Arabic · proper noun · Faith & Sacred History

Jibril

जिब्रील

said jib-REEL

also written: jibreel, gabriel, jibrail, gibril

Meaning

The angel Gabriel; title-figure of Iqbal's 'Bal-e-Jibril' (Gabriel's Wing). In 'Jibril-o-Iblis' the obedient angel and the defiant Satan debate the worth of free, risk-taking struggle.

See it in the verse

Jibril in Iqbal’s couplets

Khudi ho ilm se mohkam to ghairat-e-Jibril
Agar ho ishq se mohkam to soor-e-Israfil

A selfhood made firm by knowledge can rival the angel of revelation; a selfhood made firm by love can rival the trumpet that wakes the world.

Selfhood · Love · Action

Related words

ARABIC

Iblis

The fallen angel who refused to bow to Adam and became the tempter; in Iqbal a complex emblem of pride, defiance and the testing of the self.

PERSIAN

Bal-e-Jibril

'Gabriel's Wing', Iqbal's celebrated 1935 Urdu collection containing 'Masjid-e-Qurtuba', 'Saqi Nama' and 'Lenin' — among the summits of his engagement with faith, power and the modern world.

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