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Muslims believe that angels are behind the workings of nature.
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Belief
in the existence of angels is one of the fundamental articles of faith in Islam.
Muslims believe that angels were created by God
from light. Angels carry out God’s commandments in nature and the universe.
What we usually call the “forces of nature” become active because of the
presence of angels behind them, working at the command of God.
Angels
belong to a level of existence beyond the perceptible world of phenomena, called
`alam al-ghayb. As God’s creatures living within the physical world of
mundane reality, we humans cannot overstep its confines; nor can we visualize
beings that exist outside of it. Muslims believe in the existence of angels
because God talks about them through His
revelations. Though angels are generally invisible beings, they may
appear to the outward eye if required, in forms suitable for the visible world.
The
Arabic word for angel is malak (plural mala’ikah), and its root
meaning is “messenger.” Muslims believe that the Angel Gabriel or Jibreel
was the messenger through whom God revealed the Qur’an
to Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him). He appeared to the Prophet as a person who
could talk—an appearance which was in keeping with his task. It was the same
Angel Jibreel who acted as the Prophet’s guide on the Night
of Ascension or Al-Mi`raj. Although God may send His revelation through
the Angel Gabriel, it is important to point out that in Islam, angels are not
considered intermediaries between God and humans in the sense that humans cannot
reach God except through the angels.
The
Qur’an also speaks of angels as playing a crucial role in processes like
creation, prophecy, spiritual life, death, resurrection, and the workings of
natural elements. For instance, there is an angel who brings the thunder, and
he, too, serves God and obeys His command. Other angels are in charge of embryos
in wombs, or responsible for protecting human beings.
The
Qur’an speaks of the charge of the angel of death in these verses:
[The
angel of death, who has been charged with you, will gather you; then to your
Lord you will be returned.]
(As-Sajdah 32:11)
The
Qur’an also mentions angels in connection with Heaven and Hell:
[Gardens
of Eden which they shall enter ... and the angels shall enter unto them from
every gate.]
(Ar-Ra`d 13:23)
Also
angels record the deeds of humans as long as they are on earth:
[There
are over you watchers, noble writers, who know whatever you do.]
(Al-Infitar 82:10-12)
[Over
every soul there is a watcher.]
(At-Tariq 86:4)
Angels
are also mentioned in many hadiths. For example, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him) is reported to have said that when people gather together in
remembrance of God, “The angels surround them, mercy covers them, peace
descends on them, and God remembers them among those who are with Him” (At-Tirmidhi).
Angels
are different from human beings in that they do not have a will of their own.
They were created for the specific purpose of serving God and carrying out His
commands. Some angels are in a state of constant worship of God, prostrating to
Him and never raising their heads.
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Prof. Shahul Hameed is a full-time consultant in IslamOnline.net’s Discover Islam zone. He was previously the Head of the Department of English, Farook College, Calicut University, India. He also held the position of president of the Kerala Islamic Mission, Calicut, India. He is the author of three books on Islam published in the Malayalam language. His books are on comparative religion, the status of women in Islam, and science and human values.