The Man who resembled Jibreel (AS)

 

      Imagine being the man that Jibreel (AS) takes the form of when he comes to your people. Now, imagine being married to that person. This is the unique position of Dihyah (RA), who is primarily known for this role as a companion of the Prophet (Pbuh). It was never suggested that Dihyah (RA) was impersonating Jibreel (AS), even by the enemies of the Prophet (Pbuh). When Jibreel (AS) appeared, he would take a form that resembled Dihyah (RA), but upon closer inspection, it was not an exact match. Imam Al-Zarkashi, (RA), explains that Jibreel (AS) would always take the form of the most beautiful person when appearing in human form to the Arabs or other peoples. When he appeared to Mariam (AS), he appeared as a very handsome man from Bani Israel. Therefore, it is not surprising that Jibreel (AS) took on the form of Dihyah (RA), who was known to be the most handsome man among the Arabs.

     There have been numerous instances of the Prophet (Pbuh) conversing with Jibreel (AS), and if you were fortunate enough to witness their meetings, you would have thought that the person with whom the Prophet was speaking was Dihyah. Umm Salama (RA) recounts a time when she saw the Prophet (Pbuh) sitting with someone who she believed to be Dihyah in her living room. She immediately distanced herself from the gathering, but the Prophet (Pbuh) approached her and asked her who she thought the person was. When she said she thought it was Dihyah, the Prophet did not say anything, but later revealed that it was Jibreel (AS) who had come to him. Aishah (RA) had a similar experience when she saw the Prophet (Pbuh) rushing outside to meet someone whose voice he had heard. When she followed him, she saw a man who looked like Dihyah leaning against a horse. However, when she mentioned this to the Prophet (Pbuh), he revealed that it was Jibreel (AS) she had seen. Dihyah is an interesting figure, and his story goes beyond Jibreel (AS)'s resemblance to him in human form.

     Firstly, it is said that Dihyah was the epitome of beauty among the Arabs, and people used to write poetry about him as a standard of comparison. When measuring someone's attractiveness, they would compare them to Dihyah and Ibn Abbas. Dihyah was from Yathrib, which later became known as Madinah, and upon his return home or when he was out, women would come out to see him and admire his beauty.

     Dihyah became a Muslim after the Battle of Badr and witnessed every battle with the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). The Prophet chose him to be an ambassador to world leaders, including the famous story of him delivering a handwritten message from the Prophet to Heraclius in Rome. The Prophet's choice of Dihyah as an ambassador demonstrated his wisdom, as Dihyah's presence would attract attention and allow him to call people to Allah as commanded by the Prophet.

      Dihyah was a skilled warrior and fought in numerous significant battles, including the Battle of Yarmouk, was not merely someone the Prophet (Pbuh) kept around for minor tasks, but rather an active participant in major conflicts in Islamic history. It is interesting to consider what it must have been like to be married to someone like him, and this is where the story of Dihyah gets particularly captivating. Dihyah's wife was Durrah bint Abi Lahab (RA), the daughter of Abu Lahab and the first member of her family to embrace Islam. Despite the challenges she faced, including reciting the Quranic verses that detailed the punishment of her father and mother, being married to a disbeliever who died fighting against the Muslims, and making Hijrah with the Prophet (Pbuh), Durrah bint Abi Lahab (RA) remained steadfast in her faith. The death of her husband, Al-Harith, who had fought against the Muslims in the Battle of Badr, made her situation even more difficult.

      However, after her husband died fighting against the Muslims in the Battle of Badr, Allah granted her a great blessing. Dihyah (RA), who was a righteous and handsome man, married her. This was a wise decision as it not only elevated the status of Durrah but also contradicted the derogatory remarks made by Umm Jamil, the wife of Abu Lahab, who claimed that the Prophet (Pbuh) was forsaken by his devil. Interestingly, Jibreel (AS) would take the form of Dihyah due to his righteousness and good looks.