The names of the Angels
The names of the Angels
II Part
The Angels have names, but we only know a few of those names.
- Jibril, is the trustworthy Rooh: Allah said in Surah As-Shuara’a 193-194:
نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الْأَمِينُ, عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُنذِرِينَ, بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِيٍّ مُّبِينٍ.
The trustworthy spirit has brought it down.
With it (the Qur’an) came down the spirit (Jibril) of Faith and Truth, To your heart and mind, that you may be of the warners (admonish). In the perspicuous Arabic tongue, (in clear and easily understood arabic tongue).
- Mikail, Allah said in Surah Al-Baqarah 97-98:
قُلْ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا
لِّجِبْرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ نَزَّلَهُ عَلَىٰ قَلْبِكَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ
مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ. مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ.
Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel-for he brings down the (revelation)
to your heart by Allah´s will, a confirmation of what went before, and
guidance and glad tidings for those who believe,- Whoever is an enemy to
Allah and His angels and messengers, to Gabriel and Michael,- Lo (Beware)! Allah is an enemy to those who reject Faith.
Imam Ibn Kather said: Mikail is appointed
over the rain and vegetation from which is created the provision of
this world. He has helpers who do whatever he commands them to do by the
command of his Lord. They control the winds and clouds as the Lord
wills.
- Israfil – who will blow the trumpet?
- Malik – the keeper of Hell.
و نادو يا مالك ليض علبنا ربك قال انكم ماكثون.
They will cry; O Malik! Would you ask your Lord to put an end to us? He will say; No, but you shall abide!
- Ridwan – Ibn Katheer said; the keeper of Paradise is an angel called Ridwan as is clearly stated in same hadith.
- Munkar
- Nakir – They are talk about the Questioning in the grave.
- Harut
- Marut – Allah said in Surah Al-Baqarah 102:
وَاتَّبَعُوا مَا
تَتْلُو الشَّيَاطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلْكِ سُلَيْمَانَ ۖ وَمَا كَفَرَ
سُلَيْمَانُ وَلَٰكِنَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ كَفَرُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ النَّاسَ
السِّحْرَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ عَلَى الْمَلَكَيْنِ بِبَابِلَ هَارُوتَ
وَمَارُوتَ ۚ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَا إِنَّمَا
نَحْنُ فِتْنَةٌ فَلَا تَكْفُرْ ۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُمَا مَا
يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَزَوْجِهِ ۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَارِّينَ
بِهِ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا
يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ ۚ وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا
لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ مَا شَرَوْا بِهِ
أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ.
They followed what the Satan
falsified against the belief of Solomon: but the Satan disbelieved,
teaching men magic, and such things as came down at Babylon to the
angels Harut and Marut. But neither of these two angels taught (Such things)
without saying: “We are only for trial; so do not disbelieve or curse.”
They learned from them the means to cause separation between man and
wife. But they could not harm anyone except by Allah´s permission. And
they learned what harmed them, not what profited them. And they knew
that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the
happiness of the Hereafter. And low was the price for which they did
sell their souls, if they only knew!
10. Azrail – angel of death.
11. Raqeeb
12. Ateed – Allah said in Surah Qaf 17-18
ذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ. مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ.
Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left. Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel (guard) by him, ready (to note the deeds).
The death of the Angels
The Angels die just as humans and Jinn die. This id stated clearly in the Qur’an in Surah Az-Zummar 68;
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ
فَصَعِقَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَاءَ
اللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ.
The Trumpet will (just) be (blown) sounded, when all that are in the heavens and on earth will swoon (dizzy), except such as it will please Allah (to exempt). Then will a second one be sounded, when, behold, they will be standing and looking on!
Attributes
The angels are honorable and obedient.
Allah described the angles as being honorouble and obedient, Allah said
in Surah Abasa 15-16
بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ, كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ.
(Written) by the hands of messenger angels- Blessed and just.
Imam Bukhari narrated that the Aisha r,a, said; The
Messenger of Allah said: the one who reads Qur’an when he knows it by
heart is like the honorable scribes and one who reads Qur’an and tries
his best, and it is hard for him, will have two rewards.
Abilities
Their ability to take on different forms.
Allah has given the angels the ability to take on forms different from
their own, Allah sent Jibril to Maryam in human form; Allah said in
Surah Maryam 16-19;
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ مَرْيَمَ إِذِ انتَبَذَتْ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا مَكَانًا شَرْقِيًّا, فَاتَّخَذَتْ مِن دُونِهِمْ حِجَابًا فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهَا رُوحَنَا فَتَمَثَّلَ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا, قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا, قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا
Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she went away from her family to a place in the East. She placed a screen (to screen (hide) herself)
from them; then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a
man in all respects. She said: “I seek refuge from you to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if you does not fear Allah.” He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son.
The angels came to Prophet Ibrahim a,s,
in human form and he did not know that they were angels. The angels came
to the Prophet Loot in the form of young men with handsome faces.
Jibril a,s, used to com to the Messenger in different forms, in the
story of the three people from among the children of Israel whom Allah
tested the leper, the blind man and the bald man.
The Leper, the Bald and the Blind
Abu Huraira (R.A.) relates that he heard
the holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) say, Allah tested three persons
from amongst Bani Israel, a leper, a bald headed man and a blind person. An angel was sent down to them in the form of a human being. He came to the leper and
asked, “What is the thing you like the best?”, “a fine color, neat skin
and cure from this disease for which people hate Me.” came the reply.
The angel ran his hand over his body, his disease vanished and his body
got a fine color. Then the angel asked him what property he would like
the best? The man said, “Camels or cows.” (The writer is doubtful). The
man was given a she camel ten months pregnant and the angel said, “May
Allah bless it for thee.”
Then the angel went to the bald headed man
and asked the same. The man replied, “Beautiful hair and cure of the
ailment, for which people hate me.” The angel ran his hand over his head
and his disease was cured leaving him with beautiful hair. Then the
angel asked him what property he would like the best? The man replied,
“a cow.” Thus he was given a cow carrying a calf and the angel said,
“May Allah bless it for thee.”
Then the angel came to the man who was blind
and asked the same. He asked that Allah restore his sight so that he
may see the people around him. The angel ran his hands over his eyes and
his sight was restored. Then the angel asked him what property he would
like the best? The man replied, “a goat.” Thus he was given a she goat
carrying a kid.
These animals in due course gave birth to
their kids multiplying very soon so that one had a valley full of cows,
bulls and a third of the valley full of goats. After some time the
angel visited the leper in his original form and said
to him, “I am a poor and needy person, having spent all my means of
sustenance in the course of my journey, I beg you, in the name of Allah,
who has given you a decent color and a neat skin and much wealth, to
furnish me with a camel to enable me complete my journey.” The man
expressed his inability to oblige the angel and said, “I have many
obligations to fulfill.” The angel said, “It appears as if I have seen
you before. Are you not a leper, who shunned people and
was poor, whom Allah enriched?” The man said, “I have inherited this
property from my ancestors.” The angel said, “If you are speaking a lie,
may Allah return you to the condition in which you were.”
Then he came to the bald headed person
in the original form and repeated his request to him, and got a similar
reply to the one he had received from the leper. The angel said, “If
you are speaking a lie, may Allah return you to the condition in which
you were.”
Then the angel visited the blind man
repeating his request once more. The man said, “Indeed I was blind and
Allah restored my eye sight. You may take what you will and leave what
you like. By Allah I will not refuse you anything you may wish to take
in the name of Allah, the Lord of honor and glory. The angel said, “Keep
all you have. All three of you were being tried. Allah is indeed
pleased with you and is angry with your companions.” (Sahih Bukhari:Volume 4, Book 56, Number 670)
Their great speed
The greatest speed known to humans is the
speed of light, when is 186,000 miles per second. But the speed of the
angels is greater than that. It cannot be measured by human standards.
In the story of Sulayman and Balkisa. Allah said in sura Naml 39-40:
قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ أَيُّكُمْ يَأْتِينِي بِعَرْشِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَأْتُونِي مُسْلِمِينَ. قَالَ عِفْرِيتٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقُومَ مِنْ مَقَامِكَ ۖ وَإِنِّي عَلَيْهِ لَقَوِيٌّ أَمِينٌ.
قَالَ الَّذِي عِنْدَهُ عِلْمٌ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِ قَبْلَ
أَنْ يَرْتَدَّ إِلَيْكَ طَرْفُكَ ۚ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ مُسْتَقِرًّا عِنْدَهُ
قَالَ هَٰذَا مِنْ فَضْلِ رَبِّي لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ ۖ
وَمَنْ شَكَرَ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ
رَبِّي غَنِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ.
[Solomon] said, “O assembly [of jinn], which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission
A powerful one from among the jinn said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy.” Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when [Solomon]
saw it placed before him, he said, “This is from the favor of my Lord
to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is
grateful – his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful – then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous.”
Their knowledge
The angels have great knowledge that they
have been tough by Allah, but they do not have the ability that men has
been given, to find out about things. Allah said in Surah Al-Baqarah
31-32:
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ
الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ
أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ, قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ.
And He taught Adam the names of
all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: “Tell me
the names of these if ye are right.” They said: “Glory to Thee, of
knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is
Thou Who are perfect in knowledge and wisdom.
They are disciplined and organized in all their affairs
They are disciplined in their worship, the Messenger of Allah urged us to follow their example in that, He said; Why do you not form your rows as the angels forms their rows before their Lord! They said: O Messenger of Allah: How do the angels form their rows before their Lord? He said; They complete the rows and do not leave any gaps.
The worship of angels
The angels instinctively worship Allah, they do not have the ability to disobey Him. Allah said in Surah Tahrim 6:
عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ.
Over which are (appointed) angels strong (and) severe, who do not hesitate (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do (precisely) what they are commanded.
They are commanded to worship and obey Allah, in Surah An-Nahl 50, Allah said: They all fear their Lord, high above them, and they do all that they are commanded. They do not do anything except that which they are commanded. The command motivates them, and the commands make them stop.
Imam Bukhari narrated that Ibn Abbas r,a, said; The Messenger of Allah said to Jibril a,s, why do you not visit us more often? Then the ayah was revealed in Surah Maryam 64; The
angels say; we do not come down except by command of your Lord. To Him
belongs what is before us and what is behind us, and what is between,
and your Lord is never forgetful.
Why did Allah not send Messengers from among angels?
Allah did not send Messengers from among
angels because the nature of the angels is different from the nature of
man, and so it is not easy for man to be in contact with angels. It was
very difficult for the Prophet Muhammad a,s, when Jibril a,s, came to
him in his angelic form, when he saw Jibril in his true form, he was
scared, and he went to his wife and said; cover me, cover me!
Because their nature is different, Allah
sent mankind Messengers of their own kind. If the inhabitants of the
earth had been angels, He would have sent down to them an angel as a
Messenger.
Starting up good motives in human hearts
Allah has appointed for each person a
Qareen (constant companion) from among the angels, and another from
among the Jinn. Imam Muslim narrated that Ibn Mas’uud r,a, said; The
Messenger of Allah a,s, said; there is no one among you but
there has been appointed for him one Qareen from among the Jinn and
another from among angels.They said; for you too, O Messenger of Allah?
He said for me too, but Allah has helped me against him (the Jinn companion) and he had become Muslim, so he does not tell me to do anything but good.
Recording the good and bad deeds of the sons of Adam
The angels are appointed to record the deeds of the sons of Adam, both good and bad. Allah said in Surah Infitar 10-12; But
surely, over you are angels to protect you, kind and honorable writing
down your deeds and works, they know and understand all that you do.
Ibn Abbas r,a, said; everything that you
say, good or bad, is written down. Even when person says; I ate, I
drank, I went, I came, I saw, then every Thursday all that a person did
or said is examined, and whatever is good or bad is recorded, and the
rest is erased. Allah said in Surah Ar-Ra’d 39: Allah removes and confirms what He pleases, the mother of the Book is with Him.
The angels call people to do good
Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim narrated that Abu Hurairah r,a, said that the Messenger of Allah said; No day comes but two angels come down (to the earth) in the morning. One of them says; O Allah compensate the one who spends (for your sake) and other says; O Allah, destroy the one who withholds (from spending for your sake).
The angels take the soul from the body when the appointed time of death comes
Allah said in the Qur’an Sajda 11; Say
the angel of Death, who is put in charge of you will really take your
souls on time, then you shall be brought back to your Lord. There is more than one angel who takes the soul of the dying. In Surah Al-An’am 61-61;
وَهُوَ الَّذِي
يَتَوَفَّاكُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِالنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ
يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ
مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ.
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ ۖ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُمْ حَفَظَةً
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ
لَا يُفَرِّطُونَ.
He is the irresistible, (watching)
from above over His worshipers, and He sets guardians over you. At the
end, when death approaches one of you, Our angels take his soul, and
they never fail in their duty. Then are men returned unto Allah, their
protector, the (only) reality: Is not His the command? and He is the swiftest in taking account.
The angels take souls of the kuffar and
sinners in a harsh and severe manner, with no gentleness or kindness.
Allah said in Surah Al-An’am 93;
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ
الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو
أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ
الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ
وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ.
If you could only see how the wicked (are) in the flood of (agonies) confusion at death! – the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying),“Yield (give)
up your souls: this day shall you receive your reward,- a penalty of
shame, for that you used to tell lies against Allah, and scornfully to
reject of His signs!” And Allah said in Surah Al-Anfal 50:
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذْ
يَتَوَفَّى الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۙ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَضْرِبُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ
وَأَدْبَارَهُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ.
If you could see, when the angels take the souls of the Unbelievers (at death), (How) they smite their faces and their backs, (saying): “Taste the penalty of the blazing Fire. In surah Muhammad 27: But how (will it be) when the angels take their souls at death, and smite their faces and their backs? The angels give the believers glad tidings when they take their souls; in Surah al-Fussilat 30-31;
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا
رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ
الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا
بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ. نَحْنُ
أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ
فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ.
In the case of those who say, “Our Lord is Allah”, and, further, stand straight and steadfast, the angels descend on them (from time to time): “Fear you not!” (they suggest), “Nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), the which ye were promised!
“We are your protectors in this
life and in the Hereafter: therein shall you have all that your souls
shall desire; therein shall you have all that you ask for!
But for the kuffar, they give bad tidings and anger, Allah said in Surah Al-An’am 93:
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ
الظَّالِمُونَ فِي غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ بَاسِطُو
أَيْدِيهِمْ أَخْرِجُوا أَنفُسَكُمُ ۖ الْيَوْمَ تُجْزَوْنَ عَذَابَ
الْهُونِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ غَيْرَ الْحَقِّ
وَكُنتُمْ عَنْ آيَاتِهِ تَسْتَكْبِرُونَ.
If you could only see how the wicked (are) in the flood of (agonies) confusion at death! – the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying),“Yield (give)
up your souls: this day shall you receive your reward,- a penalty of
shame, for that you used to tell lies against Allah, and scornfully to
reject of His signs!”
Imam Sedin Agic
April 29-2012
08 Jumadal Akhir -1433
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