65/18.9. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4731 — Jibreel Descends by Allah’s Command
The Statement of Allah the Exalted: "And (remember) when Mūsa (Moses) said to his boy-servant: 'I will not give up (travelling) until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travelling." (V.18:60)
زَمَانًا وَجَمْعُهُ أَحْقَابٌ.
Hadith About Jibreel Visiting by Allah’s Command
Sahih Bukhari : 4731
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4731
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ ذَرٍّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِجِبْرِيلَ " مَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ تَزُورَنَا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا تَزُورُنَا فَنَزَلَتْ {وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلاَّ بِأَمْرِ رَبِّكَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا}"
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said to Gabriel, "What prevents you from visiting us more often than you visit us now?"So there was revealed:-- 'And we (angels) descend not but by the command of your Lord. To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us...'(19.64)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4731In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 253USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 255
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4731
This hadith about Jibreel visiting the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is short but full of meaning. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked Jibreel what prevented him from visiting more often. Then the verse was revealed: the angels do not descend except by the command of the Lord. The verse also states that to Him belongs what is before them and what is behind them. The hadith does not describe angels acting on their own schedule. It links their descent to Allah’s command. For searches such as Jibreel visits Prophet hadith or angels descend by Allah’s command, the main teaching is clear: even the noble angels act under Allah’s order. This keeps the heart attached to Allah as the One who controls the unseen and the timing of revelation.
What we learn from this hadith
- Angels descend only by Allah’s command.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked about Jibreel’s visits, and revelation answered.
- The unseen world is under Allah’s control.
- The hadith keeps attention on Allah, not on independent angelic choice.
