Dihya ibn Khalifa al-Kalbi

The Form of Jibril

Dihya ibn Khalifa, of Banu Kalb, was a Companion of such striking handsomeness that the angel Jibril would sometimes appear to the Prophet ﷺ in his likeness — so that when the Companions saw a figure resembling Dihya, it was at times Jibril himself. 1 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 390 — Kandhlawi — the angel Jibril used to appear in the form of Dihya al-Kalbi.

Envoy to Caesar

He was honoured as one of the Prophet’s ﷺ envoys to the kings, carrying the letter inviting Heraclius, emperor of the Romans, to Islam — the famous letter read in the imperial court, where the signs of the awaited prophet were recognised. 2 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 211 — Najeebabadi — Dihya al-Kalbi carries the Prophet's letter to Heraclius, emperor of the Romans. He lived into the period of Mu’awiya and died in Syria.