A MUSLIM'S BELIEF IN ALLAH'S ANGELS

Sameh Strauch   

Allah, the Most High, says in His Glorious Book: “It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East or the West, but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Prophets.” (2:177)

And when the angel, Jibreel, came to Allah’s Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) he asked him:

“Tell me about Imam (Faith).” Allah’s Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) replied: “Faith is: to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books and His Messengers, and to believe in the Last Day and Divine Predestination, both good and bad.”

Here, the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) has defined faith as consisting of six articles:

Belief in (1) Allah, (2) His angels, (3) His Books (4) His Messengers, (5) in the Last Day and (6) in the Divine Predestination, both good and bad.

These articles are just like the pillars for a building. So, Iman (Faith) cannot be built except upon these six pillars, just as a building cannot be constructed except upon firm foundations.

The meaning of faith in Allah’s angels is to believe in their existence and the duties they perform according to Allah’s command. The angels were created by Allah from light in order that they worship Him, obey Him and carry out His commands. They are part of the unseen from amongst Allah’s creation - we do not see them, but we are obliged to believe in them with full conviction and without any doubts, because Allah, the Most High, has informed us about them in a clear way, which leaves no room for doubt or conjecture, as has His Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam). None knows their number, nor their precise nature, nor the exact manner of their creation, but Allah. Amongst their attributes are:

They are the armies of Allah; He, the Almighty, the All-Powerful says:

“To Allah belong the armies of the Heavens and the Earth.”(48:4)

And concerning the guardians of Hell, He, the Most High, says:

“Over it are nineteen (guardians).”(74:30)

Then Allah says:

“And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire; and We have fixed their number only as a trial for those who disbelieved - in order that the People of the Book may arrive at certainty and the Believers may increase in faith and that no doubts may be left for the People of the Book and the Believers.”(74:31)

Allah further says:

“And that those in whose hearts is a disease and the unbelievers may say: ‘What does Allah intend by this?’ ”(74:3 1)

The unbelievers speculate and argue vainly concerning the number of guardians, saying: How can it be that this Fire, which is to be the abode of the countless numbers of mankind, has only nineteen guardians over it? Allah says:

“And We have fixed their number only as a trial for those who disbelieved.”(74:31)

But they do not understand the might and power which Allah has bestowed on the angels, nor the armies of Allah. Knowledge of this is only with Allah.

According to Al-Tabari, it was Abu Jahl, a chronic enemy of Islam, who made the foolish boast that they, the unbelievers, would overpower the guardians of Hell and escape.

Also amongst the angels’ attributes is that they are the winged messengers of Allah to mankind; Allah says:

“All praise be to Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels messengers with wings - two, three or four.”(35:1)

That is, some have two wings, while others have three and others four, while others still, have more. It is related by Al-Bukhari that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) saw Jibreel, who had six hundred wings, all of them having filled the horizon. Allah says about him:

“He was taught by one mighty in power.”(53:5)

Al-Tabari says: “He i.e. Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam), was taught the Quraan by Jibreel. The angels possess great strength by Allah’s Will.

It is Israfeel, who will blow the trumpet on the Last Day; the first trumpet will cause the death of every living creature in the heavens and the earth and the destruction of all created things:

“Then when the trumpet will be blown with one blowing (the first), and the earth and the mountains shall be removed from their places, and crushed with a single crushing, then, on that Day shall the Great Event befall, and the heaven will split asunder, for that Day it (the heaven) will be frail (weak) and torn up, and the angels will be on its sides, and eight. angels will, on that Day, bear the throne of your Lord above them.”(69:13-17)

Then comes the second trumpet, which is the Calling Forth:

“Then behold! They will be standing looking on (waiting).”(39:68)

This is just one of the duties of Israfeel, which Allah has ordered him to perform.

The angels are sent by Allah at times to help the Muslims, when they are in need of assistance against the unbelievers:

“(Remember) when you (O Muhammad!) said to the believers: Is it not enough for you that your Lord should help you with three thousand angels, sent down?”(3:124)

And on the Day of Resurrection, the angels will be sent down to the earth in hosts:

“And (remember) the Day when the heaven shall be rent asunder with clouds, and the angels will be sent down, with a grand descending.”(25:25)

They ask for forgiveness for those on earth:

“Nearly the heavens might rent asunder from above (by His Majesty), and the angels glorify the praises of their Lord, and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth. Verily, Allah is the Oft-forgiving.”(42:5)

And they take out the souls from the dead:
“By those (angels) who pull out (the souls of the disbelievers and the wicked) with great violence; by those (angels) who gently take out (the souls of the believers).”(79:1-2)

Then there are those who watch over us:

“But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you, honourable (in Allah’s sight), writing down (your deeds), they know all that you do.”(82:10-12)

Some of the angels have been appointed as bearers of Divine Rev elation. Allah says:

“He sends down the angels with inspiration of His Command to whom of His slaves He pleases, (saying): ‘Warn mankind that none has the right to be worshipped but I, so fear Me’.”(16:2)

Of these angels, Jibreel is the greatest and the most noble, for it is he who brought the Quraan to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam). Allah says:

“The Trustworthy Spirit (Jibreel) has brought it (the Quraan) down upon your heart (O Muhammad!) that you may be (one) of the warners, in the plain Arabic language.”(26:193-195)

Allah has described Jibreel as possessing many fine attributes, such as:

“Verily, it (the Quraan) is the Word (brought by) a most Honourable Messenger (Jibreel), Owner of Power and High Rank with (Allah), the Lord of the Throne, obeyed (by the angels), trustworthy there (in the heaven).”( 81:19-21)

So, Allah has described Jibreel as powerful and possessing high rank, and enjoying the unquestioning obedience of the other angels, when he orders them to carry out Allah’s commands, and trustworthy - that is, in delivering the Divine Revelation - he adds nothing to it, nor does he subtract from it even one letter, but delivers it exactly as it is given to him by Allah.

The Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) saw Jibreel twice in his original form; the first time was in Makkah, when he raised his head and saw him in the highest part of the sky, he had six hundred wings, each of them filling the horizon The second occasion is described by Allah, the Most High, in His words:

And assuredly he (Muhammad) saw him (Jibreel) at another descent. Nigh Unto Sidrat Al-Muntaha (the lote-tree) at the boundary (of the seventh heaven).(53:13-14)

Al-Bukhari relates, on the authority of Maalik lbne Sa’sa’aa, that the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) said that on the night of his ascension to the heavens (Al-Mai ‘raaj), he travelled to the heavens in company with Jibreel.

Then there is Meekaaeel, who brings down the rain from the heaven above, as and when he is commanded to do so by Allah, the Most High.

These are the most important among the angels, who carry out the most important of tasks. Other angels include those whose responsibility is in regard to the unborn child in the womb. The Messenger of Allah (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) said, on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Ibne Mas’ood: “Verily, each of you is created in the form of a sperm drop in his mother’s belly for forty days, then he is a clot for a similar period, then he is a lump of flesh (the size of a morsel) for a similar (period), then the angel is sent to breathe (human) spirit into him, then (the angel) is ordered to write down his share of livelihood, his appointed term, (how long he will live), his actions and whether he will be miserable or happy.” (Al Bukhari and Muslim)

Every human being has two angels accompanying him at all times; one on his right, who records the good deeds, and one on his left, who records the bad deeds. Allah says:

“(Remember that) the two Receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being after he or she has attained the age of puberty), one sitting on the right and one sitting on the left.”(50: 17-18)

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah says that the Messenger of Allah (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) said: “Angels ascend to and descend from the heaven continuously, in turn, some by night and some by day; and all of them assemble together at the time of the Salaatul Fajr and Salaatul ‘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 do): “How have you left My slaves?” They reply:

“We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying.” The narrator added: “If anyone of you says: Aameen (during the prayer at the end of the recitation of Surah Al Fatiha), and the angels in heaven say the same, and the two sayings coincide, all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Narrated by Al Bukhari)

In addition, there are those of the angels, who protect mankind from harm. Allah has appointed them to protect us from danger in this life. In this world there are always chances for fatal accidents. But Allah, in His infinite Mercy, has appointed for us protectors from amongst the angels. Allah, the Almighty, the All- Powerful, says:

“For each (person) there are angels in succession, before and behind him, they guard him by the Command of Allah.”(13:11)

There are angels, whose responsibilities include watching over the seas of the earth, while others are responsible for the rivers, and others keep watch over the wind. There are still other angels, whose functions and duties no one knows but Allah. All events in creation take place by the Order of Allah, the Most High, and the angels undertake the tasks allotted to them by Him.

As stated earlier, it is an article of faith for the Muslim to believe in the angels; Allah has informed us of the names of some of them, such as Jibreel, Meekaaeel, Israfeel and Malik (the guardian of the Fire), while the identity of many others is unknown to us. But we believe without doubt in all of the angels, both named and unnamed, and we believe in all the things they under take by the order of Allah.

In the heavens are angels, who worship Allah, bowing and prostrating to Him. We love the angels, for they are the best advisers to mankind, recommending us to do good and abstain from evil, and they ask Allah’s forgiveness for us. Allah says:

“Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah) and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah).”(40:7)

Angels and Jinns: Differences in Action

The angels glorify their Lord and ask forgiveness for the believers in this world and advise us to do good and refrain from wickedness, while the devils are the deceivers of mankind, leading them astray, making the evil seem good to them and making the good appear evil - it is their task in life to persuade us to deviate from the path ordained for us by Allah, the Most Merciful. They work for our downfall, destruction and damnation in the Hell-fire. Allah says:

“Verily, We made the devils protectors and helpers for those who disbelieve.”(27:7)

The angels encourage us to do good deeds, while the devils encourage us to commit sin. Allah says:

“And whoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent, We appoint for him a devil to be an intimate companion for him.”(43:36)

So, whoever rejects the remembrance of Allah will be punished by his Lord, who will appoint a devil as a companion for him. He, the Most Glorified, says:

“And verily, they (the devils) hinder them from the path (of Allah) but they think that they are guided aright! Till one comes to Us, he says to his companion (the devil): ‘Would that between you and me were the distance of the two easts (or the east and west),’ the worst (type of) companion, indeed!”(43:37-38)

And nothing can protect man kind from the devils except the re membrance of Allah.

Remembrance of Allah drives the devils away from the believer and draws the angels towards him. This is why Allah refers to the devil as: “... the whisperer (who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering after one remembers Allah).”(114:4)

There are angels, who go around the earth seeking out circles of believers, who sit in remembrance of Allah, and when they see such gatherings, they call to each other, saying: “Let us go to that which you love! (i.e. the remembrance of Allah).”

Remembrance of Allah is of several types: (i) recitation of the Quraan, (ii) praying, (iii) by praising Him, seeking His forgiveness, reciting “Takbeer” (saying: “Allahu Akbar! “) and testifying to the Oneness of Allah.

Those who attend classes for the recitation of the Quraan or those who study Islamic sciences (Quraan, Hadeeth, Fiqh etc.) or those who do Zikr, are attended by the angels.

Those who indulge in their vain desires, such as playing music and gambling (playing cards, dice, etc.) are surrounded by devils, while the angels stay away from them.

Those who hang pictures (of people or animals) in their homes prevent the angels from entering them, as confirmed by many authentic Ahaadeeths narrated by Al Bukhari, Muslim and others.

Belief in the angels has a great and beneficial effect on the life of man; he guards himself against temptation, for he knows that the angels are watching him and recording his every action, day and night. One might hide his actions from other men, but there is no way to hide from the recording angels. Allah says:

“But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you, honourable (in Allah’s sight), writing down (your deeds), they know all that you do.”(82:10-12)

Allah, Most High, has pointed this out for us so that we may take care and ensure that our actions are good and praiseworthy rather than evil and reprehensible. Nothing is hidden from Allah. He says:

“There is no human being but has a protector over him (i.e. angels in charge of each human being, writing his good and bad deeds etc.).”(86:4)

And He, the Most High, says:
“And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.”(50:16)

The jugular veins are situated on either side of the neck and carry returning blood from the brain to the heart. This saying of Allah is like His words:

“He is the First and the Last, and the OutWard and the Inward, and He is of everything the Knower..”(57:3)

So, nothing is hidden from Allah, the Almighty, the All- Powerful, on land or at sea, behind closed doors, in the desert, in the market place, in the Masjid, in the meeting places for vain entertainments, such as the theatre, the cinema, the night clubs, ballrooms etc.- wherever you are, Allah sees you, and knows what you are doing and what you are thinking. That is why the Prophet (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam), when asked by Jibreel to define “Ihsaan,” said: “Ihsaan is to worship Allah as though you see Him. If you are not able to see Him, indeed He sees you.” (Al Bukhari).

When a person feels that the angels are watching him, and he knows what Allah says:

“For We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. Behold, two Receivers are appointed to receive him, seated on the right hand and on the left.. He utters no word but there is with him an observer, ready.”(50:16-18)

And: “Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsels? indeed (We do) and Our Messengers (the angels) are by them, to record.”(43:80)

So, Allah hears our secrets and our private counsels and the angels record them. Knowing about the angels is not simply a matter of accepting their existence; but we also remind ourselves that they are present, recording our deeds, both good and bad, and that we may reflect on their other duties, such as their guardianship over the Hell fire, and thus fear the torment visited upon the disbelievers and the sinners, or the destruction, at Allah’s command, of former communities who disobeyed their Lord, that haply we may avoid the same fate by obeying Allah and Hi Messenger.

We also remember the angels, because we are obliged to love these faithful servants of Allah and also because He loves them. They are, in the words of our Lord, the Most Exalted:
“Noble, pious.”(80:16)

It is also most important that we understand the abilities of the angels, their place in the order of creation, for it is only by knowing these things that we may truly love them and fear the punishment which they bring in Allah’s name.

As for those, who oppose or hate the angels, Allah says. about them:

“Whosoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His Messengers, to Jibreel and Mee kaaeel, (should know that) verily Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers.”(2:98)

It is plain from this verse that those who are enemies to the angels are, indeed, disbelievers, even though they may claim to be Muslims.

Conclusion
In conclusion, we may say that what has preceded has demonstrated clearly that the belief in Allah’s angels is one of the fundamental tenets of our Faith, and that it entails knowing and understanding them, loving them, as Allah loves them, and conducting our lives in obedience to Allah and His Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wasallam) in the certain knowledge that the angels are recording our deeds, be they good or bad, and that we will be held accountable for them on the Day of Resurrection.

Finally, we ask Allah to guide us to the Straight Path and keep us firm upon it.

“Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You laid on those before us; Our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us.”(2:186)

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