Faith in Allah’s Angels

 

Contents

Which angels are mentioned by name in the Qur’an and Sunnah? 3

The attributes of Angels 5

The Duties Performed by Angels 7

Angels and Nature. 7

Angels and Humans: 9

The Believer’s Attitude with the Angels 16

Misconceptions about the angels 18

Who’s better, angels or righteous humans? 19

AFFECTS OF BELIEF IN ANGELS. 20

References: 22

 

 

 

Allah said:

{آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ رُسُلِهِ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ (285)} سورة البقرة

“The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, ‘We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers – and they say, We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return.’” [2:285]

Believing in Allah’s angels is the second pillar of faith. Until we gather the texts concerning them and understand them as a whole, our faith will remain general, and our understanding of individual texts subject to misconception, and we may be prevented from experiencing many of the benefits stemming from detailed faith in the angels.

The word for angel in Arabic is malak, and its plural is malaa’ikah. Its etymological root [l-‘a-k; laam hamzah kaaf (ل أ ك)] denotes messengership, bearing or conveying a message [Fayroozaabaadee]. For the angels, this means conveying or implementing Allah’s message to them, by regulating affairs and interacting with the rest of His creation, humans and others. The English word’s origin, the Greek angelos, also has the same meaning. And the Hebrew word for angel is mal’aak.

Like other aspects of faith, a believer is only required to acknowledge what they learn about the angels and what they are capable of comprehending. If all they know and believe is that angels exist, then that is sufficient to believe in, unless their curiosity and speculation tempts them beyond the realm of general faith. Then, it is obligatory to learn more to guide their understanding while stopping at the limits of Allah’s revelation.

Thus, they are real beings, created from light. No metaphors or allegories should be made concerning the scriptures that mention them.

Allah praises Himself and ability to create such a diverse creation,

{الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَثْنَى وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (1)} سورة فاطر

“All praise and thanks are Allah’s, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels messengers with wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Verily, Allah is Able to do all things.” [35:1]

In Allah’s Wisdom and Ability, He has kept them hidden from human detection. They are beings that operate in this universe on a plane or dimension which we cannot directly detect. Allah says:

{وَقَالُوا لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ وَلَوْ أَنْزَلْنَا مَلَكًا لَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ ثُمَّ لَا يُنْظَرُونَ (8)} سورة الأنعام

“And they say: ‘Why has not an angel been sent down to him?’ Had We sent down an angel, the matter would have been judged at once, and no respite would be granted to them.” [6:8]

Angels continuously descend from Him and ascend to Him, but what is meant here is seeing one in plain sight in the form that Allah created it.

{مَا نُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَمَا كَانُوا إِذًا مُنْظَرِينَ (8)} سورة الحجر

“We do not send down the Angels except with The Truth, and they would not then be given any respite.” [15:8]

The truth here is the truth of the promise that the sinners were warned against, that their destruction would follow their rejection of the Message.

Otherwise, if Allah sent angels as plain as day, then the test to believe in His Messengers would be over. Just as our purpose of existence is to worship Allah, it is likewise to survive the test of faith. Look at the first attribute with which Allah describes the successful:

{الم (1) ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِلْمُتَّقِينَ (2) الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ (3) وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ (4) أُولَئِكَ عَلَى هُدًى مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ (5)} سورة البقرة

“Alif laam meem. This is a book wherein there is no doubt, a guidance for those fearful [of Allah]: those who believe in the Unseen, and establish the salaah, and are, out of what We have provided them, spending; and those who believe in what has been sent down to you [O Muhammad] of revelation and sent down to those prophets before you, and who are, of the Hereafter, of certain faith. They are upon real guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful.” [2:1-5]

 

Angels mentioned by name in the Revelation

 

There are some angels who, due to their responsibility or virtue with Allah, have been named specifically in the Quran and or by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The greatest of these, and according to some scholars, the greatest and most virtuous of Allah’s creation, is the angel known as the Rūḥ (the Spirit) and by the name Jibreel or Gabriel.

{قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِنْ رَبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ (102)} سورة النحل

“Say (O Muhammad): Roohul-Qudus [the Holy Spirit] has brought it (the Quran) down from your Lord with truth, that it may strengthen the resolve of those who believe, and as a guidance and glad tidings to those who have submitted.” [16:102]

Frequently mentioned with Jibreel is Meekaa’eel or Michael, who governs precipitation and plant life by Allah’s Will. And mentioned with those two sometimes is Israafeel, the angel in charge of blowing the horn, ending all life in the universe.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ frequently invoked, “Oh Allaah, Lord of Jibraa’eel and Meekaa’eel and Israafeel, Originator of the Heavens and the Earth,…” These are great beings, showing that their Lord is even greater, as it would not be much praise to say that Allah is the Lord Creator and Sustainer of rocks or shrubs or some things we consider insignificant at times, even though He is the Lord of all things.

Munkar and Nakeer are the names of the two angels responsible for interrogating the deceased once they are buried. They are described with two brilliant blue star-like eyes.

Maalik, keeper and kindler of Hell, is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah:

{وَنَادَوْا يَا مَالِكُ لِيَقْضِ عَلَيْنَا رَبُّكَ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ مَاكِثُونَ (77)} سورة الزخرف

“And they will cry: ‘O Malik! Let your Lord make an end of us.’ He will say: ‘Verily, you shall abide forever.’” [43:77]

Some texts mention RiDwaan as the keeper of Paradise. As for the angel of death, no authentic hadeeth mentions his name, but some traditions call him Azraa’eel.

Haaroot and Maaroot are the names of two angels that Allah sent to Babylon to test the people: was their faith stronger than their envy and hatred of one another. So those whose envy overwhelmed and eclipsed their faith, they would learn sorcery from the two angels to cause friction between married couples.

{وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَى مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ وَمَا كَفَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ وَمَارُوتَ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّى يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ وَمَا هُمْ بِضَارِّينَ بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ أَنْفُسَهُمْ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ (102)} سورة البقرة

“And they followed what the devils gave out in the lifetime of Sulaymaan. Sulaymaan did not disbelieve, but the devils disbelieved, teaching men magic and such things that came down at Babylon to the two angels, Haaroot and Maaroot, but neither of these two taught anyone till they had said, ‘We are for trial, so disbelieve not.’ And from these, people learned that by which they cause separation between man and his wife, but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah’s Leave.” [2:102]

 

The attributes of Angels

 

They are created by a kind of light which has not been explained to us, and they vary in size, ability and task.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “I see what you do not see, and I hear what you do not hear. The heaven is creaking and it should creak, for there is no space in it the width of four fingers but there is an angel there, prostrating to Allah. By Allah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much, and you would never enjoy women in your beds, and you would go out in the streets, beseeching Allah.”

On the other hand, he also said, “I have been permitted to tell about one of Allah’s angels who bears the throne that the distance between the lobe of his ear and his shoulder is a journey of seven hundred years.”

Some may assume other forms and be much faster than light. On occasions, Jibreel would race to the Throne of Allah and back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in a single sitting if the Prophet had a question for him that he did not know immediately. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ witnessed Jibreel with 600 wings on two occasions: around the beginning of his prophethood, and on the night of al-israa’ wal-mi’raaj.

All angels worship Allah with love, fear and humility,

{وَمَا مِنَّا إِلَّا لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَعْلُومٌ (164) وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ (165) وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُونَ (166)} سورة الصافات

“And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known  position; and verily, we stand in rows (for the prayers as you Muslims stand in rows for your prayers); and verily, we indeed are those who glorify (Allah’s Praises).” [37:164-166]

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, after his mi’raaj, and having met many of the prophets in the heavens, “Then I was shown al-bait-al-ma’moor. I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is the structured House where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).’”

The nearness of the angels to Allah is not like the nearness of a deputy to a sheriff, but slaves to the Lord of the Worlds…

{وَلَا تَنْفَعُ الشَّفَاعَةُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ حَتَّى إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا الْحَقَّ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُ (23)} سورة سبأ

“Intercession with Him profits not except for him whom He permits. So much so that when fear is banished from their (angels’) hearts, they say: ‘What is it that your Lord has said?’ They say: ‘The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.’” [34:23]

This proves that they have bodies with hearts and are not wholly “spiritual” as many allege. 

 

 

The Duties Performed by Angels

 

Angels and Nature

 

Angels carry out some of the processes of the universe which are frequently be attributed to physics. They are involved in moving the planets, regulating weather, rain, wind, and even geographical affairs, etc.

 

{وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ (13)} سورة الرعد

“And Ar-Ra’d glorifies and praises Him, and so do the angels because of His awe. He sends the thunderbolts, and therewith He strikes whom He wills, yet they (disbelievers) dispute about Allah. And He is Mighty in strength and Severe in punishment.” [13:13]

Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “The Jews came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: ‘O Abul-Qasim! Inform us about the thunder (al-Ra’d), what is it?’ He said: ‘An angel among the angels, who is responsible for the clouds. He has a piece of fire that he uses to drive the clouds wherever Allah wills.’ They said: ‘Then what is this noise we hear?’ He said: ‘It is him, striking the clouds when he drives them on, until it goes where it is ordered.’ They said: ‘You have told the truth.’”

The Messenger ﷺ said,

While a man was in the wilderness he heard a voice from the cloud (commanding it thus): “Irrigate the garden of so and so.” After that, the clouds slinked aside and poured water on a stony ground. It filled a channel amongst the channels of that land, and the man followed the water until he found a person standing in the garden, busy, changing the course of water with the help of a hatchet. He said to him: “Servant of Allah, what is your name?” He said, “I am …” And it was that very name which he had heard from the clouds. So he asked the man, “Servant of Allah, why do you ask me my name?” He said, “I heard a voice from the rain clouds saying, “Water the garden of so and so,” like your name. What do you do (for the favor) shown to you by Allah in this matter?” He said, “Now as you state so. I look what yield I get from it, and I give one-third as charity, my children and I eat one-third of it, and one-third I return as investment.

 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was telling ‘Aa’ishah about a severe time for him when a group of people rejected his message, cursed him and tried to inflict severe harm upon him, driving him away and he mentioned, “I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me unexpectedly. I looked up and saw Gabriel in it. He called me saying, ‘Allah has heard your people’s words to you, and their response to you. Allah has sent the Angel of the Mountains to you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.’ The Angel of the Mountains called and greeted me, and then said, ‘O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you like, I will let the two mountains fall on them.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘No but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allah Alone, and will worship None besides Him.’”

Angels also carry out Allah’s command of destruction using the weather, water and earth to complete those tasks.

 

Angels and Humans:

 

From our beginning, angels shape us in the wombs of our mothers, blow the rooh into our bodies, and write four decrees upon our foreheads (deeds, sustenance, life span, and ultimate end). The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah has appointed an angel in the womb, and the angel says, ‘O Lord! A drop of semen, O Lord! a clot, O Lord! a piece of chewed-like flesh.’ And then, if Allah wishes to complete the child’s creation, the angel will say, ‘O Lord! A male or a female? O Lord! miserable or blessed (in religion)? What will his livelihood be? What will his age be?’ The angel writes all this while the child is in the womb of its mother.”

Then, after birth, the “angels of mercy” surround us,

{لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَالٍ (11)} سورة الرعد

“For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state themselves. But when Allah wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, and they will find besides Him no protector.” [13:11]

The Prophet ﷺ added, “Angels keep on descending from and ascending to the Heaven in turn, some at night and some by daytime, and all of them assemble together at the time of the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. Then those who have stayed with you over-night, ascend unto Allah Who asks them, and He knows the answer better than they, ‘How have you left My slaves?’ They reply, ‘We have left them praying as we found them praying.’ If anyone of you says ‘Ameen’ (during the Prayer at the end of the recitation of Surat-al-Faitiha), and the angels in Heaven say the same, and the two sayings coincide, all his past sins will be forgiven.”

And each human is assigned an insinuating companion angel, as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “There is none among you except that a companion among the jinn and a companion among the angels has been appointed to him.” Other texts indicate that each companion becomes more influential, by Allah’s Permission, the more they are followed.

 

Furthermore, two angels are always with us recording our deeds,

{وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ (16) إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ (17) مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ (18)} سورة ق

“And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge). (Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive, one sitting on the right and one on the left. Not a word does he utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” [50:16-18]

The Prophet ﷺ added, “The angel on the left holds up his pen for six hours after a Muslim commits a sin. If the person regrets it and asks Allah for forgiveness, he casts it aside, otherwise he writes it down as one.” [Saheeh al-Jaami’ 2/212, from Kabeer al-Tabaraani’s, hasan, via Abu Umaamah.]

And Allah may test us with angels whilst we are unaware,

{فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِنْ دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا (17) قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَنِ مِنْكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَقِيًّا (18) قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا (19)} سورة مريم

“She screened herself from them; then We sent to her Our Spirit, and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: ‘Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent from you, if you do fear Allah.’ He said: ‘I am only a messenger from your Lord, to give you the gift of a righteous son.’” [19:17-19]

Had her nature and desires driven her to respond differently, the angel would not have given her any such joyful news.

The Messenger ﷺ said,

Allah willed to test three Israelis: one with white skin patches^[1]The word baraS (leukoderma) is commonly mistranslated as leprosy (judhaam) a different skin condition. Both the first two men had cosmetic ailments, while the third was truly handicapped., a blind man and a bald-headed man. So, he sent them an angel who came to the one with discolored skin and said, ‘What thing do you like most?’ He replied, ‘Good color and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me.’ The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good color and beautiful skin. The angel asked him, “What kind of property would you like most?” He replied, “Camels.” So he was given a pregnant she-camel, and the angel said (to him), “May Allah bless you in it.”

The angel then went to the bald-headed man and said, “What thing do you like most?” He said, “I like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the people feel repulsion for me.” The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair. The angel asked (him), “What kind of property would you like most?” He replied, “Cows.” The angel then gave him a pregnant cow and said, “May Allah bless you in it.”

The angel went to the blind man and asked, “What thing would you like the most?” He said, “that Allah may restore my eyesight to me so that I may see the people.” The angel touched his eyes and Allah gave him back his vision. The angel asked him, “What kind of property would you like most?” He replied, “Sheep.” The angel gave him a pregnant sheep.

Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones, and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of them had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley. Then the angel, disguised as a discolored man went to the first and said, “I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So none will satisfy my need except Allah and then you. In the Name of Him Who has given you such nice color and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination.” The man replied, “I have many obligations (so I cannot give you).” The angel said, “I think I know you; were you not a discolored man to whom the people had a strong aversion? Weren’t you a poor man, and then Allah gave you (all this property)?” He replied, “(This is all wrong), I got this property through inheritance from my fore-fathers.” The angel said, “If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.”

Then the angel, disguised as a bald man, went to the bald man and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too answered the same as the first one did. The angel said, “If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.” The angel, disguised as a blind man, went to the third man and said, “I am a poor man and a traveler, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allah, and after Him, you yourself. I ask you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your vision to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey.” The man said, “No doubt, I was blind and Allah gave me back my sight; I was poor and Allah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By Allah, I will not stop you for taking anything (you need) of my property which you may take for Allah’s sake.” The angel replied, “Keep your property with you. You three have been tested and Allah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions.”^[2]Also, note that the angel asked these men by Allah, and did not simply ask them. So not only did they refuse him, but even after he mentioned Allah’s Name in his request, which, as we learned from … Continue reading

The angels then take our souls out from us after our deaths,

{… وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنْفُسَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنْتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ (93)} سورة الأنعام

“And if you could but see when the wrong doers are in the agonies of death, while the angels are stretching forth their hands saying, ‘Deliver your souls!’” [6:93]

 

And some angels are with us in the grave,

{يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ وَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ وَيَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ (27)} سورة إبراهيم

“Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah will cause the wrongdoers to go astray, and Allah does what He wills.” [14:27]

As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, in brief, this refers to the questioning from Munkar and Nakeer, over the fundamentals of faith.

 

The angels watch over Hell,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ (6)

“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire whose fuel is men and stones, over which are angels stern and severe, who disobey not, from executing the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded.” [66:6]

And they greet the believers upon entering Paradise,

{جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ (23) سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ (24)} سورة الرعد

“Gardens of Eden, which they shall enter and (also) the righteous from their fathers, and their wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter upon them from every gate (saying): Peace be upon you, for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!” [13:23-24]

Some angels are tasked specifically with regard to certain good deeds and acts of worship from us.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah has angels who travel around on Earth conveying to me the Salaams of my Ummah.” Other ahaadeeth mention that they pray for the believer as long as he is waiting in the masjid after prayer, as well as praying upon groups of people who study the Quran, and upon every person who leaves their home in pursuit of Islamic knowledge. And, the Messenger ﷺ said:

Allah has some angels who look for those who celebrate the Praises of Allah on the roads and paths. And when they find some people celebrating the Praises of Allah, they call each other, saying, ‘Come to the object of your pursuit.’ Then the angels encircle them with their wings up through the lower heaven.  Then, their Lord, asks those angels—though He knows better than them—“What do My slaves say?” The angels reply, “They say: SubhaanAllaah, Allahu Akbar, and Alhamdulillah,” Allah then says “Did they see Me?” The angels reply, “No! By Allah, they didn’t see You.” Allah says, “How it would have been if they saw Me?” The angels reply, “If they saw You, they would worship You more devoutly and celebrate Your Glory more deeply, and declare Your freedom from any deficiency more often.” Allah says, “What do they ask Me for?” The angels reply, “They ask You for Paradise.” Allah says (to the angels), “Did they see it?” The angels say, “No! By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.” Allah says, How it would have been if they saw it?” The angels say, “If they saw it, they would have greater covetousness for it and would seek It with greater zeal and would have greater desire for it.” Allah says, “From what do they seek refuge?” The angels reply, “They seek refuge from the Fire.” Allah says, “Did they see it?” The angels say, “No By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.” Allah says, “How it would have been if they saw it?” The angels say, “If they saw it they would flee from it with the extreme fleeing and would have extreme fear from it.” Then Allah says, “I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them.” One of the angels would say, “There was so-and-so amongst them, and he was not one of them, but he had just come for some need.” Allah would say, “These are those people whose companions will not be reduced to misery.”

 

{هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا (43)} سورة الأحزاب

“He it is Who sends His Blessing on all you, and His angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive you), that He may bring you out from darkness into light. And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers.” [33:43]

 

Angels hate and curse the disbelievers, innovators and hypocrites and strike fear into their hearts,

{إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ (12)} سورة الأنفال

“(Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, ‘Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.’” [8:12]

{إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ (12)} سورة البقرة

“Verily, those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers, it is they upon whom is the Curse of Allah and of the angels and of all mankind combined.” [2:161]

 

The Believer’s Attitude with the Angels

 

Since the angels are believers and are Allah’s most obedient servants, it is obligatory to love them just as we love all believers. Having enmity towards any of the angels is blasphemy, 

{قُلْ مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ (97) مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِلَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ (98)} سورة البقرة

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘Whoever is an enemy to Jibreel, then indeed he has brought it (this Quran) down to your heart by Allah’s Permission, confirming what came before it and a guidance and glad tidings for the believers. Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His Angels, His Messengers, Jibreel and Meekaa’eel, then verily, Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.’” [2:97-98]

These aayaat were revealed in response to the hatred some of the Jews of Medinah displayed towards Jibreel because he brought destruction to some cities by the command of Allah. However, whatever decree Allah makes through His angels that entails harm for humans or our own selves will always contain mercy from another perspective and great wisdom from Allah, just as we know from His Decree in general, that it is full of wisdom, even though some of it may be bitter.

Angels are beings worthy of respect. The Messenger ﷺ advocated modesty in their presence, even when no humans were around. Also, he forbade offending them, “He who eats onion and garlic and leek, should not approach our mosque for the angels are bothered by what bothers the children of Adam.” And, “The angels do not enter a house where there is an image, a dog or a sexually impure person.” Other ahaadeeth tell us that angels do not accompany the drunkard, a disbeliever’s corpse, or any man using khalooq, a kind of perfume made from saffron traditionally used by women.; and angels are further offended by spitting on the right during prayer, among other things.

And look to the prayer that Allah has inspired His Throne-bearers to recite for us, to increase your love of them,

{الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ (7) رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي وَعَدْتَهُمْ وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ (8) وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَمَنْ تَقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ (9)} سورة غافر

“Those who bear the Throne and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe: ‘Our Lord! You encompass all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your way, and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire! Our Lord! And make them enter the everlasting Gardens of Eden which you have promised them – and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their offspring! Verily, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. And save them from sins, and whomsoever You save from sin that Day, him verily, You have taken into mercy.’ And that is the supreme success.” [40:7-9]

 

Misconceptions about the angels

Angels are acknowledged in many religions and cultures. Such beliefs are remnants of the message that originally came to their ancestors. Later on, after the knowledge perished and superstitions ran amok, angels were viewed in different ways.

Some cultures confused angels with cherubs, sphinxlike creatures or winged babies.

The Quraish believed that the angels were Allah’s daughters.

{وَجَعَلُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنَاثًا أَشَهِدُوا خَلْقَهُمْ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ وَيُسْأَلُونَ (19)} سورة الزخرف

“And they make the angels—who themselves are slaves of the Most Beneficent—females. Did they witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded, and they will be questioned!” [43:19]

While that verse seems to leave the question open, this closes it for sure:

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ لَيُسَمُّونَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَسْمِيَةَ الْأُنْثَى (27)} سورة النجم

“Verily, those who believe not in the Hereafter give the angels female names.” [53:27]

They spoke about Allah and the unseen realm without knowledge. There is no text to say that the angels are male or female, suggesting they may be genderless, since the words “male” and “female” are only attributed to beings in relation to their position in reproductive intercourse, which angels are not known to do.

But the greatest deviation with regard to belief in angels is that which was committed by the Hindus, Greeks and Romans: directing the affairs of the universe on their own accord. So instead of calling Shiva, for example, the angel of death, he was called the god of destruction. And instead of calling Hermes the message bearer between God and humans, he was instead the godly messenger of the Gods. Similarly with Hades or Pluto, the “god” of the underworld. Since Islam has been preserved in text and understanding, we know that Allah’s servants in charge of these matters have no share in divinity. And while each culture recognized a “chief God” in Brahman, Zeus or Jupiter, they assigned a portion of rule to lesser beings and then concocted soap opera-like stories involving these deities. Since the angels had visited people in the form of humans, the avatar phenomenon was created among the Hindus, and similar stories were no longer stories of angels, but stories of “celestial beings” whom they called gods, and permitted their invocation, without sanction from Allah or His messengers that were sent to them from long before.

وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ أَهَؤُلَاءِ إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ (40) قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ أَنْتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِنْ دُونِهِمْ بَلْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِهِمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ (41)} سورة سبأ

“And (remember) the Day when He will gather them all together, then He will say to the angels: ‘Was it you that these people used to worship?’ They will say: ‘Glorified are You! You are our Lord instead of them. Nay, but they used to worship the jinn; most of them were believers in them.’” [34:40-41]

The jinn would come to some people in a form, claim to be the angel-god, and then they would worship that deity instead of Allah and perhaps make images of that being as well.

Theist philosophers mixing between Aristotelian and Abrahamic traditions viewed the angels as Aristotle’s “intellects” which emanated co-eternally from God and depended upon Him, the “unmoved mover”, while they moved in lustful imitation of God. Obviously, that has nothing to do with Islam or what Allah revealed in any scripture.

{وَقَدْ كَفَرُوا بِهِ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَيَقْذِفُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ مِنْ مَكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ (53)} سورة سبأ

“And surely, they did disbelieve in it before, and they conjectured about the Unseen from a far away place.” [34:53]

 

Who is better, angels or righteous humans?

 

One issue which some of the scholars of Islam delved into is which of the two species is better, angels or humans? After all, Allah made all the angels prostrate to Adam, the father of humanity, while in our religion, it is forbidden to intend prostration to anything other than Allah, even an angel. One verse which some scholars cited to answer the question,

 

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ (7) } سورة البينة

“Truly, those who believe and work righteous actions, they are the best of creatures.” [98:6-7]

A pious believer freely worshipping Allah with love, fear, and hope is said to be better than one who worships Allah without choice, while there is no doubt that the angels, rather, even the animals, are better than the disbelievers and hypocrites.

Further, Allah brags about the pious to the angels, 

{وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ (31)} سورة البقرة

“And He taught Adam all the names, then He showed them to the angels and said, ‘Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.’” [2:31]

This happens even more during hajj. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “There is no day when Allah sets free more servants from Hell than the Day of ‘Arafaat. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: ‘What do these want?’” i.e. they want forgiveness, see, O angels who thought that these humans would only shed blood and neglect My remembrance?

 

 

AFFECTS OF BELIEF IN ANGELS

 

All the acts which garner the prayers of the angels or turn them off are different manifestations of Allah’s Pleasure and Displeasure with the children of Adam. Thus, we learn more about achieving Allah’s Pleasure by learning these texts. For example, ‘Aa’ishah said, “Allah’s Messenger ﷺ was lying in bed in my home with his thigh uncovered, then Abu Bakr sought permission to enter. It was given to him and he conversed in the same very state. Then ‘Umar sought permission to enter and it was given to him and he conversed in that very state. Then ‘Uthman sought permission to enter; Allah’s Messenger ﷺ sat down and he set right his clothes. He then entered and conversed and as he went out, I said: Abu Bakr entered and you did not stir and did not observe much care (in arranging your clothes), then ‘Umar entered and you did not stir and did not arrange your clothes, then ‘Uthman entered and you got up and set your clothes right, thereupon he said: Should I not show modesty to one whom even the Angels are shy of?” Thus, it was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ that ‘Uthman’s lifestyle, even in private, was so intensely modest and wary of Allah’s Gaze that Allah even turned the angels’ view away from him in honor of his modesty. Some narrations mention that he would bathe clothed, and never saw his own private parts, much less lounge around the house naked or pose in front of a mirror or anyone else for that matter.

 

Further, we learn to have taqwaa concerning our words, understanding nature better, cultivate shyness, and persistence towards good deeds. For every text concerning angels, an applicable benefit can be derived.

If we can really envision the presence of angels around us, seven with each person, an angel in every space of four fingers, etc. then we realize that we believers and the vast majority of Allah’s creatures. If you are in a town or place where you think you’re the only practicing Muslim, then remember the angels and you’ll realize who the real minority is, as Allah says:

{حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَوْا مَا يُوعَدُونَ فَسَيَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ أَضْعَفُ نَاصِرًا وَأَقَلُّ عَدَدًا (24)} سورة الجن

“Till, when they see that which they are promised, then they will know who it is that is weaker in helpers and less in numbers.” [72:24]

 

References:

 

Al-Malaaikah al-Muqarrabun by Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhaab al-`Aqeel

The World of the Noble Angels by Umar al-Ashqar