Vision of Angel Terrifying the Prophet

 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

والصلاة والسلام على رسوله الامين

In the Name of Allah, the Rahman, the Merciful

ِLike any true Prophet, my master Muhammad, sall Allahu alaihi wasallam, had powerful visions. He beheld the Angel Gabriel sitting on a throne in the sky:

بَيْنَا أَنَا أَمْشِي إِذْ سَمِعْتُ صَوْتًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَرَفَعْتُ بَصَرِي فَإِذَا الْمَلَكُ الَّذِي جَاءَنِي بِحِرَاءٍ جَالِسٌ عَلَى كُرْسِيٍّ بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ فَرُعِبْتُ مِنْهُ

While I was walking I suddenly heard a voice from the sky, so I looked up and it was the Angel who came to me at Hira, sitting upon a throne between the Heaven and the Earth, and I was terrified of him (Sahih al-Bukhari)

The reaction of utter terror by the Holy Prophet, sall Allahu alaihi wasallam, on beholding such a powerful vision of the Angel Gabriel should be compared to similar reactions of Prophets that preceded him. When God told Moses to cast the rod, it became an actual snake and this terrified Moses that he fled (Exodus 4:3). Likewise, the Prophet Daniel became fearful when he was approached by the Angel Gabriel, “And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face” (Daniel 8:16-17), “And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel” (Daniel 10:11-12)

The Prophet Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, became terrified when the Angel Gabriel appeared to him, “And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias (Luke 1:11-13)