The Angels of Disaster and Torture

جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَى قَالُوا إِنَّا مُهْلِكُو أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ إِنَّ أَهْلَهَا كَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ ... [1]

“And when Our messengers came to Ibrahim with the good news, they said: Surely we are going to destroy the people of this town, for its people are unjust. He said, surely in it is Lut; They said: We know well who is in it; we shall certainly deliver him and his followers, except his wife; she shall be of those who remain behind. And when Our messengers came to Lut he was grieved on account of them, and he felt powerless to protect them; then they said: Fear not, nor grieve; surely we will deliver you and your followers, except your wife; she shall be of those who remain behind. Surely We will cause to come down upon the people of this town a punishment from heave, because they transgressed. And certainly We have left a clear sign of it for a people who understand.

2. The Angels of Mercy:

وَنَبِّئْهُمْ عَنْ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا ... [2]

“And inform them of the guests of Ibrahim: when they (i.e. angels) entered upon him, they said, Peace. He said: Surely we are afraid of you. The angels said: Be not afraid, surely we give the good news of a boy, possessing knowledge. He said: Do you give me good news of a son when old age has come upon me? – Of what then do you give me good news! The angels said: We give you good news with truth, therefore be not of the despairing.”

From verses like these and according to the authentic Islamic narrations, it is clear that if angels accompanied by God’s Mercy did not protect man against calamities, life would not be safe from anxiety and the agents of destruction.

3. The Messenger Angels:

The noble, virtuous scribes (angels) are great in that they are pure wisdom and light. They are considered generous since man makes use of their presence.

كَلَّا إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ، فَمَنْ شَاءَ ذَكَرَهُ، فِي صُحُفٍ مُكَرَّمَةٍ، مَرْفُوعَةٍ مُطَهَّرَةٍ، بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ، كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ  [3]

“Nay! Surely it is an admonishment (The Qur’an is not the way the infidels have assumed) (The Qur’an is a book of admonishment). So let him who pleases, mind it and take a lesson. These excellent words are recorded in honored books, exalted, purified. These words are in the hands of noble, virtuous scribes(angels).”

4. The Keeper Angels and the Angel Scribes(Recorders):

وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ  [4]

“And most surely there are keepers over you, Honorable recorders; they (the angels) know what you do.”

No doubt, the Almighty God Knows more than anybody else what we humans are doing. But for further emphasis and for man to feel more responsible, God has stationed may Keepers for him: One of them is the group of angels.

مَا يَلْفِظُ مِنْ قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ  [5]

 “He utters not a word but there is by him a watcher at hand.”

إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنْ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنْ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ  [6]

“When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left. (Remember there are two angels who record what you are doing).”

Imam Musa Ibn Ja’afar(a.s) was asked: will the recorder angels become aware of the intentions of the person who wants to perform sins or good things? Imam (a.s) asked: Is the smell of sewage and a fragrance the same? The narrator replied: No! Imam (a.s) replied: When a person intends to carry out a good deed, his breath becomes good – smelling. The right-hand angel will tell the left-hand angel: be alert, the person wants to do the right thing. And when the man carried out the intended right thing, the man’s tongue will turn into a pen for the recorder – angel and his saliva will become her ink.

But when a man intends to do something evil, his breath will become foul - smelling. The angel on the left side will then make the other angel alert, telling her: Take care, he intends to do something wrong. His tongue and saliva then will be used as a pen and ink to write a report on the sinner.[7]