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Angels
Belief in Angels:
We believe in the existence of the angels of Allah and
that they are "honored servants. They do not speak before He does, and
they act only by His command" (21:26). Allah created them, and they
worship and obey Him. Those who are in His presence do not disdain to
worship Him, nor do they weary" (21:19).
Angels are concealed from us, so we cannot see them.
Allah may show them to some of His servants. The Prophet Muhammad saw
Gabriel in his real shape with six hundred wings that covered the
horizons (Bukhari and Muslim). Gabriel took the form of a handsome
human being who met Mary and engaged in conversation with her. He came
to the Prophet while he was among his Companions in the appearance of
an unknown man who did not show any trace of long travel, with very
white clothes, and very black hair. He sat facing the Prophet, his
knees to the Prophet's knees, peace be upon him, and his palms on the
Prophet's thighs and talked with the Prophet. The Prophet later told
his Companions that the man they saw was Gabriel (Bukhari and Muslim).
Angels' Functions: We believe that the angels are
assigned certain functions. Among the angels is Gabriel, who is
entrusted with revelation. He brings it down from Allah to whomever He
wishes among His prophets and messengers.
Among them is Michael, who is in charge of rain and the
growth of plants; Israfil, who is in charge of blowing the horn at the
time of thunder-bolting and the resurrection; the Angel of Death, who
takes away people's souls at the time of death. Among the angels is
the one who is in charge of mountains; and Malik, the keeper of Hell.
Some angels are in charge of embryos in wombs, others
are responsible for protecting human beings, and others are busy
recording men's deeds: there are two angels for every person, "when
the two angels receive (his deeds), one sitting on the right and one
on the left, not a word he utters but by him is an observer ready"
(50:18). Some other angels are in charge of questioning the dead after
he is placed in his last abode. Two angels come to him and ask him
about his Lord, his religion, and his prophet. There "Allah confirms
those who believe with the firm saying, in the present life and the
hereafter, and Allah leads astray the evildoers and Allah does what He
wills" (14:27).
Some angels are in charge of the dwellers of Paradise:
"The angels enter to them from every gate, saying: 'Peace be upon you
for that you were patient. How excellent is your final home"' (13:24).
The Prophet, peace be upon him, told us that "seventy
thousand angels enter or pray in the populous house in heaven every
day. They never come back to it as long as they live" (because their
turn will never come) (Bukhari and Muslim).
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