Dihyah Kalbi

For the 13th-century Moorish Islamic scholar, see Ibn Dihya al-Kalby.

Nabi Dahi, traditional burial place of Dihyah Kalbi

Dihyah Kalbi (Arabic: دحية الكلبى‎) was the envoy who delivered prophet Muhammad's message to the Roman Emperor Heraclius^[1]

According to Aisha, the Prophet's wife, he saw Jibril twice “in the shape that he was created” and on other occasions as a man resembling Dihyah ibn Khalifah al-Kalbi, an extraordinarily handsome disciple of Muhammad.

Two similar narrations have been recorded through Abu Uthman in Sahih al-Bukhari that reports an incident witnessed by Um Salama wife of the Prophet:

A narration attributed to Abu 'Uthman reports:

“

I was informed that Gabriel came to the Prophet while Um Salama was with him. Gabriel started talking (to the Prophet). Then the Prophet asked Um Salama, "Who is this?" She replied, "He is Dihya (al-Kalbi)." When Gabriel had left, Um Salama said, "By Allah, I did not take him for anybody other than him (i.e. Dihya) till I heard the sermon of the Prophet wherein he informed about the news of Gabriel." The subnarrator asked Abu 'Uthman: From whom have you heard that? Abu 'Uthman said: From Usama bin Zaid [2]

”

A narration attributed to Abu 'Uthman reports:

“

I got the news that Gabriel came to the Prophet while Um Salama was present. Gabriel started talking (to the Prophet and then left. The Prophet said to Um Salama, "(Do you know) who it was?" (or a similar question). She said, "It was Dihya (a handsome person amongst the companions of the Prophet )." Later on Um Salama said, "By Allah! I thought he was none but Dihya, till I heard the Prophet talking about Gabriel in his sermon." (The Sub-narrator asked Abu 'Uthman, "From where have you heard this narration?" He replied, "From Usama bin Zaid.") [3]

”

References

1. ^ The Message
2. ^ USC "Religious Texts", Sahih al-Bukhari, Retrieved on 2009-4-11.
3. ^ USC "Religious Texts", Sahih al-Bukhari, Retrieved on 2009-4-11.