Do the Shī‘ah think that Jibra’īl (Archangel Gabriel) has committed treachery when he conveyed the message [risālah] to Muhammad instead of ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib?
Reply: Before proving the groundlessness of this loathsome accusation made against the Shī‘ah by some ignorant or spiteful people, it is appropriate to trace its origin.
The origin of this accusation
The noble verses of the Qur’an and some relevant ḥadīths show that Jews were of the opinion that Jibra’īl (‘a) has committed treachery while conveying the message [risālah] claiming that God had ordered him to entrust the prophethood [nubuwwah] to the progeny of Isrā’il (Ya‘qūb or Jacob) from the line of Isḥāq (Isaac), but he did not comply with that divine order by entrusting it to the offspring of Ismā‘īl (Ishmael)!
Thus, a group of Jews regard Jibra’īl (‘a) as an enemy[1] and assume that “The truthful [al-amīn] (Jibra’īl) has betrayed!” Therefore, in reproaching them and proving the groundlessness of their claim, the Qur’an refers to Jibra’īl (‘a) in the verse below as truthful [al-amīn] and honest angel:
﴾ ٱلْمُنذِرِينَ مِنَ لِتَكُونَ قَلْبِكَ عَلَىٰ ٱلأَمِينُ ٱلرُّوحُ بِهِ نَزَلَ ﴿
“[It (Qur’an) was] brought down by the Trustworthy Spirit, upon your heart, so that you may be one of the warners.”[2]
In another verse, the Qur’an states:
﴾ قُلْ مَنْ كانَ عَدُوًّا لِجِبْريلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلى قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ ﴿
“Say, ‘Whoever is an enemy of Gabriel [should know that] it is he who has brought it down on your heart with the will of Allah.”[3]
From the quoted verses and their commentaries, we realize that a group of Jews were hostile to Jibra’īl (‘a) for some reasons, branding him as the “angel of tribulation” [malā’ikah al-‘adhāb] and accusing him of treachery in conveying the message [risālah].
Therefore, the slogan, “The truthful (Jibra’īl) has betrayed” originates from the superstitions of the Jews. Some ignorant writers who have ancient enmity toward the Shī‘ah make use of the Jews’ statement to dastardly attribute it to the Shī‘ah.
