وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّاءُ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَشْوَعَ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعَائِشَةَ فَأَيْنَ قَوْلُهُ ‏{‏ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّى * فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَى * فَأَوْحَى إِلَى عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَى‏}‏ قَالَتْ إِنَّمَا ذَاكَ جِبْرِيلُ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَأْتِيهِ فِي صُورَةِ الرِّجَالِ وَإِنَّهُ أَتَاهُ فِي هَذِهِ الْمَرَّةِ فِي صُورَتِهِ الَّتِي هِيَ صُورَتُهُ فَسَدَّ أُفُقَ السَّمَاءِ ‏.‏

Masruq reported:I said to 'A'isha: What about the words of Allah:" Then he drew nigh and came down, so he was at a distance of two bows or closer still: so He revealed to His servant what He revealed" (al-Qur'an, liii. 8-10)? She said: It implies Gabriel. He used to come to him (the Holy Prophet) in the shape of men; but he came at this time in his true form and blocked up the horizon of the sky