"Islam cannot be understood without reference to angels" Discuss The statement shows that an understanding of Islam would be incomplete without covering angels
"Islam cannot be understood without reference to angels" Discuss
The statement shows that an understanding of Islam would be incomplete without covering angels. This suggests that their role is far beyond seen in any other religion. I will be investigating the statement in more detail and finally deciding if it is a fair comment or is the role being overstated.
Angels are a specialised creation of Allah. In Arabic they are known as Malaikah. They are created from divine light (Nur) to perform specific functions. Angels do not have any gender. Allah did not give them any gender since the angels themselves are asexual and do not reproduce. However in the Qur'an, Archangels are referred to as "he" or "he is", because in Arabic the word for angel is a masculine noun. The angels are different from the human race in the way that they do not contain any of man's physical attributes (although they may appear in the shape of a man.) They do not sleep, procreate, eat or drink. Angels themselves do not possess free will, therefore they do not have any desires nor do they commit sins or misdeeds. They always obey Allah and can never disobey Him. Whenever Allah commands the angels to do something, it is always done. Angels are known to be "innocent servants of Allah's will". They are known to help men in the use of free will, and carry out the decision that men decide. Some angels guard the walls of heaven and hell as well as the gates of the entrance to each level of heaven and hell. Allah Has honoured some of the angels by choosing them as messengers, just as He has chosen some of mankind as messengers this shows the significance of the angels.
The main duty of angels is to glorify and praise Allah. The Mukarrabun are a special type of angels who spend all of their time praising Allah continually. (21:20). Their food is tasbeeh (glorification of Allah) and tahleel (saying laa illaaha ill-Allah) as Allah tells us concerning them. Unlike humans they are never tired and are always ready to obey Allah. They do not sleep, nor do they require the things a human being would need. Angels record the deed of each human individual from birth to death. According to Muslims they are the constant companions of the ones who are faithful. Angels participate and include themselves with the worshippers especially in their prayers. They are also known to play a soteriological and illuminative function for those who follow the path of spiritual realization. By Allah's command they are known to govern all macrocosmic and microcosmic forces, as well as the fact that they accompany man to the next abode on his departure from the earthly plane. The angels possess great strength by Allah's will. The proof of this is when Allah sent forth an angel, He gave one shout and a part of creation was destroyed. This is what is known to have happened to the people of Thamood: "Verily, we sent but one shout and they became like dry twigs of the builder of the cattle fold."
There are four main Archangels Muslims are required to acknowledge as part of their conversion to Islam. The main angel is Gabriel or Jibra'il in Arabic. He is responsible for revealing the Qur'an to Muhammad, surah by surah. According to Aishah (one of Muhammad's wife's), Muhammad saw him in his true form only twice as is indicated by the Qur'an..."very strong (i.e. Jibrael); he stood poised, being on the higher horizon". Allah himself has described Jibra'il as possessing many fine attributes, such as: "Verily, it (the Qur'an) is the word (brought by) a most honourable Messenger (Jibra'il) owner ...
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There are four main Archangels Muslims are required to acknowledge as part of their conversion to Islam. The main angel is Gabriel or Jibra'il in Arabic. He is responsible for revealing the Qur'an to Muhammad, surah by surah. According to Aishah (one of Muhammad's wife's), Muhammad saw him in his true form only twice as is indicated by the Qur'an..."very strong (i.e. Jibrael); he stood poised, being on the higher horizon". Allah himself has described Jibra'il as possessing many fine attributes, such as: "Verily, it (the Qur'an) is the word (brought by) a most honourable Messenger (Jibra'il) owner of power and high rank with (Allah) the Lord of the Throne, obeyed (by the angels), trustworthy there (in the heavens"). From this we can tell that Allah has described Jibra'il as powerful and obtaining high rank, as well as enjoying the unquestioning obedience of the other angels when he orders them to carry out Allah's command. This shows the basic reason for being Muslim, to accept Allah and follow the teachings. So from this we can tell that by understanding Jibrail, Muslims understand Islam much better. He is also trustworthy in delivering the divine revelation. Jibra'il does not add anything nor takes anything away but delivers it exactly as it was given to him by Allah. On the night of power, Jibrail descends upon the earth with a group of angels, praying for blessings for every servant of Allah whom they see in worship, standing or sitting, and engrossed in Allah's praise. It is reported that Jibrail after his descent, commands the angels to proceed to the house of everyone busy with prayers, and greets them by shaking hands. The second most important angel is Izra'il. He is mentioned by the Qur'an as the "angel of death". He is responsible for parting the soul of the human with the body. The process of the separation depends upon the deeds of the person. If the person was righteous, then the soul is separated like a "drop of water dripping from a glass". A very important aspect of Islam is the day of judgement. The concept of "test" and that real life begins after death is reminded to Muslims by Izrail. However if the human was a bad person in his life, then the soul is ripped out very painfully. The third angel is Mika'il. He is responsible for bringing thunder and lightning onto the earth. He can also be responsible for the rewards given out to good people in this life. He also protects the faithful as well as the place of worship. This shows the importance of faith as the mosque is more than just a place of worship. It is also seen as a community centre where problems are solved. In some contexts, it is sometimes shown that Mika'il is partnered with Jibra'il; this is not true if referred to the Qur'an. He is only mentioned once in the Qur'an and is also charged with providing nourishment for bodies. Knowledge for souls and learning are a very important part of a Muslims life. It is a duty a Muslim must follow. Israfil is the fourth angel. He is responsible for signalling the coming of judgement day by blowing the horn as well as delivering commands. The first trump will cause the death of every living creature in the heavens and the earth as well as the destruction of all created things. The second trump is known as the calling forth. With one of his four wings he fills the west, with the second he fills the east, the third he descends from heaven to earth and the fourth he keeps himself velled. If Allah wants something to happen in creation, He causes the pen to write upon the tablet, which is between Israfils eyes, and then Israfil relays the command to Mika'il. There are many other angels performing less important different jobs and some of them are mentioned below. Many of the jobs carried out by "minor" angels could be done without an angel present. Muslims definitely know that Allah knows their sins, so they might ask why an angel is required. Angels are useful in understanding Islam because they are reminders to Muslims of their duties. Their jobs are important because they remind Muslims of the purpose of life and Muslims duties rather than that the universe could not exist without them, because Allah could do all those roles Himself. The Guardian angels are also called the "honoured writers". One is placed on the right arm and the other on the left arm. They record the humans "good" and "bad" deeds. Not a single good or bad deed or thought is forgone in their record of each individual. The Attendant angels descend upon mankind with blessings and ascend with news of their works. Nakir and Munkir interrogate the deceased on their way of life prior to their deaths. They are known to ask three specific questions: "who was your God?", "who was your prophet?" and "what was your way of life?" The two angels are described in some Hadiths as being blue and black angels, usually appearing friendly to Muslims, but frightful to non-Muslims who are especially sinful. This shows Muslim belief. The way to paradise is not just by good deeds but by accepting Allah and Muhammad. Another angel "Malik" is defined in the Qur'an as a being who is the Keeper of the Seven Hells. However Malik is not an evil angel, nor a fallen one, he is merely doing what he is commanded to do by Allah. Islam also teaches Muslims that there are four different angels that guard them each. Two are in the day and two of them are in the night. They are known to protect Muslims from the assaults of the devil (shaitan in Arabic). The devil was also an angel in the Qur'an. However this later changed when he refused to bow down to Adam and set up his own kingdom of hell, where he was later made from fire. Iblis pleaded with Allah to put off from the punishment until the day of judgement which Allah agreed to. Muslims view on this is that Allah allows the devil to tempt Muslims on the earth for a reason, but on the last day; the devil will be handed over to the angels of hell for eternal punishment.
Muslims believe in the existence of angels because Allah talks about them through His revelation. Jibra'il and Mika'il are mentioned early in the Qur'an, in the second surah "...whoever is an enemy to Allah, and its angels and prophets, to Jibreel and Mikaa'eel-Lo! Allah is an enemy to those who reject faith." Malik the Keeper of the Seven Hells is also mentioned in the Qur'an, "They (the people of the hell) will cry: "O Malik! Would that your Lord put an end to us!" The angels are also known to fear their Lord and do what they are ordered to do as mentioned in the Qur'an. "Everything in the heavens and every creature on the earth prostrates to Allah, as do the angels. They are not puffed up with pride. They fear their Lord above them and do everything that they are ordered to do." Muhammad's mission provided many examples of explicit angelic activity in key events. When Muhammad was an infant, he was visited by "two men clothed in white, carrying a gold basin full of snow." From Muhammad's own words, these angelic beings "split open my breast and brought forth my heart. This also they split open, taking from it a black clot which they cast away. Then they washed my breast with the snow." The angels are also known to curse the disbelievers. This statement however is directly from Allah as angels do not have any free will whatsoever. So from this we can see that whatever angels say, it is a mere dictation from Allah. In the Qur'an it says "But as for those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, the curse of Allah is upon them and that of the angels and all mankind." In the Qur'an it is also mentioned that the angels circle around the Throne of Allah, glorifying their Lord with praise: "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds." Angels in Islam are seen as beautiful creatures, as stated in the Qur'an: "when they (the women) saw him, they did extol him and (in their amazement) cut their hands: they said: "Allah preserve us! No mortal is this! This is none other than a noble angel!"
The Islamic concepts of creation, revelation, prophecy, and the events that are occurring in this world, worship, the spiritual life, death, resurrection, and the central position of man in the cosmos cannot be understood without reference to the angels. Denial of the existence of angels is considered disbelief for Muslims, because a person would be rejecting verses of the Qur'an, as well as sayings of the prophet Muhammad. This can be portrayed in the Qur'an, "O you who believe! Believe in Allah and His messenger, and the Book He sent down to his messenger, and the scriptures which He sent down before. Anyone who rejects Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers and the last day has gone very far astray." Muslims cannot see the angels because they are made of things which our eyes cannot see. However, Muslims know that they are there, because Allah has told the Muslims, so sometimes the presence of the angels can be felt. This feeling of the angel's presence helps the Muslims feel a spiritual aspect which they do not feel with Allah. Belief in angels is part of the five pillars of faith (iman in Islam). The Qur'an seems to contain more than eighty references to angels themselves. From this we can see that Muhammad's contemporaries were already familiar with the concept of angels.
Muhammad has defined faith as consisting of six beliefs. These are belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the last day and Qadr (both good and bad) "and whosoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers and the last day, then indeed he has strayed far away." So for Muslims faith cannot be built except upon these six beliefs, just as a building cannot be constructed except upon these firm foundations. The meaning of faith in Allah's angels is to believe in their existence and the work they do in Allah's name. The angels themselves are created by Allah from light in order that they worship Him; obey Him as well as to carry out His commands. Angels are part of the unseen from amongst Allah's creation. No one knows the exact number of the angels, their precise nature, nor the exact manner of their creation but Allah.
From this we know that Muslims knowledge of angels is entirely based on what Allah and Muhammad tells the Muslims. The angels play a very big role in conducting a Muslims affair.
