Belief in Angels

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Belief in Angels

Khaled Fahmy

Belief in Angels

We believe in the existence of the angels of Allâh and that they are honoured servants. “They do not speak before He does, and they act only by His command” [21:26]. Allâh created them, and they worship and obey Him. “Those who are in His presence do not disdain to worship Him, nor do they weary” [21:19]. Angels are concealed from us, so we cannot see them. Allâh may show them to some of His servants. The Prophet Muhammad saw Gabriel in his real shape with six hundred wings that covered the horizons [Bukhari and Muslim]. Gabriel took the form of a handsome human being who met Mary and engaged in conversation with her. He came to the Prophet while he was among his Companions in the appearance of an unknown man who did not show any trace of long travel, with very white clothes, and very black hair. He sat facing the Prophet, his knees to the Prophet’s knees, peace be upon him, and his palms on the Prophet’s thighs and talked with the Prophet. The Prophet later told his Companions that the man they saw was Gabriel [Bukhari and Muslim].


Angels’ Functions:
We believe that the angels are assigned certain functions. Among the angels is Gabriel, who is entrusted with revelation. He brings it down from Allâh to whomever He wishes among His prophets and messengers. Among them is Michael, who is in charge of rain and the growth of plants; Israfil, who is in charge of blowing the horn at the time of thunder-bolting and the resurrection; the Angel of Death, who takes away people’s souls at the time of death. Among the angels is the one who is in charge of mountains; and Malik, the keeper of Hell.


Some angels are in charge of embryos in wombs, others are responsible for protecting human beings, and others are busy recording men’s deeds: there are two angels for every person, “when the two angels receive [his deeds], one sitting on the right and one on the left, not a word he utters but by him is an observer ready” [50:18]. Some other angels are in charge of questioning the dead after he is placed in his last abode. Two angels come to him and ask him about his Lord, his religion, and his prophet. There “Allâh confirms those who believe with the firm saying, in the present life and the hereafter, and Allâh leads astray the evildoers and Allâh does what He wills” [14:27]. Some angels are in charge of the dwellers of Paradise: “The angels enter to them from every gate, saying: ‘Peace be upon you for that you were patient. How excellent is your final home” [13:24]. The Prophet, peace be upon him, told us that “seventy thousand angels enter or pray in the populous house in heaven every day. They never come back to it as long as they live” [because their turn will never come] [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Belief in Allâh’s Books:
We believe that Allâh revealed books to His messengers as proof against mankind and a guidance for the righteous workers. They purified and taught them wisdom by these books.
We believe that Allâh sent down a book with every messenger, because He says: “Indeed We sent down Our messengers with the clear signs, and We sent down with them the book and the balance, so that people may uphold justice” [57:25].


Books Known:
Among the books that were revealed, we know:
1) The Torah, which was revealed to Moses, peace be upon him. It is the greatest among the Israelites‘ books: “Surely, We sent down the Torah, wherein is guidance and light; by its laws the Jews have been judged by the prophets who surrendered themselves to Allâh, the rabbis and the doctors of law, because they were entrusted the protection of Allâh’s book and were witnesses thereto” [5:44].


2) The Gospel, which Allâh revealed to Jesus, peace be upon him. It is a confirmation of the Torah and a complement to it: “And we gave him the Gospel, wherein is guidance and light and confirming the Torah before it, as a guidance and an admonition to the God-fearing” [5:46]; “And to make lawful to you certain things that, before, were forbidden to you” [3:50].


3) The Psalms, which Allâh gave to David, peace be upon him.


4)The Tablets of Abraham and Moses, peace be upon them.


The Glorious Qu’ran, which was revealed to His Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets. It is “A guidance to the people and clear signs of guidance and the criterion between right and wrong” [2:185]. The Qu’ran Is Protected from Change: The Qu’ran is “confirming the scripture that was before it and stands as a guardian over it.” Thus, by means of the Qu’ran, Allâh abrogated all the previous revealed books. Allâh has also guaranteed its protection from any play or mischievous distortion: “Indeed, We sent down the message and We will guard it” [15:9], for the Qu’ran is a proof against mankind till the Day of Judgement.