Jibrīl, also spelled Jabrāʾīl or Jibreel, in Islam, the archangel who acts as intermediary between God and humans and as bearer of revelation to the prophets, most notably to Muhammad. In biblical literature Gabriel is the counterpart to Jibrīl.
Muhammad was not initially aware that Gabriel was his intermediary, and the Qurʾān mentions him by name only three times. It is clear from the Sunnah and tafsīr literature,
however, that Jibrīl became Muhammad’s constant helper. He and the archangel Mīkāl purified Muhammad’s heart in preparation for the Prophet’s ascension to heaven (Miʿrāj),
and then Jibrīl guided him through the various levels until they reached the throne of God. Jibrīl also helped Muhammad in times of political crises, coming to his aid at the Battle of Badr (624) with thousands of angels,
and then telling him to attack the Jewish tribes of Banū Qaynuqāʿ and Banū Qurayẓah, who had resisted Muhammad’s leadership in Medina.
