and reflect on their timeless wisdom and practical relevance.
The first advice Jibril (AS) gave was to remind us of mortality: “Live however you want, but know that in the end you will die.”
No matter how long or comfortably we live, death is inevitable. This message might sound sobering, but it is meant to keep us grounded. Remembering the reality of death helps us prioritize what truly matters.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged believers to frequently remember the destroyer of pleasures – death , so that we stay humble and focused on doing good. The Quran likewise reminds us that “Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you were in lofty towers”.
For Muslims, the awareness of our limited time on earth is not meant to cause despair, but to inspire urgency in doing good deeds and living righteously. Every day is an opportunity to gain Allah’s pleasure before our time is up. By keeping the certainty of death in mind, we become less attached to temporary worldly distractions and more motivated to seek lasting rewards in the Hereafter.
This lesson from Jibril (AS) is timeless: Live responsibly and meaningfully, since life is short and nothing lasts forever. It reminds us to prepare for the ultimate meeting with Allah and not to live in heedlessness. As the saying goes, “The most intelligent person is the one who remembers death often,” turning this knowledge into motivation to live a pious life.
The second piece of advice emphasizes accountability: “Do whatever you wish, for you will be recompensed (paid back) for it”. In other words, every action has consequences.
Islam teaches that all our deeds – big or small, good or bad – are being recorded and will be presented to us on the Day of Judgment. The Quran states that “whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it” (Quran 99:7-8).
Knowing this, a believer is mindful of his or her choices in life. We are free to act as we wish, but we should remember that we bear responsibility for those actions and will answer to Allah for them. Jibril’s advice here encourages us to choose righteousness and avoid sins, since we will surely face the results of what we do.
A wise Muslim will pause and think:
If the answer is no, it’s better to refrain and choose something that benefits our souls instead. On the other hand, any good we do – even if no one appreciates it now – is not lost; Allah will reward it justly. This gives comfort and purpose, motivating us to persist in good deeds.
In our daily lives, we can apply this by being honest in our work, kind to others, and diligent in worship, knowing that every effort counts. Jibril’s reminder that “you will be repaid accordingly” is essentially a call to live a life of consciousness and accountability, aiming for rewards that last eternally rather than temporary gains.
The third advice shifts our focus to the nature of love and relationships in this world: “Love whomever you wish, for you will part with them.”
This poignant statement highlights the fact that all worldly relationships are temporary.
No matter how deeply we love someone – be it family, friends, or anyone – eventually death or life circumstances will separate us from them. Understanding this reality teaches us to love others in a balanced way, without becoming so attached that we forget our purpose or neglect our duties to Allah. Our loved ones are a blessing and a test; we cherish them, but we should not love anything or anyone more than Allah and His Messenger (PBUH).
Islam does not discourage love; rather, it guides us to channel our love appropriately. The strongest and most everlasting love is the love for Allah. If we build our lives around seeking Allah’s love, He will place affection between us and the people who are good for us. Conversely, if we base our relationships on sin or put worldly love above our duty to God, we set ourselves up for heartbreak and loss.
Jibril (AS) is essentially advising the Prophet (PBUH) – and all of us – to remember that one day we will be parted from every worldly attachment. What remains is the love of Allah and the bonds between believers that are based on faith and virtue.
There is a comforting flip side to this advice: if we love someone for the sake of Allah (for example, loving a righteous person or our family out of sincere faith), that love can continue beyond this life. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “You will be with those whom you love” on the Day of Judgment.
This means if we truly love Allah, His Messenger, and the righteous, we hope to be reunited with them in the Hereafter. Thus, while we inevitably experience separation in this world, love based on faith is never wasted – it will be rewarded with eternal companionship in Jannah (Paradise), in shā’ Allāh.
Jibril’s advice teaches us to prioritize our love: love others sincerely, but keep Allah and righteousness as our ultimate beloved, so that our hearts are not broken by the temporary nature of worldly life.
In the fourth advice, Jibril (AS) tells us what truly elevates a believer: “Know that the honor (sharaf) of a believer is in standing for prayer at night.”
Here, he is referring to Qiyām al-Layl, also known as Tahajjud – the voluntary late-night prayer performed in the last third of the night, before the dawn. While not obligatory, this prayer has always been regarded as a special act of worship that brings a servant closer to Allah. It is performed when the world is asleep, so it is a time of sincerity and devotion free from distractions.
As the hadith says, this is the believer’s nobility – it distinguishes the sincere and devoted servants of God. Indeed, the Quran describes the righteous by saying: “They arise from their beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and hope…” , praising those who forsake some sleep to pray privately.
Throughout Islamic history, night prayer has been the hallmark of the pious. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself regularly prayed at night until his feet became swollen, out of gratitude to Allah. Many companions and scholars found strength and peace in Qiyam al-Layl. Why is it a source of honor? Because it reflects a believer’s true priorities – choosing worship and remembrance of Allah over the comfort of sleep. It nurtures humility, patience, and a strong connection with God.
The Prophet (PBUH) taught that during the last third of the night, Allah’s mercy is especially close: “Our Lord descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night, calling out: ‘Who is asking Me so that I may grant them? Who is seeking forgiveness so I may forgive them?’…” and this continues until dawn . This means the late night is a precious opportunity for duʿā’ (supplication) and seeking forgiveness, which Allah has promised to answer generously.
For us in modern life, this advice might seem challenging – many of us find it hard even to get enough sleep. But even a little bit of consistent night prayer can be hugely beneficial. One could start by waking up just 10-15 minutes before Fajr (dawn prayer) to pray two rak‘āt of Tahajjud or to reflect and make duʿā’.
This secret habit, done purely for Allah, builds our faith and grants a sense of inner honor and peace that worldly accolades can’t give. Angel Jibril’s words remind us that true dignity in Allah’s sight comes from such sincere worship. No matter how ordinary we are in the eyes of people, a few quiet moments of prayer at night can raise our rank with our Lord – and that is the real nobility that counts.
The fifth and final advice Jibril (AS) gave is closely tied to the previous one: “A believer’s honor (‘izzah) is in being independent of the people.”
In simple terms, a true believer finds dignity in relying on Allah alone and not being dependent on the creation.
This does not mean we must live in isolation or never accept help, but rather that we should not be needy or constantly begging from others. Our hearts should place ultimate trust in Allah as the Provider, instead of in people or material means. When we free ourselves from dependence on people, we actually gain honor and self-respect.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him content (independent), and whoever tries to be self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient.”
This profound hadith shows that when we stop constantly seeking handouts or relying on human beings, Allah helps us by fulfilling our needs and filling our heart with contentment.
Throughout the lives of the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions, we see a strong theme of tawakkul – trusting in Allah. They took action and worked hard, but their reliance was always on God, not on the material means alone. By doing so, they remained dignified and never enslaved to worldly fears or favors.
As Jibril (AS) pointed out, all the prophets had this quality of relying completely on Allah, and that’s part of what made them the most honorable of people . The Quran repeatedly encourages believers to “put your trust in Allah” for He is sufficient as a protector (see Quran 33:3).
When we know Allah is on our side, we don’t feel the need to humiliate ourselves before others. We work for our needs and leave the rest to God’s plan. This attitude brings a unique inner honor – we become free of desperation for people’s approval or aid, and instead focus on earning Allah’s approval.
In our everyday life, we can practice this by striving to earn a lawful livelihood, avoiding indebting ourselves beyond need, and asking Allah for help before we turn to people. It also means helping others while expecting reward from Allah, not from them. By being generous givers instead of frequent takers, we attain dignity.
The Prophet (PBUH) beautifully illustrated reliance on Allah by saying: “If you trust in Allah as you truly should, He would provide for you like He provides for the birds – they go out in the morning hungry and return home full in the evening”. Birds do not hoard or beg; they put in effort each day and Allah sustains them.
Similarly, when we trust Him and do our part, He will sustain us. Thus, Jibril’s final advice teaches that true honor and richness are not measured by how much we have, but by how much we can refrain from needing beyond what Allah provides. A heart attached to Allah alone is a heart that stands dignified.
The five advices given by Angel Jibril (AS) to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encapsulate profound wisdom for living a balanced, faithful life. Though delivered over 1,400 years ago, these lessons are truly timeless and universal. They remind us of fundamental truths: life is short, so use it well; actions have consequences, so choose good; worldly love is temporary, so love Allah and good people for His sake; spiritual devotion elevates us, so seek honor through night prayer and sincere worship; and real dignity comes from relying on Allah, not on worldly crutches.
If we reflect on the Prophet’s own life, we find that he exemplified all these principles – he was intensely aware of the Hereafter, strove for good deeds, loved for the sake of Allah, prayed at night consistently, and relied completely on his Lord. He taught these values to his companions, and by extension, to all of us.
As modern Muslims, we can incorporate Jibril’s advice into our daily routines step by step. For instance, we can keep a journal of good deeds and check ourselves each night (accountability), or set an alarm for a short night prayer once a week to start with. We can remind ourselves when we get too attached to something in this world that ultimately “inna lillah wa inna ilayhi rājiʿūn” – we belong to Allah and will return to Him. We should also actively nurture our love for Allah and His Messenger through learning and dhikr, so that worldly separations won’t break us. By living these lessons, we not only prepare for the next life but also find more contentment and purpose in this one.
In conclusion, the advice of Angel Jibril (AS) is a gift of guidance for the Prophet (PBUH) and for all believers. It is a concise roadmap to what truly matters in life and what will lead to everlasting success. May Allah help us to remember and implement these five timeless lessons. By doing so, we keep ourselves oriented towards the ultimate goal – meeting our Lord with a heart full of faith, a record full of good deeds, and a soul at peace. اللهم آمين (Allahumma ameen).
