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Angels: Messengers With Wings

Muhammad Alshareef

category: Aqeedah

source: As-Sahwah.com

reads: 7667

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Jibreel asked the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam about those that attended the victory of Badr, "What is the position of those who attended Badr amongst you?" The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said, "They are our best of us." Then Jibraeel said, "Likewise, the Angels that attended Badr are the best amongst the angels."

And the Angels are there when the Mu'min dies. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'Aala tells us of that day when the come to extract the soul of the Mu'min:

"Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is Allah (alone) and then they (lived) upright on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying), "Fear not, nor grieve! Rather receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised!" [Fussilat 41/30]

The Angels and the Kuffar

Just as the angels are a part of the Mu'mins life, death, and resurrection, they are also a part of the Kafirs, but in a different way. The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam told us that when Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'Aala hates a person he calls to Jibreel saying, "O Jibreel, I hate such and such a person so hate him." Then Jibreel will call to the (angels) of the heavens, "Allah hates such and such a person so hate him." And the angels will hate him. And then Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'Aala will place displeasure on earth for him.

At the time of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam the Kuffar mocked him by requesting to see the angels in this life, claiming that only then would they believe. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'Aala recorded their statement in the Quran, for them and many others are people who believe with their eyes and not their hearts:

"And those who expect not to meet with Us (those who deny the Day of Ressurection and the life of the Hereafter) say, 'Why are not the angels sent down to us, or why do we not see our Lord?' Indeed they think too highly of themselves, and are scornful with great pride! On the Day they will see the angels no glad tidings will there be for the Mujrimoon (the criminals) and they will say, 'Forbidden to you is any sort of glad tidings.'" [Furqan 21/23]

And when they enter Hell, Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'Aala tells us about their conversation with the angel custodians of Hell:

"And those in the fire will say to the keepers (angels) of Hell, 'Call your Lord to lighten for us a day of the punishment.' They will reply: 'Did there not come to you your Messengers with clear proofs?' They will say, 'Yes.' They will say, 'then pray and the prayer of the disbelievers is to no avail.'" [Ghafir 40/49]

Dear brothers and sisters, what now is our duty towards these angels. It is to believe in them and respect them the way they deserve. Thus when we hear that Angels do not enter houses that have dogs and images, we immediately go and rid ourselves of that which will rob our houses of their blessed presence. The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam told us in an authentic hadith that the angels will not enter a house in which there is an image or a dog. It is unfortunate that many Muslim homes have found a place on their shelves to put up idols of animals, or dolls, and pictures on the walls. If prayer time comes they may cover it or they may not, but it is no matter. That is a house that is robbed of the angels blessed presence, protection and dua. And when Angels are not there, most likely devils and jinns will find refuge. May Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta Aala protect us all.

In conclusion, the closest angels to us are those on every human's shoulders writing the good deeds and the bad deeds. Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'Aala mentioned them in the Quran:

"Not a word does he (or she) utter except that there is watcher near him, ready (to record it)." [Qaaf 50/18]

If we had a tape recorder on both shoulders and there was a competition that whoever glorifies Allah will get 1 dollar for each time, and whoever speaks ill will be lashed once what would happen to the state of the community. It would ignite in Tasbeeh! Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar. Even if you said salam, all the person would reply with would be Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar. How are you? Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar. And at the end of the day he would get 30000, the other 50000 dollars, who would not partake in such profit?

Dear brothers and sisters we are being recorded and the stakes are much higher.