The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 169
Angles 169 bestowed for spiritual senses, as for physical eyes the light of the sun and for physical ears air have been appointed as a medium. . When God Almighty designs to convey His word to the heart of a recipient of revelation then instantaneously a wave of light or a wave of air or a wave of heat for moving the tongue of the recipient of revelation is created in the light of Gabriel for conveyance, and in consequence of this wave or heat simultaneously that text appears before the eyes of the recipient of revelation in writing, or its sound reaches his ears, or its words flow from his tongue. Spiritual senses and spiritual light, which are bestowed as a faculty before revelation, are so bestowed so that before its descent the capacity to receive it should be created. Had it descended at a time when the heart of the recipient did not possess spiritual senses, or the light of the Holy Spirit had not reached his eye or his heart, then through the pure light of what eyes could he have perceived the Divine revelation? It is on account of this need that these two faculties are bestowed in advance upon the recipients of revelation. . Three Functions of Gabriel. Gabriel has three functions relating to revelation. First, when the womb receives the seed of a person whose nature God the Glorious, out of His Raḥmāniyyat-with which man has nothing to do desires to make him capable of receiving revelation, He casts the reflection of the light of Gabriel on him in that very condition. Then such a person's nature develops, under Divine direction, the capacity for receiving revelation and he acquires senses for the receipt of revelation. . Secondly, when the love of a servant falls under the