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Dihyah ibn Khalifa al-Kalbi

دِحْيَةُ بْنُ خَلِيفَةَ الْكَلْبِي

Diḥyah ibn Khalīfa al-Kalbī

Companion · Emissary

Most handsome of the companionsThe form Jibreel took in Madinah

Biography

Diḥyah ibn Khalīfa al-Kalbī رضي الله عنه was considered the most handsome of all the companions. He was an Anṣārī (from Madīnah), which is why Jibrīl would take his form when appearing to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in Madīnah, appearing as someone already known and recognized in the community. Āʾisha رضي الله عنها said she would see the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم speaking with who appeared to be Diḥyah, and would ask afterwards, 'What did Diḥyah want from you?', only to be told it was Jibrīl. He also served as an emissary of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to Heraclius (the Byzantine Emperor) carrying a letter calling him to Islām.

Stories

Historical context