The Holy Qur’an and the Angels

1-The Holy Qur’an considers faith as a composition of five fundamental principles. If a heart through contemplation over the natural and qur’anic facts and divine cognition and knowledge, believes in the five principles, then he is a believer and is accepted by God. Or else it would be a weak and defective faith. If a person believes in less than

these five principles, it is considered defective; if he associates partner with God then he is a polytheist; and if he denies these principles altogether, then he is an infidel.

These five fundamental principles in which we should believe are God, Resurrection, Angels, the Book and the Prophets.

لَيْسَ الْبِرُّ أنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةِ وَالْكِتابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ... [1]

 “I is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and West, but righteousness is that one should believe in Allah and the Last day and the Angels and the Book and the Prophets”

These five principles are sufficiently dealt with in the Holy Qur’an, Narrations, News, Philosophical books and Gnostic works and in this regard God has not left any thing out. All of us have to be aware of these principles: we are not allowed to be negligent of them.

If you look at this sacred verse with foresight, you will definitely find out that angels are among the principles in which we should believe on. The rejection of angels or even one angel out of all of them aquals infidelity. One who suffer from such a disease shall always remain in God’s eternal torture.

The Great Allah called infidels and unbelievers those Jews who made obstacles on the way of Muhammad(s.a.w).

مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِلَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ  [2]

 “Whoever is the enemy of Allah and His angels and His Apostles and Jibrail and Mikail, so surely Allah is the enemy of the unbelievers.  2:177”

... وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا  [3]

“And whoever disbelieves in Allah and His Angels and His Apostles and the Last day, he indeed strays off into a remote error. ”

آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ... [4]

 “The apostle believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers; they all believe in Allah and His Angels and His Books and His Apostles”

2- The angels are knowledgeable, and vigilant and seeing creatures who witness to the sacred being of Allah.

شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُوْلُوا الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ  [5]

“Allah bears witness that there is no god but He, and so do the angels and those possessed of knowledge, maintaining His creation with justice;

There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise”

In the opinion of Imam Baqir(a.s), by the expression “Those possessed of knowledge” in the above sacred verse is meant the Prophets and the Infallible ones(a.s).[6] In the next phase, by the "learned men" is meant those who have benefited from the school of the sacred Imams(a.s) and have become jurisprudents.

Concerning God, the issue is so obvious and the truth of it is so undeniable that even most of the naturalist scholars bear witness to the uniqueness of Allah. This is because, these scholars through their research have realized that there is relationship among different particle and elements of nature: elements such as the sun, the moon, the earth, the sea, the clouds, the mountains, the rivers, the plants, the animals, the man, the day and night and seasons. This relationship depicts the originator of the universe. Here are some of the testimonies of these scholars:

Herschell, the astronomer said:”The more the sphere of sciences becomes advanced, the stronger become the reasons for the existence of God.”

Mont Nell, in his encyclopedia, writes:’The natural sciences raise our reasoning to the degree that we may comprehend God’s Grandeur.

Newton said: By studying the composition of the ear, we will realize that its creator is fully aware of the laws governing sounds; in the same way, by studying the eye, we will realize that its creator knows the laws of light and optics; and finally, by studying the order in the universe, we will understand that the universe is rule-governed.

Pascal, the famous philosopher writes: nothing except belief in God could quell our internal turmoil and the thirst in our spirit.

Edward Leuter Keel, the dean of the biology department at the san Francisco University states that: Because of the scientific researches, there are new reasoning for the acceptance of the creator; these new reasonings will confirm the previous philosophical reasoning.

Perdun, the social theorist said: “Prior to our wisdoms, our hearts have confessed to the presence of God.

Walter Oscar Landberg said: Besides spiritual reasoning, the scientists find some scientific reasons as a result of their researches to comprehend the existence of Allah.

Darwin said: It is impossible for our advanced wisdom to say that this world lacks a God.

Enstein said: In the unknown world there is a Knowing force that all the worlds attest to its existence.[7]

3- The Angels are witnesses to the Holy Qur’an:

لَكِنْ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَا أَنزَلَ إِلَيْكَ أَنزَلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا  [8]

But Allah bears witness by what He has revealed to you that He has revealed it with His knowledge, and the angels bear witness also; and Allah is sufficient as a witness.

The contents of the Holy Qur’an, which include knowledge, wisdom, Philosophy, Gnostics, ethical commandments, the history of the Prophets and the nations and are revealed to the illuminated heart of an illiterate Individual, are in fact God’s witness to the descent of the Holy Qur’an From the unknown world and from the world of Angels to the visible world of ours.

And on the day of resurrection all the God’s angels in the presence of all the unbelievers and the infidels, will bear witness to all God’s facts, Including the Holy Qur’an.

4- God’s angels, concerning worship, are humble, faithful creatures and the most sincere creatures of God.

وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ، يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ  [9]

And whatever creature is in the heavens and on the earth makes obeisance to Allah only, and the angels too do not show pride. They fear their Lord above them and do what they are commanded.

... يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ  [10]

They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, and they do as they are commanded.

وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ ... [11]

And the thunder declares His glory with His praise, and the angels too for awe of him.

إِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِنْ طِينٍ، فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ، فَسَجَدَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ  [12]

When your Lord said to the angels; surely I am going to create a mortal from dust. So when I have made him complete and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall down making obeisance to him. And the angels did obeisance, all of them.

... وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَلَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ  [13]

And the angels sing the praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on the earth, Behold! Surely, Allah is the Most Forgiving, the Merciful.

وَجَعَلُوا الْمَلَائِكَةَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَانِ إِنَاثًا أَشَهِدُوا خَلْقَهُمْ سَتُكْتَبُ شَهَادَتُهُمْ وَيُسْأَلُونَ  [14]

And they make the angels who are the servants of the Gracious God, Female divinities. What! Did they witness their creation? Their evidence shall be written down and they shall be questioned.

5- God’s angels pray for the believers and send their praises to them.

هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَائِكَتُهُ لِيُخْرِجَكُمْ مِنْ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا  [15]

He it is who sends His blessings on you, and so do His angels, that He may bring you forth out of utter darkness into the light; and He is Merciful to the believers.

And the God’s angels send their curses upon those who are disbelievers.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُوْلَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ  [16]

Surely those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, these it is on whom is the curse of Allah and the angels and men all.

How lucky are those who are the subject to angel’s prayers and how miserable are those who are cursed by God’s angels.

How good it is for men and women to take the most out of their short lives and to carry out God’s wise commands and to obey the Prophets and the Imams and to benefit from God’s blessings both Here and Hereafter.

6- When men are in trouble, the angels come to their rescue and they do this by asking God’s permission.

إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَنْ يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَنْ يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِثَلَاثَةِ آلَافٍ مِنْ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُنْزَلِينَ بَلَى إِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا وَيَأْتُوكُمْ مِنْ فَوْرِهِمْ هَذَا يُمْدِدْكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ بِخَمْسَةِ آلَافٍ مِنْ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُسَوِّمِينَ وَمَا جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بُشْرَى لَكُمْ وَلِتَطْمَئِنَّ قُلُوبُكُمْ بِهِ وَمَا النَّصْرُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ  [17]

When you said to the believers: Does it not suffice you that your Lord should assist you with three thousand of the angels sent down? Yea! If you remain patient and are on your guard, and they come upon you in a headlong manner, your Lord will assist you with five thousand of the Havoc-making angels. And Allah did not make it but as good news for You, and that your hearts might be at ease thereby, and victory is only from Allah, the mighty, the wise.

إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ أَنِّي مُمِدُّكُمْ بِأَلْفٍ مِنْ الْمَلَائِكَةِ مُرْدِفِينَ  [18]

When you sought aid from your Lord, so He answered you: I will assist you with a thousand of the angels following one another.

إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ  [19]

When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of theirs

7- The angels take God’s revelations to the Prophets.

يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةَ بِالرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرُوا أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاتَّقُونِ  [20]

He sends down the angles with the inspirations by His commandment on whom He pleases of His servants, saying: Give the warning that there is no god but Me, therefore be careful of your duty to Me.

Through reading the Holy Qur’an and by paying heed to the magnificent verses of the Holy Qur’an, man could arrive at the scene of monotheism and might glance at the beauty of Almighty God.

8- At the time of the death of a believer, the God’s angels are sent down upon him to let him(or her) know of God’s blessings.

الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ  [21]

Those whom the angel caused to die in a good state, saying: Peace be on you: enter the garden for what you did.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ نُزُلًا مِنْ غَفُورٍ رَحِيمٍ[22]

As for those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the Garden that you were promised. We are your guardians in this world’s life and in the Hereafter, and you shall have therein what your souls desire and you shall have therein what you ask for: A provision from the Forgiving, the Merciful.

9- At the time of death, the angels of torture descend upon the aggressors, evil-doers, polytheists, infidels, the corrupt, the libertines and blame them and later expose them to tortures.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَفَّاهُمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ قَالُوا فِيمَ كُنتُمْ قَالُوا كُنَّا مُسْتَضْعَفِينَ فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَرْضُ اللَّهِ وَاسِعَةً فَتُهَاجِرُوا فِيهَا فَأُوْلَئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَسَاءَتْ مَصِيرًا  [23]

Surely as for those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to their souls, they shall say: In what state were you? They shall say: We were weak in the Earth. They shall say: Was not Allah’s earth spacious, so that you should have migrated therein? So these it is whose abode is hell, and it is an evil resort.

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُوا أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ  [24]

And if you had seen when the unjust shall be in the agonies of death and the angels shall spread forth their hands: Give up your souls; today shall you be recompensed with an ignominious chastisement because you spoke against Allah other than the truth and because you showed pride against His communications.

وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذْ يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ ذَلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ  [25]

And had you seen when the angels will cause to die those who disbelieve, smiting their faces and their backs, and saying: Taste the punishment of burning. This is for What your own hands have sent on before, and because Allah is not in the least Unjust to the servants.

الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ ظَالِمِي أَنفُسِهِمْ فَأَلْقَوْا السَّلَمَ مَا كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ مِنْ سُوءٍ بَلَى إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ  [26]

Those whom the angels cause to die while they are unjust to themselves. Then would they offer submission: We used not to do any evil. Nay! Surely Allah knows what you used to do.

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا تَوَفَّتْهُمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ اتَّبَعُوا مَا أَسْخَطَ اللَّهَ وَكَرِهُوا رِضْوَانَهُ فَأَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالَهُمْ  [27]

But how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their backs. That is Because they follow what is displeasing to Allah and are averse to His pleasure, Therefore He has made null their deeds.

How miserable the trespassers and aggressor are! I can assure you that all pleasures of this world are not worth the tortures that we may go through at the moments of trial.

10- The angels are God’ agents in affairs related to creation and guiding of man. Since the world affairs are based on the cause and effect phenomena, the angels are causes for the effects to take place. They do this by permission from Allah. In fact, the angels are the executors of God’s plans in the arena of 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  [28]

All praise is due to Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the Maker of the angels, messengers flying on wings, two, and three and four; He increases in creation what He pleases; surely Allah has power over all things.

Since Allah assigns the role of a messenger to the angels, we will conclude that the role of a messenger has got a wide sphere of meanings: it will include both as a messenger who conveys God’s orders to the people and as a messenger who carry out God’s commands.

The sense of a messenger as a conveyer of God’s message to the Prophets is frequently used in the Holy Qur’an; but the second sense of this term, too is not rare in the Holy Qur’an

In the other verses of the Holy Qur’an, we will observe that God has assigned different roles and responsibilities for the angels. Thus a messenger, as used in the Holy Qur’an, entails different meanings.

Furthermore, the word “wing” as used in this sacred verse might convey the sense of the extreme power and maneuverability. Some angels are more powerful than others.

However, we should realize that interpretations of this sort do not refer to the physical dimensions; rather, these interpretations refer to spiritual dimensions.

We are fully aware that wings are useful only where there is air.

The earth is surrounded by air and birds could ride on the air-waves and easily move around. Outside the earth, the bird’s wings are not of any use for movement.

In a narration for Imam Sadiq(a.s) we read that:

الْمَلائِكَةُ لا يَأكُلُونَ وَلا يَشْرَبُونَ، وَلا يَنْكِحُونَ، وَإنَّما يَعِيشُونِ بِنَسِيمِ الْعَرْشِ.

The angels neither eat nor drink, nor marry. They are living only by the breath of the empyrean.

Anyway, there are numerous mentions of the angels in the Holy Qur’an. Many of the sacred verses of the Holy Qur’an deal with the features and traits of the angels and of their roles and responsibilities. In the previous pages, we noticed that in the Holy Qur’an, the faith in angels is equal to the faith in Allah or in the Prophets(a.s) or the Book. This shows that the issue is a fundamental one.

Without doubt, the issue of angels of which Allah has spoken belongs to the affairs of the unknown world. To prove the existence of the angels we have to refer to the reasons employed in the Holy Qur’an.

The Holy Qur’an enumerates the characteristics of the angels in the following manner:

1- Angels are wise creatures and are God’s honored servants (Qur’an 21:26);

2- Angels are obedient to Allah and do not engage in sins (Qur’an 21:27).

3- Angels carry out significant tasks to perform:

a) Some bear the empyrean(Qur’an 69:17);

b) Some regulate the affairs (Qur’an 79:5);

c) Some come to those who forge a lie against Allah and cause their death (Qur’an 7:37);

d) Some angels are keepers over men; they are honorable recorders; they know what we do (Qur’an 82:10-13);

e) Some angels keep people from dangers(Qur’an 6:61);

f) Some angels help men in Holy wars (Qur’an 33:9);

g) Some angels come to punish the aggressors such as the people of Lut, (Qur’an 11:77);

h) Some angels are sent down by Allah with the inspiration by His commandment on the Prophets (Qur’an 16:2).

4- The angels sing the praise of their Lord and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth (Qur’an 42:5).ss

5- The angels could turn into man and come to the Prophets or non-Prophets (Qur’an 19:17)(Qur’an 11:69-77).

6- From the study of the Islamic narrations it will become clear that the number of angels is infinite. Once Imam Sadiq (a.s) was asked on the number of the angels: He was asked if the number of the angels was greater than the number of human beings. He replied: “I swear to God in whose hands my life rests: The number of the angels in the skies is more than the number of dust particles on the earth, there is no vacant place in the skies. In every corner there is an angel who praises God”[29]

7- Angels do no go to sleep; neither are they negligent. In a narration from Imam Ali(a.s), we may read:

لَيْسَ فِيهِمْ فَتْرَةٌ، وَلا عِنْدَهُم غَفْلَةٌ، وَلا فِيهِمْ مَعْصِيَةٌ، لا يَغْشاهُم نَوْمُ الْعُيُونِ وَلا سَهْوُ العُقُولِ، وَلا فَتْرَةُ الابْدانِ، لَمْ يَسْكُنُوا الأصْلابَ، وَلَمْ تَضُمَّهُمُ الأرْحامُ. [30]

They are neither weak, nor negligent; they are not aggressive, either. Sleep will not dominate over them; their wisdom will not falter; their bodies will not show weakness.

8- Angels are of different grades and ranks. Some are always in the state of genuflection ; others are in prostration.

وَمَا مِنَّا إِلَّا لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَعْلُومٌ وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُونَ  [31]

And there is none of us but has an assigned place, and most surely we are they who draw themselves out in ranks, and we are most surely they who declare the glory of Allah.

What is at issue for us is to recognize the angels with the traits stipulated for them by the Holy Qur’an and the Islamic narrations. We should, as well consider them as a distinguished layer of God’s creation whose only rank is their obedience towards Allah.[32]

Inside the angels, there is nothing except love towards Allah. That is why God calls them “the honorable servants of God. They are among special creatures of God. It is love towards God that has made the angels unique creatures of Allah.