Unite It is of great importance to identify the spirit who came to Muhammad at the cave of Hira near Mecca. After his encounter with the spirit, Muhammad was afraid that what happened to him was from a Jinni.
Then later, Muhammad declared in the Koran that the spirit who squeezed him was the angel Gabriel. We read in
Surat Al-Baqarah 2:97: Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel - for he brings down the (revelation) to the heart by Allah's will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe.
Was the spirit really the angel Gabriel?
Had the spirit been Gabriel, he would have calmed Muhammad and relieved his fear. But the spirit left him in extreme distress.
Gabriel appeared to many people before his alleged visit to Muhammad and each time the first thing he did was to allay that person's fear.
Gabriel appeared to the prophet Daniel.
Daniel was afraid but Gabriel touched him, he did not squeeze him, he only touched him;
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. . . but he touched me, and set me upright. . . Daniel 8:16-18.
Gabriel appeared to Zacharias.
He identified himself and said to Zacharias: Do not be afraid, Zacharias... I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God (Luke 1:13, 19).
Gabriel appeared to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Mary was greatly troubled but Gabriel said to her: Do not be afraid, Mary (Luke 1:30).
But the spirit that came to Muhammed and squeezed Muhammad, left him frightened and in great distress. Therefore the spirit could not have been the angel Gabriel.
We are told by Ibn Hesham, that Khadija, Muhammed wife, tested the spirit.
She said to Muhammad:
"Would you please tell me when the spirit comes to you?" When Muhammad told her of the spirit's arrival, Khadija said "Muhammad, sit on my left thigh." Muhammad sat on her left thigh. "Do you see the spirit?" she asked. "Yes." "Then sit on my right thigh." Muhammad sat on her right thigh. "Do you see the spirit?" she asked. "Yes," he answered. "Then sit on my lap." Muhammad sat on her lap. "Do you see the spirit?" she asked. "Yes," he answered. Khadija uncovered a feminine part of her body while Muhammad was sitting on her lap. "Do you see the spirit?" "No," he answered. Then Khadija said, "Muhammad, that spirit is an angel, not a devil" (Ibn Hesham, part 2, pages 74, 75).
What a strange way to find out if the Spirit came from God or otherwise.
Muhammad had the right to be in doubt of the revelations given to him by the spirit which appeared to him at the cave of Hira, for that spirit was not the angel Gabriel.
When Gabriel first appeared to Muhammad in cave "Hiraa", Muhammad was caught by surprise, and after Gabriel was done with him, Muhammad rushed home dripping sweat and hid himself under the blanket because he was terrified.
The "Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir", (Book of the Major Classes), by Ibn Sa'd, translated by S. Moinal Haq, [4], page 225 has Muhammad saying;
"O Khadija, I see light and hear sounds and I fear I am mad".
I will leave you with this for now;
For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14 NKJ)
Peace