Hi Drac…
In Christianity, St Gabriel the Angel is one who ‘points out’ some thing significant.
He appeared to Abraham and prevented him from sacrificing his son and instead…the Angel then pointed to the ram stuck in the bush.
St. Gabriel appeared to Mary telling her she would become the mother of the messiah…she questioned as she was consecrated to God alone and did not want man. The Angel told her that with God all things are possible.
Then Gabriel appeared to the shepherds…and pointed to them the infant placed in an animal feeder and wrapped in swaddling clothes.
what is the account of Gabriel…if it is him…who encountered Muhammed?
Muhammad would often go to a mountain in Mecca in order to relax and meditate. In the year 610 A.D., when Muhammad was relaxing in a cave [on the mountain], Gabriel appeared to Muhammad in human form. Gabriel grabbed him tightly and said “
Read!”, Muhammad replied “
I cannot read”. For a second time, Gabriel said “
Read!” and Muhammad said “
I cannot read”. If memory serves me correctly, there was a third time where Gabriel said “
Read!” and Muhammad said “
What shall I read?”.
Then the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed: “
Read (Proclaim!) in the name of your Lord Who created. Created man, out of a clot (of congealed blood). Read! (Proclaim), and your Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the Pen. Taught man that which he knew not” (surah 96:1-5)
After those five verses were given to him, He exited the cave and saw Gabriel again, but in his neutral form. Everywhere he looked, there was Gabriel; telling him that he’s a messenger of Allah. Muhammad was terrified by this, so he ran home and said, to his wife, “
Cover me! cover me!”. His wife, Khadijah, comforted him and believed in what was revealed. That was not the only time Muhammad saw an angel, though. He saw Gabriel again during Muhammad’s ascension; Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem [in one night] and then ascended to Paradise to hear God’s instructions on prayer.