Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Brief Commentary On Hadeeth Al-Kisaa (Tradition of the Cloak) Archangel Jibrael Seeks Proximity فَقالَ جِبرائِيلُ : يا رَبِّ أَتَأذَنُ لي أَن أَهبِطَ إلىَ الأَرضِ لأِكُونَ مَعَهُم سادِساً ؟ فَقالَ اللهُ : نَعَم قَد أَذِنتُ لَكَ "O my Lord," Gabriel asked, "Will You allow me to descend to the earth to be the sixth of them?" Allah the Almighty and All-majestic said, "Yes, I allow you." Upon hearing and absorbing this divine declaration from Allah (SWT), one can imagine how Jibrael (AS) felt elated as his existing love and veneration to the Prophet (SA) intensified further and thus he wisely made a request which displays his sense of yearning and appreciation to the position of the AhlulBayt (AS).
He requested from Allah (SWT) that he descend to the earth and join them under the cloak! It was a bold request as one can imagine even though Jibrael (AS) himself must have realized that the door is not opened for just anyone to enter the cloak. It is only the most closest and beloved creatures to the Lord whom the universe has been created for and only they attain the honor of entering the cloak.
Jibrael (AS) recognized that the members of the cloak are already ‘completed’ and there is no any other person alive at that time who deserves to be in that position but has not yet entered. Then why did he make that request? Although he knows that his rank among the angels is the highest and he has attained an exceptional proximity towards Allah (SWT), Jibrael (AS) is reminded of the incident of Me’raj which took place on the 27th of Rajab in the year 621 A.D.
when he accompanied (SA) in the journey towards the heavens and he was made to stop at a position that was very close to the divine throne of Allah (SWT). At that point, Jibrael (AS) was commanded by Allah (SWT) not to proceed and instead, the Prophet (SA) was given permission to continue forward at a position which no one else was ever given permission to enter. As the Holy Qur’an describes: ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ.
وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الأعلى “When he was on the highest part of the horizon, Then he approached and came closer, Till he was at a distance two bows' length or even nearer.” (53:7-9) Even Archangel Jibrael (AS) couldn’t cross past the seventh heaven at the place called Sidrat Al Muntaha (Lote-Tree)!