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In Islam, angels (Arabic : ملاك٬ ملك, romanized: malāk; plural: ملائِكة, malāʾik/malāʾikah or Persian : فرشته, romanized: ferešte) are believed to be heavenly beings, created from a luminous origin by God. [1] [2] [3] [4] The Quran is the principal source for the Islamic concept of angels, [5] but more extensive features of angels appear in hadith literature, Mi'raj literature, Islamic exegesis, theology, philosophy, and mysticism. [3] [4] [6]
Generally, belief in angels is one of the core tenets within Islam, as it is one of the six articles of faith. [7] [8] Angels are more prominent in Islam compared to Judeo-Christian tradition. [9] The angels differ from other spiritual creatures in their attitude as creatures of virtue, in contrast to evil devils (Arabic : شَيَاطِين, romanized: šayāṭīn or Persian : دیو, romanized: dīv) and ambiguous jinn (Arabic : جِنّ or Persian : پَری, romanized: parī). [10] [3] [11] [12] Despite being considered to be virtuous beings, angels are not necessarily bringers of good news, as per Islamic tradition, angels can perform grim and violent tasks. [13]
Angels are conceptualized as servants of God. As such, they are said to lack passion and bodily desires. If angels can nevertheless fail, is debated in Islam. The Atharist scholars (and to the extent, also the modern contemporary salafists) followed the recorded opinions of salaf generations (i.e. Sahabas and Tabi'uns); [14] that the angels are always obedient and never fail to perform their tasks. [15] [16] [17] On the other hand, Māturīdites say that the heavenly creatures are tested, and angels may fail such a test, whereupon they are dismissed from their duties. Some Ashʿarite likewise argue that angels can fail. In contrast, most Mu'tazilites, including some Asharis such as al-Razi, consider angels to be infallible. Though some Muslim scholars may accept a certain degree of angelic fallibility, these angels do not rebel on their own part against God but fail to complete their task properly.
In Sufism, angels are related to the nature of reason ('aql). According to Sufi cosmology, they connect the higher realms of the intellect with the lower world of matter. Thus, the human mind is conceptualized to form a connection with the heavenly spheres (malakūt) through such heavenly entities associated with ( nūr ). In contrast, the devils attempt to disturb the connection by diverging the mind to the lower spheres, thus associated with fire ( nār ).
The Quranic word for angel (Arabic: ملك, romanized: malak) derives either from Malaka, meaning "he controlled", due to their power to govern different affairs assigned to them, [18] or from the triliteral root '-l-k, l-'-k or m-l-k with the broad meaning of a "messenger", just as its counterpart in Hebrew (malʾákh). Unlike the Hebrew word, however, the term is used exclusively for heavenly spirits of the divine world, as opposed to human messengers. The Quran refers to both angelic and human messengers as rasul instead. [19]
In Islam, angels are heavenly creatures created by God. They are considered older than humans and jinn. [20] Although Muslim authors disagree on the exact nature of angels, they agree that they are autonomous entities with subtle bodies. [21] : 508 Yet, both concepts of angels as anthropomorphic creatures with wings and as abstract forces are acknowledged. [5] Angels play an important role in Muslim everyday life by protecting the believers from evil influences and recording the deeds of humans. They have different duties, including their praise of God, interacting with humans in ordinary life, defending against devils (shayāṭīn) and carrying on natural phenomena. [4] Angelic qualities, just as devilish ones, are assumed to be part of human's nature, the angelic one related to the spirit (ruh) and reason (aql), while the devilish one to egoism. [22] Angels might accompany aspiring saints or advise pious humans. Angels are believed to be attracted to clean and sacred places.
One of the Islamic major characteristic is their lack of bodily desires; they never get tired, do not eat or drink, and have no anger. [23] According to a Hadith tradition recorded by Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj on the authority of Anas ibn Malik, angel is solid creatures which doesn't have any cavity or hollow space within their body. [24] Various Islamic scholars such as Ibn Kathir, Ibn Taymiyya, Al-Tabari, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, and Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar also quoted that angels do not need to consume food or drinks. [25] They are also described as immortal, unlike jinn. [26] In Islamic traditions, they are described as being created from incorporeal light (Nūr) or fire (Nar). [27] [28] [lower-alpha 1] Ahmad Sirhindi, a 17th-century Indian scholar, has added, that angels can take various shapes. [37] Some scholars assert that such circumstances might interfere with an angels' work and thus impede their duty. For example, dogs, unclean places, or something confusing them might prevent them from entering a home. [38] [39] [40] [41]
As with other monotheistic religions, angels are characterized by their purity and obedience to God. [42] Groups of modern scholars from Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Yemen and Mauritania issued fatwa that the angels should be invoked with blessing Islamic honorifics [ broken anchor ] (ʿalayhi as-salāmu), which is applied to human prophets and messengers. [43] These fatwas were based on the ruling from Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya. [43] Medieval Hanafite jurist Ibn Abi al-Izz further emphasising the importance of belief in angels existence in Islamic tenet in his commentary of al-Aqida al-Tahawiyya, whereas he condemn that any doubts of angel existence were regarded as sign of heathen. [44]
Angels usually symbolize virtuous behavior, while humans have the ability to sin, but also to repent. Humans are considered to be able to reach a higher level than angels due to their ability to choose to avoid sin. Angels are free from such inferior urges and therefore superior, a position especially found among Mu'tazilites and some Asharites. [45] A similar opinion was asserted by Hasan al-Basri, who argued that angels are superior to humans and prophets due to their infallibility, originally opposed by both Sunnis and Shias. [46] Contradiction of chronology Sunni and Shia division only occurred after the era of Tabi'un such as Hasan al-Basri; besides it also need clarification from the Shia side; as the Shia believed in Ismah (infallibility) of angels [47] [ clarification needed ] This view is based on the assumption of superiority of pure spirit against body and flesh. Maturidism generally holds that angels' and prophets' superiority and obedience derive from their virtues and insights to God's action, but not as their original purity. [48] The al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, a book of prayers attributed to Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin, contains a chapter praying for blessings for the angels. [49]
Angels believed to be engaged in human affairs are closely related to Islamic purity and modesty rituals. Many hadiths, including Muwatta Imam Malik from one of the Kutub al-Sittah, talk about angels being repelled by humans' state of impurity. [50] : 323 It is argued that if driven away by ritual impurity, the Kiraman Katibin, who record people's actions, [50] : 325 and the guardian angel, [50] : 327 will not perform their tasks assigned to the individual. Another hadith specifies, during the state of impurity, bad actions are still written down, but good actions are not. When a person tells a lie, angels nearby are separated from the person from the stench the lie emanates. [50] : 328 Angels also depart from humans when they are naked or are having a bath out of decency, but also curse people who are nude in public. [50] : 328 Ahmad Sirhindi has mentioned that the angels nobility are because their substances are created from luminous light. [37]
The possibility and degree of angels errability is debated in Islam. [51] In general, there are two major opinions whether Harut and Marut were fallen angels or not. The first opinion came from the traditions of ibn Abbas that the angels always obedient; while the opposing opinion came from later era scholar al-Tabari (which followed by Al-Qurtubi); that angels such as Harut and Marut can be disobedient or commit sins. [15] [16]
Although Wilferd Madelung insisted that it was about the opinion of Ibn Abbas (Infallible) and Hasan al-Basri (fallible); [52] However, other modern contemporaries of Tafsir Ibn Kathir's translators and commentaries has reported that Hasan al-Basri does not supported the fallibility of angels. [15] [16] [53] [54] [55]
Thus by this interpretation, Ibn Kathir argued about this verse of Al-Baqara 2:102 that actually Harut and Marut were simply carrying noble task from God to test whether or not the mankind would fall into temptation of sins and black magic which brought by Harut and Marut, not the angels can be tempted to commit sin or error. [16] [56] [15] Thus Ibn Kathir explained that according to the salaf (First three generations of Muslims), Harut and Marut were doing what they tasked for, not out of malice, as a notion that angels are immune from errors. [15] [16]
Patricia Crone has considered Hasan al-Basri as one of the first who asserted the doctrine of angelic infallibility, [57] although other modern commentaries such as Muhammad Al-Munajjid, [53] [58] Hikmat ibn Bashir ibn Yasin, Qur'anic Tafsir (exegesis) researcher from Islamic University of Madinah; and Sulaiman ibn Ibrahim al-Lahim, a Qur'anic science professor of Qassim University; have found out several traditions from Tafsir Ibn Kathir that Ibn Abbas, [55] along with Tabi'un scholars such as as-Suddi, and Ikrima Mawla ibn Abbas; also opined to the angels are always obedient. [17] While Patricia Crone stated that others[ who? ] has accepted the possibility of fallible angels, with most debated topic in Islam were the story about competing angels and humans in the tale of Harut and Marut, who were tested to determine, whether or not, angels would do better than humans under the same circumstances, [57] modern American historian Gabriel Said Reynolds said tradition opposed by some scholars, such as Ibn Taymiyya, but still accepted by others, such as Ahmad ibn Hanbal. [59] On the other hand, Suleiman ibn Ibrahim noted that the only tradition recorded by Ibn Kathir which mention the fallibility of Harut and Marut were only traced from Ka'b al-Ahbar's personal opinion, not the Hadith on the authority of Muhammad as the prophet, while the other one is a hadith claimed from Ibn Umar, although the said hadith considered weak due to its flawed transmission, which is s narrator named Musa ibn Jubayr which not considered trustworthy by hadith scholars. [55]
Omar Hamdan, an Israeli Arabist professor from University of Tübingen opined that Hasan al-Basri interpreted those verses and Hadith by rejecting Iblis' angelic origin. [60] However, this contradiction interpretation rather was not found in other narration about Hasan al-Basri's opinion, who also defended angel's obedience and infallibility. [55] As Sulaiman al-Lahim rather found that Hasan al-Basri the view that Harut and Marut are indeed angels, yet they also infallible, as this interpretation of Hasan al-Basri, which similar with ibn Kathir's opinion, who wrote his interpretation In Tafsir Ibn Kathir, that he argues, on the authority of Ibn Abbas, with the transmission from Abu Ja'far ar-Razi, Rabi ibn Anas, into Qays bin Abbad; that ", that Harut and Marut were not humans, but they were indeed an angels which are sent by God with a mission to test the mankind. [16] [56]
Modern researchers | Infallible (Harut & Marut angels) | Infallible (Harut & Marut not angels) | Fallible / can commit sin |
---|---|---|---|
Wilferd Madelung; [52] | Ibn Abbas | - | Hasan al-Basri |
Patricia Crone [57] | Hasan al-Basri | - | Many[ who? ] |
Muhammad Al-Munajjid [53] [58] |
| - |
|
Hikmat ibn Bashir ibn Yasin [17] |
| - | Al-Tabari (personal tafsir) |
Sulaiman ibn Ibrahim al-Lahim [55] |
| - |
|
Omar Hamdan [60] | - | Hasan al-Basri | - |
Regarding the later era scholars, a commentary by Gibril Haddad on Qadi Baydawi's defense on angelic fallibility in his Tafsir al-Baydawi it is said that the angels' "obedience is their nature while their disobedience is a burden, while human beings' obedience is a burden and their hankering after lust is their nature." [21] : 546
Meanwhile, Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia; defended the infallibility of angels by quoting Adh-Dhariyat 51:56 as an evidence that out of three kinds of sentient creature, only humans and Jinns who burdened with obligation, since only them, and not angels, which can fall into sin or perform disobedience. [61]
Islamic scholars which supported the notion that angels were infallible and rejected the entire concept of the fallen angel, as they based Quran describes angels in At-Tahrim 66:6 "not disobeying", Al-Anbiya 21:19 of "not acting arrogant", [62] and in Al-Anbiya 21:27 of "not presumptuous", where those verses used by various modern contemporary scholars as a base for the doctrine of angelic impeccability. [63] This notion of angel absolute obedience to fulfill their duties based on that verse were supported by Fethullah Gülen. [64] [65]
On the other hand, Ibn Kathir also mention Tahrim 6:6:
[6] O believers! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, overseen by formidable and severe angels, who never disobey whatever Allah orders—always doing as commanded.
Ibn Kathir in particular has recorded an exegesis tradition on the authority from Ikrima Mawla ibn Abbas, where he opined this verse are not meant to be limited for the angels who guarded hell only, but this characteristic of always obedient and never failed to perform their tasks are applied to every angels in general. [14] Almost similar interpretation also stated by Abdul-Rahman al-Sa'di,and Wahbah al-Zuhayli, also reviewing the Al-Kahf 18:59 as another proof about the creed of Angels infallibility according to Quran, while also asserted the notion that Iblis (Satan) was not an angel. [66] and Abdul-Rahman al-Sa'di, who also said that the end description of the verse is mention about the general characteristic of every angel's obedience. [17]
Ibn Taymiyya also supported the opinion that angels are always obedient, in his book, Majmu' al-fatawa, that he quoted the verse of Al-Kahf 18:50:
[50] And when We said to the angels: Make obeisance to Adam; they made obeisance but Iblis (did it not). He was of the jinn, so he transgressed the commandment of his Lord. What! would you then take him and his offspring for friends rather than Me, and they are your enemies? Evil is (this) change for the unjust.
Ibn Taymiyya interpreting it lexically the letter "fa'" (so) in the verse above indicates causality, which according to Ibn Taymiyyah, if the devil were an angel like the other angels who bowed down to Adam, of course the devil would not disobey the order to bow. [67] [68] ibn Taymiyya also further considered the verse as Istithna Munqathi in Arabic linguistic form, or the form of exclusions of the subject from the main grouping, which indicating the verse meant the exclusion of Iblis from angel as species, as he considered Iblis hailed from jinn species. [68] [67] Azza bint Muhammad ar-Rashid from the Islamic university of Minnesota faculty of Islamic creed; has compiled that several other notable scholars aside from Ibn Kathir who supported the notion that "Iblis was not an angel" were Ibn Hazm, Al-Mawardi, Al-Baghawi, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, and Al-Uthaymin. [69]
Aside from the narration al Kahf, similar narration from Al-Hijr 15:30-31 also quoted by Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Ashqar, Quran exegesis expert from Islamic University of Madinah, and Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid, Imam of Masjid al-Haram, to interpret the similar case about the exclusion of Satan and the purity of angels. [70] [71] Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz has quoted Qur'an chapter al-Hejr 15:27 as further evidence that Jinn are not angels. [61]
This view were followed by most modern scholars of Salafism, that they rejecting account of fallen angels entirely, [72] and choosing the interpretation of Ibn Kathir in defending Harut and Marut innocence in this case. [16] [73]
On the other hand, unlike philosophers, who accepted view to a certain degree that angels might commit error, most mutakallimūn such as Fakhr al-Din al-Razi is an exception and agrees with the Mu'tazilites that angels cannot commit sin. He goes further and includes to the six articles of faith not only belief in angels, but one must also believe in their infallibility. [74]
Those who support that angels could commit sins or are fallible argue that if angels couldn't sin, there was no reason to praise them for obedience. [21] : 546 Al-Maturidi (853–944 CE) states that, like humans, the angels were tested [48] and concludes angels have free-will: [75]
By calling the stars adornment of the heavens, we can deduce another meaning: that is, the inhabitants of the heavens themselves are put to the test to see which of them is the best in deeds, exactly as the inhabitants of the earth were put to test by these very adornments, for don't you see that God has said in Sūrat al-Kahf [Q. 18:7], We have made what is on earth an adornment for them, that they be tested which of them is best in deeds. Thus, God in this verse is stating that adornment is there for testing here for testing. (anna'l-zīna li'l-imtihãn).
Asharite scholar al-Baydawi also added that "certain angels are not infallible even if infallibility is prevalent among them — just as certain human beings are infallible but fallibility is prevalent among them." [21] : 545 Similarly al-Anbiya (21:29) stresses out that if an angel were to claim divinity for himself, he would be sentenced to hell, implying that angels might commit such a sin. [48] [76] This verse is generally associated with Iblis (Satan), who is generally thought of as an angel in these reports. In response to the reference to Iblis as "one of the jinn" somewhere else in the Quran, an alternative translation reads "became one of the jinn", indicating that took away his angelic qualities. [77] Yet others say that the term doesn't refer to the (genus of) jinn at all, but calls Iblis and his angels "al-jinn" due to their origin in jannah. [78] The presence of two fallen angels referred to as Harut and Marut, further hindered their complete absolution from potentially sinning. [21] : 548 [79]
İsmail Hakkı reports that only the "angels of the earth" (ملائكة الارض), who battled the jinn, were the ones disputing the creation of Adam. Among them were also Harut and Marut, as well as Iblis, known as ʿAzāzīl at that moment. Due to their abode on earth, their perception of heavenly wisdom is veiled, unlike that of the angels in the "higher realms". İsmail Hakkı concluded that the angels in the higher heavens are considered infallible, but the angels of the earth are subject to misguidance, along with the jinn and devils. [80]
Abu Hanifa (d. 767) also supported the fallibility of angels as he ranked angels based on their examples in the Quran and distinguishes them from the devils and jinn. [81]
Al-Taftazani (1322 AD –1390 AD) accepted that angels might slip into error and become disobedient, like Harut and Marut, but agrees with al-Basri that angels wouldn't become unbelievers, like as Iblis did. [82]
Inspired by Neoplatonism, the medieval Muslim philosopher Al-Farabi developed a cosmological hierarchy, governed by several Intellects . For al-Farabi, human nature is composed of both material and spiritual qualities. The spiritual part of a human exchanges information with the angelic entities, who are defined by their nature as knowledge absorbed by the Godhead. [83] A similar function is attested in the cosmology of the Muslim philosopher Ibn Sina, who, however, never uses the term angels throughout his works. For Ibn Sina, the Intellects have probably been a necessity without any religious connotation. [84] Islamic Modernist scholars such as Muhammad Asad and Ghulam Ahmed Parwez have suggested a metaphorical reinterpretation of the concept of angels. [85] According to Seyyed Hossein Nasr, human and angels. Muslim philosophers usually define angels as substances endowed with reason and immortality. Humans and animals are mortal, but only men have reason. Devils are unreasonable like animals, but immortal like angels. [86] [87]
However, Muslim theologians, such as al-Suyuti, rejected the philosophical depiction on angels, based on hadiths stating that the angels have been created through the light of God (nūr). Thus, angels would have substance and could not merely be an intellectual entity as claimed by some philosophers. [88] This view is similar to the Salafi methodology of Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymin. He puts emphasis on that the belief in angels as literal, physical, and sentient creatures, is one of The Six Articles of Faith in Islam. [7]
Just as in non-Sufi-related traditions, angels are thought of as created of light. Al-Jili specifies that the angels are created from the Light of Muhammad and in his attribute of guidance, light and beauty. [90] Influenced by Ibn Arabi's Sufi metaphysics, Haydar Amuli identifies angels as created to represent different names/attributes of God's beauty, while the devils are created in accordance with God's attributes of Majesty, such as "The Haughty" or "The Domineering". [91]
Andalusian scholar ibn Arabi argues that a human generally ranks below angels, but developed to Al-Insān al-Kāmil, ranks above them. While most earlier Sufis (like Hasan al-Basri) advised their disciples to imitate the angels, Ibn-Arabi advised them to surpass the angels. The angels being merely a reflection of the Divine Names in accordance within the spiritual realm, humans experience the Names of God manifested both in the spiritual and in the material world. [92] [93] This reflects the major opinion that prophets and messengers among humans rank above angels, but the ordinary human below an angel, while the messengers among angels rank higher than prophets and messengers among humans. [45] Ibn Arabi elaborates his ranking in al-Futuhat based on a report by Tirmidhi. Accordingly, Muhammad intercedes for the angels first, then for (other) prophets, saints, believers, animals, plants and inanimate objects last, this explaining the hierarchy of beings in general Muslim thought. [94]
In later Sufism, angels do not appear as merely models for the mystic but also their companions. Humans, in a state between earth and heaven, seek angels as guidance to reach the upper realms. [92] Some authors have suggested that some individual angels in the microcosmos represent specific human faculties on a macrocosmic level. [95] According to a common belief, if a Sufi can not find a sheikh to teach him, he will be taught by the angel Khidr. [96] [97] The presence of an angel depends on human's obedience to divine law. Dirt, depraved morality and desecration may ward off an angel. [92] A saint might be given the ability to see angels as gift ( karāmāt ) from God. [98]
Ahmad al-Tijani, founder of the Tijaniyyah order, narrates that angels are created through the words of humans. Through good words an angel of mercy is created, but through evil words an angel of punishment is created. By God's degree, if someone repents from evil words, the angel of punishment may turn into an angel of mercy. [99]
The Sufi Muslim and philosopher Al Ghazali (c. 1058–19 December 1111) divides human nature into four domains, each representing another type of creature: animals, beasts, devils and angels. [100] According to al-Ghazali, humans consist of animalistic and spiritual traits. From the spiritual realm ( malakut ), the plane in which symbols take on form, angels and devils advise the human hearth (qalb). [26] However, the angels also inhabit the realm beyond considered the realm from which reason ('aql) derives from and devils have no place.
While the angels endow the human mind with reason, advices virtues and leads to worshipping God, the devil perverts the mind and tempts to abusing the spiritual nature by committing sins, such as lying, betrayal, and deceit. The angelic natures advices how to use the animalistic body properly, while the devil perverts it. [101] In this regard, the plane of a human is, unlike whose of the jinn (here: angels and devils) [102] and animals, not pre-determined. Humans are potentially both angels and devils, depending on whether the sensual soul or the rational soul develop. [103] [104]
Contemporary Salafism continues to regard the belief in angels as a pillar of Islam and regards the rejection of the literal belief in angels as unbelief and an innovation brought by secularism and Positivism. Modern reinterpretations, as for example suggested by Nasr Abu Zayd, are strongly disregarded. Simultaneously, many traditional materials regarding angels are rejected on the ground, they would not be authentic. The Muslim Brotherhood scholars Sayyid Qutb and Umar Sulaiman Al-Ashqar reject much established material concerning angels, such as the story of Harut and Marut or naming the Angel of Death Azrail. Sulayman Ashqar not only rejects the traditional material itself, he furthermore disapproves of scholars who use them. [105]
Islam has no standard hierarchical organization that parallels the division into different "choirs" or spheres hypothesized and drafted by early medieval Christian theologians, but generally distinguishes between the angels in heaven (karubiyin) fully absorbed in the ma'rifa (knowledge) of God and the messengers (rasūl) who carry out divine decrees between heaven and earth. [106] [107] Others add a third group of angels, and categorize angels into İlliyyûn Mukarrebûn (those around God's throne), Mudabbirât (carrying the laws of nature), and Rasūl (messengers). [108] Since angels are not equal in status and are consequently delegated to different tasks to perform, some authors of tafsir (mufassirūn) divided angels into different categories.
Al-Baydawi records that Muslim scholars divide angels in at least two groups: those who are self-immersed in knowledge of "the Truth" (al-Haqq), based on "they laud night and day, they never wane" (21:29), they are the "highmost" and "angels brought near" and those who are the executors of commands, based on "they do not disobey Allah in what He commanded them but they do what they are commanded" (66:6), who are the administers of the command of heaven to earth. [21] : 509
Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (d. 1209) divided the angels into eight groups, which shows some resemblance to Christian angelology: [109]
Angels in Islamic art often appear in illustrated manuscripts of Muhammad's life. Other common depictions of angels in Islamic art include angels with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, angels discerning the saved from the damned on the Day of Judgement, and angels as a repeating motif in borders or textiles. [111] Islamic depictions of angels resemble winged Christian angels, although Islamic angels are typically shown with multicolored wings. [111] Angels, such as the archangel Gabriel, are typically depicted as masculine, which is consistent with God's rejection of feminine depictions of angels in several verses of Quran. [112] Nevertheless, later depictions of angels in Islamic art are more feminine and androgynous. [111]
The 13th century book Ajā'ib al-makhlūqāt wa gharā'ib al-mawjūdāt (The Wonders of Creation) by Zakariya al-Qazwini describes Islamic angelology, and is often illustrated with many images of angels. The angels are typically depicted with bright, vivid colors, giving them unusual liveliness and other-worldly translucence. [113] While some angels are referred to as "Guardians of the Kingdom of God," others are associated with hell. An undated manuscript of The Wonders of Creation from the Bavarian State Library in Munich includes depictions of angels both alone and alongside humans and animals. [113] Angels are also illustrated in Timurid and Ottoman manuscripts, such as The Timurid Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascension (Mir'ajnama) and the Siyer-i Nebi . [114]
A narrative transmitted from Abu Dharr al-Ghifari, audited and commented by two hadith commentary experts in the modern era, Shuaib Al Arna'ut. [115] and Muḥammad 'Abd ar-Raḥmān al-Mubarakpuri, [116] has spoken several hadiths from Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and Al-Sunan al-Sughra; that Muhammad said the number of angels were countless, to the point that there is no space in the sky as wide as four fingers, unless there is an angel resting his forehead, prostrating to God. [116] [115]
The 13th century book Ajā'ib al-makhlūqāt wa gharā'ib al-mawjūdāt (The Wonders of Creation) by Zakariya al-Qazwini describes Islamic angelology, and is often illustrated with many images of angels. The angels are typically depicted with bright, vivid colors, giving them unusual liveliness and other-worldly translucence. [113] While some angels are referred to as "Guardians of the Kingdom of God," others are associated with hell. An undated manuscript of The Wonders of Creation from the Bavarian State Library in Munich includes depictions of angels both alone and alongside humans and animals. [113] Angels are also illustrated in Timurid and Ottoman manuscripts, such as The Timurid Book of the Prophet Muhammad's Ascension (Mir'ajnama) and the Siyer-i Nebi . [114]
According to one source, there are four special angels (karubiyin) [117] considered to rank above the other angels in Islam. They have proper names, and central tasks are associated with them:
These four angels were specifically regarded by Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sabith, a Tabi'un as regulator of natural orders such as windblow, rain, plants growth, death, and tasks from God about aforementioned. [133] [134]
However, modern Saudi scholar. Muhammad ibn al-Uthaymin, and Ibn Abi al-Izz has written their respective commentaries of Al-Aqidah Al-Waasitiyyah, that the archangels who led the angels were only consisted of three angels, which is Gabriel, Michael, and Israfil. [135] [136]
According to hadith transmitted by Ibn Abbas, Muhammad encountered several significant angels on his journey through the celestial spheres. [179] [180] Many scholars such as Al-Tha'labi drew their exegesis upon this narrative, but it never led to an established angelology as known in Christianity. The principal angels of the heavens are called Malkuk, instead of Malak. [181]
The rooster angel, in Miraj Literature, was held to be "enormous" and "white", and the comb on the top of his head "graze[d] the foot of Allah's celestial throne, its feet reach[ed] the earth", and its wings were thought to be large enough to "envelop both heaven and earth" and were covered with emeralds and pearls. [182] It is also thought to wake up mankind every morning through means like making "cocks below on Earth...crow" when it opens its mouth. [183]
First heaven | Second heaven | Third heaven | Fourth heaven | Fifth heaven | Sixth heaven | Seventh heaven |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Habib | Angel of Death | Maalik | Salsa'il | Kalqa'il | Mikha'il (Archangel) | Israfil |
Rooster angel | Angels of death | Angel with seventy heads | Angels of the sun | - | Cherubim | Bearers of the Throne |
Ismail (or Riḍwan) | Mika'il | Arina'il | - | - | Shamka'il | Afra'il |
Names of God in Islam are names that each contain Attributes of God in Islam, which are implied by the respective names.
Hud or Hood or Eber in other traditions, was a prophet and messenger of ancient Arabia mentioned in the Quran. The eleventh chapter of the Quran, Hud, is named after him, though the narrative of Hud comprises only a small portion of the chapter.
Al Imran is the third chapter (sūrah) of the Quran with two hundred verses (āyāt).
At-Tawbah is the ninth chapter of the Quran. It contains 129 verses and is one of the last Medinan surahs. This Surah is known by two names, At-Taubah and Al-Bara'at. It is called At-Taubah in light of the fact that it articulates taubah (atonement) and informs about the conditions of its acceptance.. The name Bara'at (Release) is taken from the opening word of the Surah.
Al-Anfal is the eighth chapter (sūrah) of the Quran, with 75 verses (āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is a "Medinan surah", completed after the Battle of Badr. It forms a pair with the next surah, At-Tawba.
Al-Kahf is the 18th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an with 110 verses (āyāt). Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is an earlier Meccan surah, which means it was revealed before the Prophet's hijrah to Medina, instead of after.
Az-Zumar is the 39th chapter (surah) of the Qur'an, the central religious text of Islam. It contains 75 verses (ayat). This surah derives its name from the Arabic word zumar (troops) that occurs in verses 71 and 73. Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation, it is believed to have been revealed in the mid-Maccan period when persecutions of the Muslim believers by the polytheists had escalated.
Al-Qamar is the 54th chapter (surah) of the Quran, with 55 verses (ayat).The Surah was revealed in Mecca. The opening verses refer to the splitting of the Moon. "Qamar" (قمر), meaning "Moon" in Arabic, is also a common name among Muslims.
Israfil or Israfel is the angel who blows the trumpet to signal Qiyamah in Islam. Though unnamed in the Quran, he is one of the four archangels in Islamic tradition, along with Michael, Gabriel, and Azrael. The "Book of Dead" described Israfil as the oldest of all archangels. He is commonly thought of as the counterpart of the Judeo-Christian archangel Raphael.
Adam, in Islamic theology, is believed to have been the first human being on Earth and the first prophet of Islam. Adam's role as the father of the human race is looked upon by Muslims with reverence. Muslims also refer to his wife, Ḥawwāʾ, as the "mother of mankind". Muslims see Adam as the first Muslim, as the Quran states that all the Prophets preached the same faith of Islam.
In Islamic tradition the two kiraman katibin are two angels called Raqib and Atid, believed by Muslims to record a person's actions.
Qadar is the concept of divine destiny in Islam. As God is all-knowing and all-powerful, everything that has happened and will happen in the universe is already known. At the same time, human beings are responsible for their actions, and will be rewarded or punished accordingly on Judgement Day.
Harut and Marut are a pair of angels mentioned in the Quran Surah 2:102. They are said to tempt humans by teaching them the arts of sorcery (siḥr) in Babylon.
The Zabaniyah is the name of a group of angels in Islam who are tasked to torture the sinners in hell. They are mentioned appeared in many verses in Quran, With various names such as "Nineteen angels of Hell", "Angels of punishment", "Guardians of Hell", "Wardens of hell", and "Angels of hell" or "The keepers".
Jann are the ancestor of the jinn in Islam. They are said to have inhabited the earth before Adam, ruled by a king called Jann ibn Jann. In folklore however, many consider them to be punished and turned into the weakest class of jinn, comparable to the way in which apes are seen as transformed humans. The father of the jinn is also called Abu Al-Jann.
Nāzi'āt and Nāshiṭāt are two classes of death angels subordinate to Azra'il in Islam, responsible for taking the souls of the dead. While Nāzi'āt are commissioned to take the lives of unbelievers forcefully, the Nāshiṭāt take believers gently.
Bearers of the Throne or also known as ḥamlat al-arsh, are a group of angels in Islam.
Al-ʽArsh is the throne of God in Islamic theology. It is believed to be the largest of all the creations of God.
Abu Ja'far ar-Razi said that Rabi bin Anas said that Qays bin Abbad said that Ibn Abbas said... "...they would discourage him and say to him 'We are only a test, so do not fall into disbelief..."; as-Suddi also said "...."...neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "we are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning magic from us)"
Mengenai kisah Harut dan Marut ini, telah dikisahkan oleh sejumlah Tabi'in... dari Ibnu Abbas, Abu Ja'far ar-Razi meriwayatkan..."...maka dengan tegas keduanya melarang peminat sihir tersebut seraya berkata: 'Sesungguhnya kami ini hanya cobaan bagimu, karena itu janganlah engkau kafir..." English:Regarding the story of Harut and Marut, it has been told by a number of Tabi'in......from Ibn Abbas, Abu Ja'far ar-Razi narrated..."... So both of them firmly forbade those interested in magic, saying: 'Indeed, we are only a test for you, therefore do not disbelieve...
... berongga, Iblis tahu bahwa makhluk itu bukan malaikat. Iblis pun berkata, 'Jika Kau kuasakan dia pada malaikat, aku akan menghancurkannya. Jika Kau kuasakan dia padaku, maka aku akan menyesatkannya
Dr. Sulaiman Al Asyqor, 'Alamul Malaikat, hal. 18
Wings It is known angels have wings. However, jinn are represented only in folktales as flying ... immortal; their food and drink consist of praising God, while fiery jinn eat, drink, sleep, procreate, and die, after having ...
قال ابن كثير- رحمه الله...".عن كعب الأحبار، لا عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم...references:
yaitu [dari] kalangan malaikat "mereka tiada mempunyai rasa angkuh untuk menyembahNya dan tiada (pula) merasa letih," maksudnya mereka tidak mengalami kebosanan dan tidak jemu lantaran besarnya motivasi mereka, sempurnanya cinta mereka dan kuatnya fisik-fisik mereka.
27. لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُۥ بِالْقَوْلِ (mereka itu tidak mendahului-Nya dengan perkataan) Yakni para malaikat tidak mengatakan sesuatu sampai Allah yang mengakatannya atau memerintahkan mereka untuk mengatakannya. وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِۦ يَعْمَلُونَ (dan mereka mengerjakan perintah-perintah-Nya) Mereka menjalankan apa yang diperintahkan Allah kepada mereka dalam tugas-tugas mereka mengatur para makhluk-Nya.
Unlike us, the spiritual ranks of angels were fixed. They were created as to obey God absolutely and to fulfill their duties as God commands them
angels who follow orders and never rebel against God (Tahrim 66:6), Satan can choose his own path of conduct.
Allah memerintahkan para malaikat untuk bersujud kepada Adam, sebagai bentuk pemuliaan dan pengagungan serta menaati perintah Allah. Lalu mereka menaatinya "kecuali iblis. Dia adalah dari golongan jin, maka Dia mendurhakai perintah Rabbnya,"; para malaikat untuk bersujud kepada Adam sebagai penghormatan baginya; maka mereka bersujud semuanya kecuali Iblis yang ketika itu bersama para malaikat -dia berasal dari golongan jin-, dan dia menyelisihi perintah Allah dengan enggan bersujud karena kesombongan dan kedengkiannya; Sujudlah kamu kepada Adam, maka sujudlah mereka kecuali Iblis. Dia adalah golongan jin, maka ia mendurhakai perintah Tuhannya
Pendapat ini juga dipilih dan dikuatkan oleh Syaikhul Islam Ibnu Taimiyah rahimahullah (Majmu' Fataawa, 4: 346). Mereka berdalil dengan firman Allah Ta'ala, كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ Dia (iblis) adalah dari golongan jin, maka ia mendurhakai perintah Tuhannya. (QS. Al-Kahfi: 50) Huruf fa' dalam ayat di atas menunjukkan sebab-akibat. Maksudnya, Allah Ta'ala menjadikan iblis dari jenis jin disebabkan karena kedurhakaannya. Dengan kata lain, iblis adalah jin yang durhaka terhadap perintah Allah Ta'ala. Seandainya iblis adalah malaikat sebagaimana malaikat-malaikat lain yang bersujud kepada Adam, tentu iblis tidak akan melawan atau mendurhakai perintah Allah Ta'ala. Hal ini karena malaikat itu terjaga (ma'shum) dari perbuatan dosa, tidak sebagaimana golongan manusia dan jin.
30. فَسَجَدَ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ (Maka bersujudlah para malaikat itu semuanya bersama-sama) Mereka bersujud saat itu juga tanpa menunda-nunda;
31. إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ السّٰجِدِينَ (kecuali iblis. Ia enggan ikut besama-sama (malaikat) yang sujud itu) Terdapat pendapat mengatakan bahwa iblis termasuk dari jenis malaikat, namun ia enggan untuk bersujud karena keangkuhan dan kedengkiannya terhadap Adam, maka ia layak mendapat laknat dari Allah. Namun pendapat yang benar adalah ia bukan termasuk malaikat, namun ketika itu ia bersama para malaikat sehingga ia termasuk yang diperintah untuk bersujud, namun ia menolak melakukannya; 31. Kecuali Iblis - yang saat itu bersama para Malaikat dan ia bukan salah satu dari mereka - menolak untuk sujud kepada Adam bersama para Malaikat.
Learning Magic is Kufr Allah Said, (But neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, "We are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us).)
(HR. Ahmad 21516, Turmudzi 2312, Abdurrazaq in Mushanaf 17934. This hadith is rated as hasan lighairihi by Shuaib Al-Arnauth).
Interpretation of tirmidhi Hadith: إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لَا تَرَوْنَ، وَأَسْمَعُ مَا لَا تَسْمَعُونَ أَطَّتِ السَّمَاءُ، وَحُقَّ لَهَا أَنْ تَئِطَّ مَا فِيهَا مَوْضِعُ أَرْبَعِ أَصَابِعَ إِلَّا وَمَلَكٌ وَاضِعٌ جَبْهَتَهُ سَاجِدًا لِلَّهِ، وَاللَّهِ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلًا وَلَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا
Al-Habaa-ik fii Akhbaaril Malaa'ik
عن علقمة بن مرثد ( ۲ ) ، عن ابن سابط ( ۳ ) ، قال : يدبر الأمور أربعة : جبريل وميكائيل وإسرافيل وملك [ ١/٦٤ ] الموت / صلى الله على نبينا وعليهم
Ada 4 malaikat yang mengatur urusan: Jibril, Mikail, Israfil dan Malaikat maut – semoga shalawat dan salam tercurah untuk nabi kita dan mereka – Jibril mengatur angin dan pasukan, Mikail mengatur hujan dan pepohonan, malaikat maut yang mencabut nyawa, dan Israfil menyampaikan kepada mereka apa yang diperintahkan kepada mereka. (HR. Abu Syaikh al-Ashbahani dalam al-Adzamah, no. 294. Hadis ini adalah hadis Maqthu', karena Abdurrahman bin Sabith adalah seorang tabi'in).
Quoting Amir al-Sha'bi
Al Khoroithi, Makarimil Akhlaq, Hadith Ali ibn Abi Talib; Ibn Taymiyyah, Majm al-Fatawa; al-Suyuti; Tafsir Jalalayn, Hasyiyah ash Shawi 1/31
257 Armad, al-Tirmidhc, al-Nasa'c, Ibn al-Mundhir, Ibn Abc latim, Abe 'l-Shaykh in al-'AVama, Ibn Mardawayh, Abe Nu'aym, in al-DalA'il, and al-kiya'in al-MukhtAra (Ibn 'Abbas)
جرير قال: «ثم يُقَيَّض له أعمى أَبْكَم معه مِرْزَبّة من حديد، لو ضُرب بها جبل لصار ترابا» قال: «فيضربه بها ضربة يسمعها ما بين المشرق والمغرب إلا الثَّقَلين، فيصير ترابا» قال: «ثم تُعاد فيه الروح
Fath al-Bari 3/237-240
"Sakinah hanya turun di dalam pembacaan Al-Qur'an saja, adapun pembacaan hadits, maka malaikat lain yang akan berkumpul. Dan tidak-lah sampai (riwayat) kepada kami tentang turunnya Sakinah kecuali di dalam pembacaan Al-Qur'an, dan ini tidak diqiyaskan (disamakan dengan pembacaan hadits atau lainnya). Adapun Sakinah adalah jenis khusus malaikat yang turun untuk mendengarkan Al-Qur'an" En= Sakinah only descends for the readers of the Koran, as for the reading of the hadith, other angels will gather. And none (exegesis) has come to us about the revelation of the Sakinah except in the reading of the Al-Qur'an, and this cannot be analogized (qiyas). Sakinah is a special type of angel who descends to listen to the Koran.
The commentary of Sahih Bukhari by Ibn Baaz