Sunday, July 31, 2011

The Nature of Angels

Angels are being created from light:

Aisha, radhiallahu anha, narrated: that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhe wa sallam said: "Angels were created from light, Jinn were created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you [in the Qur'an and Sunnah], (Related by Muslim).

They do not have to desires of their own, neither do they eat or drink, They are honored servants of Allah (SWT) and never disobey Him.

They are perpetually in His service, in prostration, in a standing posture, or through various other forms of worship.

Allah says: And those who are before Him are not scornful of worshiping Him, nor do they tired or get bored. They glorify Him night and day; they do not halt"
(Sura Al-Anbiya, 21:19-20)

They are honored servants, who do not precede Him in speech, and they act according to His command. "He knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, and they do not intercede, except for those whom He approves"
(Sura Al-Anbiya, 21:26-27)

Angels are also described as having wings:

"Praise be to Allah, the originator of the heavens and the earth, the creator of angels having wings two, three or four.
(Sura Fatir, 35:1)

However, we should not try to guess the nature or form of these wings.
Certainly, there in no basis in Islam for the corrupt notion prevalent in the West, that angels are like beautiful little girls with a pair of wings on there backs.

We should be careful that our children are not exposed to those books which contain such misleading pictures, so that they do not grow up with an incorrect concept of angels.

The angels do not have gender. They also do not procreate, Allah has denounced those who regard them as females. Indeed, to do so is the way of the believers. "Those who do not believe in the Hereafter surely call the angels with female appellations"
(Sura Al-najam, 53:27)

To Believe His Angels

The Belief in Angel (al-Malaikah) is the second pillar of faith in Islam.
Allah says: "The Messenger believe in what has been revealed to him from His Lord, and so do the believers. All believ in Allah, His angels and His messengers"

Sura Al-Baqarah (2:285)

It is obligatory, and in fact an essential part of faith to respect all of the angels. Therefore, it is unthinkable for Muslims to have any animosity towards any of the angels, let alone cursing them any such action is considered an act of disbelief.

Some Jews once came to the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam and told him that they had five questions for him. If he could answer all the questions satisfactorily, they would be his followers. The prophet answered the first four to their satisfaction, and then they asked the final question; There is not any prophet except that he has an angel assigned to him as a companion who brings him news from Allah (SWT). "So tell us! who is your companion?"

The Prophet (SAW) replied, : "Jibrael (Angel Gabriel)Peace be on him"

They said, " that is the one who bring down war, fighting, and punishment our enemy. "If only you had said Mika'eel, who bring down mercy, rain, and vegetation it would have been that we follow you!,

Then Allah (SWT) revealed the the reply:"Say: Who is an enemy to Jibraeel? for it is he who has brought it (their Quran) down to your hear, by Allah's leave, confirming that which was before it, and as a guidance and a mercy to the believers. Whoever is an enemy to Allah, and to His angels, and to His Messengers, and [in particular to] Jibra'eel and Mika'eel, then let him know that Allah is an enemy to the disbelievers." Sura Al Baqarah, (2:97-98)
Related by Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhi, and Al-Nasa'e