Belief in
angels is one of the six pillars of belief or faith without which there is no
faith. Whoever does not believe in any of these pillars is not a believer
(mu’min). These pillars are belief in: Allaah, His angels, His Books, His
Messengers, the Last Day, and that predestination, both good and bad, comes
from Allah.
Angels are a part of the world of the Unseen which we cannot comprehend. Allah has told us about them in many places in the Qur’aan and via His Prophet Muhammad. There follows a number of proven reports concerning the angels, which hopefully will make you realize the greatness of the Creator and the greatness of this religion which has told us so much about them:
Of what are they created?
They are created from light, as ‘Aa’ishah reported: "The Messenger of Allah said: ‘The angels are created from light, just as the jinn are created from smokeless fire and mankind is created from what you have been told about.’" (Reported by Muslim, no. 2996).
Angels are a part of the world of the Unseen which we cannot comprehend. Allah has told us about them in many places in the Qur’aan and via His Prophet Muhammad. There follows a number of proven reports concerning the angels, which hopefully will make you realize the greatness of the Creator and the greatness of this religion which has told us so much about them:
Of what are they created?
They are created from light, as ‘Aa’ishah reported: "The Messenger of Allah said: ‘The angels are created from light, just as the jinn are created from smokeless fire and mankind is created from what you have been told about.’" (Reported by Muslim, no. 2996).
When were they
created?
We have no knowledge of precisely when they were created, because there is no text to tell us this. But they were created before mankind for certain, because the Qur’aan says (interpretation of the meaning): "Behold, your Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth.’ . . ." [al-Baqarah 2:30] The fact that Allah told them of His intention to create man indicates that they already existed.
We have no knowledge of precisely when they were created, because there is no text to tell us this. But they were created before mankind for certain, because the Qur’aan says (interpretation of the meaning): "Behold, your Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth.’ . . ." [al-Baqarah 2:30] The fact that Allah told them of His intention to create man indicates that they already existed.
Their great
size
Allah says concerning the angels of Hell:
Allah says concerning the angels of Hell:
"O you who
believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and
Stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern and severe, who flinch not
(from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what
they are commanded." [al-Tahreem 66:6]
The greatest of
all the angels is Jibreel (Gabriel), upon whom be peace, who was described in
the following report:
"From
‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, who said: the Messenger of Allah saw Jibreel in his
true form. He had six hundred wings, each of which covered the horizon. There
fell from his wings jewels, pearls and rubies, only Allah knows about
them." It was reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad, and Ibn Katheer said in
al-Bidaayah 1/47 that its isnaad is jayyid.
The Messenger of Allah said, describing Jibreel: "I saw Jibreel descending from heaven, and his great size filled the space between heaven and earth." (Reported by Muslim, no. 177).
The Messenger of Allah said, describing Jibreel: "I saw Jibreel descending from heaven, and his great size filled the space between heaven and earth." (Reported by Muslim, no. 177).
Among the
greatest angels are those who carry the Throne (of Allah), who were described
in the following report:
"From
Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah from the Prophet , who said: ‘I have been given
permission to speak about one of the angels of Allah who carry the Throne. The
distance between his ear-lobes and his shoulders is equivalent to a
seven-hundred-year journey.’" (Sunan Abee Daawood, Kitaab al-Sunnah, Baab
fi’l-Jahamiyyah)
They have wings
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Praise be
to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the
angels messengers with wings - two, or three, or four (pairs) adds to Creation
as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things." [Faatir 35:1]
Their beauty
Allah said, describing Jibreel, upon whom be peace (interpretation of the meaning):
Allah said, describing Jibreel, upon whom be peace (interpretation of the meaning):
"He [the
Prophet] has been taught by one Mighty in Power, Dhoo Mirrah (free from any
defect in body and mind), then he rose and became stable." [al-Najm
53:5-6]
Ibn ‘Abbaas
said: "‘Dhoo Mirrah means that he has a beautiful appearance."
Qutaadah said: "He is tall and beautiful."
The idea that angels are beautiful is firmly established in all people’s minds, so much so that they liken a beautiful human to an angel, as the women said about Yoosuf:
The idea that angels are beautiful is firmly established in all people’s minds, so much so that they liken a beautiful human to an angel, as the women said about Yoosuf:
". . .
When they [the women] saw him, they did extol him and (in their amazement) cut
their hands: they said: ‘Allah preserve us! no mortal is this! This is none
other than a noble angel!’" [Yoosuf 12:31]
Their differences in size and status
The angels are not all of one size or status; there are differences between them just as there are differences in virtue. The best of them are those that were present at the battle of Badr, as is stated in the hadeeth narrated by Mu‘aadh ibn Rifaa‘ah al-Zuraaqi from his father, who had been one of the people present at Badr. He said: "Jibreel came to the Prophet and asked, ‘How do you rate the people among you who were present at Badr?’ He said: ‘They are the best of the Muslims,’ or something similar. [Jibreel] said: ‘So it is with the angels who were present at Badr.’" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, no. 3992).
Their differences in size and status
The angels are not all of one size or status; there are differences between them just as there are differences in virtue. The best of them are those that were present at the battle of Badr, as is stated in the hadeeth narrated by Mu‘aadh ibn Rifaa‘ah al-Zuraaqi from his father, who had been one of the people present at Badr. He said: "Jibreel came to the Prophet and asked, ‘How do you rate the people among you who were present at Badr?’ He said: ‘They are the best of the Muslims,’ or something similar. [Jibreel] said: ‘So it is with the angels who were present at Badr.’" (Reported by al-Bukhaari, no. 3992).
They do not eat
or drink
This is indicated by the conversation between Ibrahim, the "friend" of Allah and the angels who visited him. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
This is indicated by the conversation between Ibrahim, the "friend" of Allah and the angels who visited him. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Then he
(Ibrahim) turned quickly to his household, brought out a fatted calf, and
placed it before them. He (Ibrahim) said, ‘Will you not eat?’ (When they did
not eat), he conceived a fear of them. They said: ‘Fear not,’ and they gave him
glad tidings of a son endowed with knowledge." [al-Dhaariyaat 51:26-28]
Elsewhere,
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"But when
he [Ibrahim] saw their hands went not towards the (meal), he felt some mistrust
of them, and conceived a fear of the. They said: ‘Fear not: we have been sent
against the people of Lut.’" [Hud 11:70]
They do not get
bored or tired of remembering and worshipping Allah
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"They
celebrate His praises night and day, nor do they ever flag or intermit."
[al-Anbiyaa’ 21:20]
". . . For
in the presence of your Lord are those who celebrate His praises by night and
by day. And they never flag (nor feel themselves above it)." [Fussilat
41:38]
Their number
The angels are many, and their number is known only to Allah. The Prophet said, described the Much-Frequented House (al-Bayt al-Ma‘moor) in the seventh heaven:
The angels are many, and their number is known only to Allah. The Prophet said, described the Much-Frequented House (al-Bayt al-Ma‘moor) in the seventh heaven:
"Then I
was taken up to the Much-Frequented House: every day seventy thousand angels
visit it and leave, never returning to it again, another [group] coming after
them." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 3207).
‘Abdullaah
said: "The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Hell will be brought forth that day
by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be pulled by seventy
thousand angels." (Reported by Muslim, no. 2842).
Their names
The angels have names, but we know only the names of a few of them. We have to believe in the names reported in the Qur’aan and Sunnah texts, as a part of general belief in the angels. Among the names of angels that are known to us are:
The angels have names, but we know only the names of a few of them. We have to believe in the names reported in the Qur’aan and Sunnah texts, as a part of general belief in the angels. Among the names of angels that are known to us are:
(1) Jibreel (Gabriel) and
(2) Mikaa’eel (Michael)
(2) Mikaa’eel (Michael)
"Say:
Whoever is an enemy to Jibreel - for he brings down the (revelation) to your
heart by Allah’s will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and
glad tidings to those who believe - Whoever is an enemy to Allah, and His
angels and prophets, to Jibreel and Mikaa’eel - Lo! Allah is an enemy to those
who reject Faith." [al-Baqarah 2:97-98]
(3) Israafeel
From Abu
Salamah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf, who said: "I asked ‘Aa’ishah the
Mother of the Believers about what the Prophet used to start his prayer with
when he got up to pray at night (qiyaam al-layl). She said: ‘When he got up to
pray at night, he would start his prayer (with the words): ‘O Allah, Lord of
Jibreel, Mikaa’eel and Israafeel, Creator of heaven and earth, Knower of the
unseen and the seen, You are the Judge of the matters in which Your slaves
differ; guide me with regard to disputed matters of Truth by Your permission,
for You guide whomever You will to the Straight Path.’" (Reported by
Muslim, no. 270).
(4) Malik
He is the
Keeper of Hell, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "They [the
people in Hell] will cry: ‘O Malik! Would that your Lord put an end to
us!’..." [al-Zukhruf 43:77]
(5) Munkar and
(6) Nakeer
(6) Nakeer
From Abu
Hurayrah, who said: "The Messenger of Allah said: ‘When the deceased is
buried (or he said: when one of you is buried), there come to him two
blue-black angels, one of whom is called Munkar and the other Nakeer. They ask
him, ‘What did you used to say about this man?’ and he says what he used to
say: ‘He is the slave and Messenger of Allah: I bear witness that there is no
god except Allah and that Muhammad is the slave and Messenger of Allah. They
say, ‘We knew beforehand that you used to say this.’ Then his grave will be
widened for him to a size of seventy cubits by seventy cubits and it will be illuminated
for him. Then they tell him, ‘Sleep.’
He says, ‘Go
back to my family and tell them.’ They tell him, ‘Sleep like a bridegroom whom
no-one will wake up except his most beloved,’ until Allah raises him up. If
(the deceased) was a hypocrite, he says, ‘I heard the people saying something
so I said something similar; I do not know.’ They say: ‘We knew beforehand that
you used to say this.’ The earth will be told to squeeze him, so he will be
crushed until his ribs are interlocked, and he will remain like that until
Allah raises him up.’" (reported by al-Tirmidhi, no. 1071. Abu ‘Isa said:
It is a ghareeb hasan hadeeth. It is judged hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no.
724).
(7) Haaroot and
(8) Maaroot
(8) Maaroot
Allah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
". . . and
such things as came down at Babylon to the angels Haaroot and Maaroot . .
." [al-Baqarah 2:102]
". . . and
none can know the forces of your Lord, except He. And this is no other than a
warning to mankind." [al-Muddaththir 74:31]
Their powers
The angels have great powers given to them by Allah, including the following:
The ability to take on different forms. Allah has given the angels the ability to take on forms other than their own. Allah sent Jibreel to Maryam (Mary) in the form of a man, as Allah says:
Their powers
The angels have great powers given to them by Allah, including the following:
The ability to take on different forms. Allah has given the angels the ability to take on forms other than their own. Allah sent Jibreel to Maryam (Mary) in the form of a man, as Allah says:
". . .
Then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all
respects." [Maryam 19:17]
Angels also came to Ibrahim in human form, and he did not know that they were angels until they told him so. Similarly, angels came to Lut in the form of young men with beautiful faces. Jibreel used to come to the Prophet in different forms: sometimes he would appear in the form of Dihyah al-Kalbi, a Sahaabee who was very handsome, and sometimes in the form of a Bedouin. The Sahaabah saw him in his human form, as is reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab in the two Saheehs. (‘Umar) said:
Angels also came to Ibrahim in human form, and he did not know that they were angels until they told him so. Similarly, angels came to Lut in the form of young men with beautiful faces. Jibreel used to come to the Prophet in different forms: sometimes he would appear in the form of Dihyah al-Kalbi, a Sahaabee who was very handsome, and sometimes in the form of a Bedouin. The Sahaabah saw him in his human form, as is reported from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab in the two Saheehs. (‘Umar) said:
"One day
while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah , there appeared before us a
man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black;
no signs of travel were to be seen on him, and none of us knew him. He walked
up and sat down by the Prophet . Resting his knees against his and placing his
hands on his thighs, he said: ‘O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.’. . ."
>(Saheeh Muslim, no. 8).
Many other ahaadeeth refer to the angels taking human forms, such as the hadeeth about the one who killed a hundred, in which it says ". . . there came to them an angel in human form . . ." and the hadeeth about the blind man, the bald man and the leper.
Their speed
The greatest speed known to man today is the speed of light; the angels are able to travel much faster than this. Hardly had an enquirer completed a question to the Prophet , but Jibreel would bring the answer from Allah.
Their duties
Among the angels is one whose task it was to convey the revelation from Allah to His Messengers; this is al-Rooh al-Ameen, Jibril, upon whom be peace. Allah says:
"Say: whoever is an enemy to Jibreel - for he brings down the (revelation) to your heart by Allah’s will. . . " [al-Baqarah 2:97]
"Which the trustworthy spirit has brought down, Upon your heart, that you may be (one) of the warners." [al-Shu‘araa’ 26:193-194]
Another is responsible for rain, directing it wherever Allah wishes. This is Mikaa’eel, upon whom be peace. He has helpers, who do what he tells them, by the command of his Lord; they direct the winds and clouds, as Allah wills.
Another is responsible for blowing the Trumpet, which will be blown by Israafeel at the onset of the Hour (the Day of Judgement).
Others are responsible for taking people’s souls: these are the Angel of Death and his helpers. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Say: ‘the Angel of Death, put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls, then shall you be brought back to your Lord.’" [al-Sajdah 32:11] There is no proof in any saheeh hadeeth that his name is ‘Azraa’eel.
Others are responsible for protecting the slave throughout his life, when he stays home and when he travels, when he is asleep and when he is awake. These are the "angels in succession" concerning whom Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceal his speech or declare it openly, whether he be hid by night or go forth freely by day.
Many other ahaadeeth refer to the angels taking human forms, such as the hadeeth about the one who killed a hundred, in which it says ". . . there came to them an angel in human form . . ." and the hadeeth about the blind man, the bald man and the leper.
Their speed
The greatest speed known to man today is the speed of light; the angels are able to travel much faster than this. Hardly had an enquirer completed a question to the Prophet , but Jibreel would bring the answer from Allah.
Their duties
Among the angels is one whose task it was to convey the revelation from Allah to His Messengers; this is al-Rooh al-Ameen, Jibril, upon whom be peace. Allah says:
"Say: whoever is an enemy to Jibreel - for he brings down the (revelation) to your heart by Allah’s will. . . " [al-Baqarah 2:97]
"Which the trustworthy spirit has brought down, Upon your heart, that you may be (one) of the warners." [al-Shu‘araa’ 26:193-194]
Another is responsible for rain, directing it wherever Allah wishes. This is Mikaa’eel, upon whom be peace. He has helpers, who do what he tells them, by the command of his Lord; they direct the winds and clouds, as Allah wills.
Another is responsible for blowing the Trumpet, which will be blown by Israafeel at the onset of the Hour (the Day of Judgement).
Others are responsible for taking people’s souls: these are the Angel of Death and his helpers. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Say: ‘the Angel of Death, put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls, then shall you be brought back to your Lord.’" [al-Sajdah 32:11] There is no proof in any saheeh hadeeth that his name is ‘Azraa’eel.
Others are responsible for protecting the slave throughout his life, when he stays home and when he travels, when he is asleep and when he is awake. These are the "angels in succession" concerning whom Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceal his speech or declare it openly, whether he be hid by night or go forth freely by day.
For 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 good condition of a
people so long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by
committing sin and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when
Allah wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they
will find besides Him no protector." [al-Ra‘d 13:10-11]
Others are responsible for recording the deeds of man, good and bad. These are the "honourable scribes" (kiraaman kaatibeen) and are referred to in the aayaat (interpretation of the meanings):
Others are responsible for recording the deeds of man, good and bad. These are the "honourable scribes" (kiraaman kaatibeen) and are referred to in the aayaat (interpretation of the meanings):
". . . and
He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one’s good and bad
deeds) over you . . ." [al-An‘aam 6:61]
"Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsel? (Yes We do) and Our Messengers (appointed angels in charge of mankind) are by them, to record." [al-Zukhruf 43:80]
"(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 on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)." [Qaaf 50:17-18]
"But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you,
Kiraaman (honourable) kaatibeen - writing down (your deeds)." [al-Infitaar 82:10-11]
Others are responsible for testing people in the grave. These are Munkar and Nakeer. From Abu Hurayrah who said: "The Messenger of Allah said: ‘When the deceased is buried (or he said: when one of you is buried), there come to him two blue-black angels, one of whom is called Munkar and the other Nakeer. They ask him, ‘What did you used to say about this man?’ . . ." [The hadeeth is quoted in full above]
Some of them are the keepers of Paradise. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private counsel? (Yes We do) and Our Messengers (appointed angels in charge of mankind) are by them, to record." [al-Zukhruf 43:80]
"(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 on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)." [Qaaf 50:17-18]
"But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you,
Kiraaman (honourable) kaatibeen - writing down (your deeds)." [al-Infitaar 82:10-11]
Others are responsible for testing people in the grave. These are Munkar and Nakeer. From Abu Hurayrah who said: "The Messenger of Allah said: ‘When the deceased is buried (or he said: when one of you is buried), there come to him two blue-black angels, one of whom is called Munkar and the other Nakeer. They ask him, ‘What did you used to say about this man?’ . . ." [The hadeeth is quoted in full above]
Some of them are the keepers of Paradise. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And those
who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when
they reach it, its gates will be opened and its keepers will say: Salaamun
‘alaikum (peace be upon you!). You have done well, so enter here, to abide
therein."
[al-Zumar 39:73]
Some of them are the keepers of Hell, the "guards of Hell", whose number is nineteen and whose leader is Malik, upon whom be peace. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened. And its keepers will say, ‘Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, - reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?’ They will say: ‘Yes, but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!’" [al-Zumar 39:71]
"Then. let him call upon his council (of helpers), We will call the guards of Hell (to deal with him)!" [al-‘Alaq 97:17-18]
"And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? It spares not (any sinner), nor does it leave (anything unburnt)! Burning the skins! Over it are nineteen (angels as guardians and keepers of Hell). And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire, and We have fixed their number only as a trial for the disbelievers - in order that the People of the Scripture may arrive at a certainty and the believers may increase in Faith . . ." [al-Muddaththir 74:27-31]
"And they will cry: ‘O Malik (Keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us.’ He will say: ‘Verily you shall abide forever.’" [al-Zukhruf 43:77]
[al-Zumar 39:73]
Some of them are the keepers of Hell, the "guards of Hell", whose number is nineteen and whose leader is Malik, upon whom be peace. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened. And its keepers will say, ‘Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, - reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?’ They will say: ‘Yes, but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!’" [al-Zumar 39:71]
"Then. let him call upon his council (of helpers), We will call the guards of Hell (to deal with him)!" [al-‘Alaq 97:17-18]
"And what will make you know exactly what Hell-fire is? It spares not (any sinner), nor does it leave (anything unburnt)! Burning the skins! Over it are nineteen (angels as guardians and keepers of Hell). And We have set none but angels as guardians of the Fire, and We have fixed their number only as a trial for the disbelievers - in order that the People of the Scripture may arrive at a certainty and the believers may increase in Faith . . ." [al-Muddaththir 74:27-31]
"And they will cry: ‘O Malik (Keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us.’ He will say: ‘Verily you shall abide forever.’" [al-Zukhruf 43:77]
One of the
angels is responsible for the sperm in the womb, as is mentioned in the hadeeth
of Ibn Mas‘ood (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
"The
Messenger of Allah , whose truthfulness is confirmed, said: ‘The way that each
of you is created is that he is gathered in his mother’s womb for forty days as
a sperm drop, and then for a similar length of time as a blood-clot, and then
for a similar length of time as a lump of flesh. Then an angel is sent and he
breathes the spirit into (the foetus), and is charged with four commands: to
write down his provision, his life-span, his actions, and whether he will be
wretched or happy.
By the One
besides Whom there is no other god, one of you may do the deeds of the people
of Paradise until he is just a cubit away from entering it, then his fate will
overtake him and he will begin to do the deeds of the people of Hell, so he
will enter Hell; and one of you may do the deeds of the people of Hell until he
is just a cubit away from entering it, then his fate will overtake him and he
will begin to do the deeds of the people of Paradise, so he will enter
Paradise." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 3208 and by Muslim, no.
2643).
Some angels carry the Throne of Allah, as He describes in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):
Some angels carry the Throne of Allah, as He describes in the Qur’aan (interpretation of the meaning):
"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) (saying): ‘Our Lord! You comprehend 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!’" [Ghaafir 40:7]
Some of the angels travel throughout the world, seeking out gatherings of dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Abu Hurayrah said:
Some of the angels travel throughout the world, seeking out gatherings of dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Abu Hurayrah said:
"The
Messenger of Allah said: ‘Allah, be He be blessed and exalted, has angels who
travel the highways seeking out the people of dhikr. When they find people
remembering Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, they call out to one another,
"Come to what you hunger for!" and they enfold them with their wings,
stretching up to the lowest heaven. Their Lord asked then, and He knows better
than them, "What are My slaves saying?"
They say:
"They are glorifying, magnifying, praising and extolling You." He
asks, "Have they seen Me?" They say, "No, by Allah, they have
not seen You." He asks, "And how would it be if they saw Me?"
They say, "They would be even more fervent and devoted in their praise and
worship." He asks, "What are they asking me for?"
They say,
"They ask You for Paradise." He asks, "And have they seen
it?" They say, "No, by Allah, O Lord, they have not seen it." He
asks, "And how would it be if they saw it?" They say: "They
would be even more eager for it and they would beseech You even more
earnestly." He asks, "And what do they seek My protection from?"
They say, "From the Fire of Hell." He asks, "Have they seen
it?" They say, "No, by Allah, they have not seen it." He asks,
"And how would it be if they saw it?" They say: "They would be
even more afraid and anxious to escape it." Allah says: "You are My
witnesses that I have forgiven them." One of the angels says:
"So-and-so is not really one of them; he came (to the gathering) for some
other reason." Allah says, "They were all in the gathering, and one
of them will not be excluded (from forgiveness)."’" (Reported by
al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 6408).
Some of them are responsible for the mountains. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet : "Have you ever faced any day more difficult than the day of Uhud?"
Some of them are responsible for the mountains. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet : "Have you ever faced any day more difficult than the day of Uhud?"
He said:
"I suffered at the hands of your people and the worst that I suffered was
what I suffered at their hands on the day of ‘Aqabah. That was when I went to
call Ibn ‘Abd Yaalayl ibn ‘Abd al-Kalaal to Islam, and he did not respond. I
left, feeling depressed and hardly knowing where I was going. I did not recover
until I found myself in Qarn al-Tha‘aalib. I raised my head and saw that I was
being shaded by a cloud. I looked, and saw Jibreel in the cloud. He called me
and said: ‘Allah has heard what your people said and how they responded to you.
He has sent the Angel of the Mountains so that you can tell him to do to them
whatever you want.’ The Angel of the Mountains called me and greeted me, then
said: ‘O Muhammad, tell me what you want me to do. If you want, I can crush
them between two mountains.’"
The Prophet
said: "All I hope for is that Allah will bring forth from their loins
people who will worship Allah alone and not associate any partner with
Him." (Reported by al-Buhaari, Fath, no. 3231).
Some of them visit the Much Frequented House (al-bayt al-ma‘moor). In the lengthy hadeeth describing the Israa’ and Mi‘raaj (the Night Journey and the Ascent to Heaven), the Prophet said:
Some of them visit the Much Frequented House (al-bayt al-ma‘moor). In the lengthy hadeeth describing the Israa’ and Mi‘raaj (the Night Journey and the Ascent to Heaven), the Prophet said:
"Then I
was taken up to the Much-Frequented House: every day seventy thousand angels
visit it and leave, never returning to it again, another [group] coming after
them."
There are also angels standing in rows, who never get tired or sit down, and others who bow or prostrate, and never raise their heads, as was reported by Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
"The Messenger of Allah said: ‘I see what you
do not see and hear what you do not hear. The heaven makes a noise like
groaning, and it has the right to (or it is no surprise), for there is no space
in it the width of four fingers, but there is an angel there, placing his
forehead in sujood (prostration) to Allah. By Allah, if you knew what I know,
you would laugh little and weep much, you would not enjoy your relationships
with women and you would go out in the street praying to Allah.’" (Sunan
al-Tirmidhi, no. 2312)There are also angels standing in rows, who never get tired or sit down, and others who bow or prostrate, and never raise their heads, as was reported by Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
This is a summary of Islamic teachings concerning the noble angels of Allah. We ask Allah to make us believe in them and love them. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad.
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