BELIEF IN ANGELS

Angels (malaika, literally meaning ‘messenger’) serve as intermediaries between God and man. They transmit messages to His envoys, worthy individuals who are specially chosen by God for the task of being His messengers. These messengers are called prophets, and it is the prophets alone who receive the divine revelations, through an angel, who is the celestial messenger. According to the Quran, the angel Gabriel (Jibrail), meaning the ‘power of God,’—also alluded to in the Quran as a “trustworthy spirit” (al-ruh-al-amin)—brought divine revelations to the Prophet of Islam. Most important among the angels are Jibrail, Mikail, Izrail and Israfil. Jibrail, as mentioned, is the ‘holy spirit’, who brings revelations from God to His prophets. Izrail is called the angel of death, for he takes away the souls of the dying. Israfil will blow the trumpet when the time comes for the world to end and on the Day of Judgement. The angels, who continuously praise and glorify the Lord, have been given the necessary qualities and powers to perform specific functions. They have no free will. They always obey God and never displease Him. Man, on the other hand, has been given free will and can choose between right and wrong. Angels are creatures of light who pervade the whole universe. Although in the kingdom of God there are many millions of them, they belong to the realm of the invisible, so that the only way we can see them is if they appear in human form. Jibrail used to appear to the Prophet in various forms. Sometimes he hung suspended in the air, sometimes he appeared in the shape of a man, and sometimes he sprouted wings, etc. The angel Jibrail once appeared before a gathering of the Companions of the Prophet in order to teach them about Islam. On that occasion, he took the form of a Companion of the Prophet. Angels can take any suitable form in order to perform their duties, and are constantly occupied in carrying out God’s orders. Angels are continuously present on earth, particularly at prayer times. Man may not be able to see the angels, but the angels can certainly see man and are in constant touch with human beings. They keep a watch on them on behalf of God and many of them are eternally busy Of the many beings created by God, the angels are of special importance. They have been invested by God with the supernatural power to keep order in the functioning of the universe.