ANGELS
Who are the angels? How are they related to our world and our lives? Why is it necessary to have Faith in them?
First and foremost let me tell you
that the Quran has not used the words `Khuda', `Namaaz', `Rozah',
which are commonly used by Asians from the Indian subcontinent
for Allah, Salat, Saum, etc. and similarly he word `Farishaty' is
not used for `Angels' in the Quran. For this word it uses the
word `Malaa-aika'.
In thc Arabic and Qur'anic lexicons the word `Malaa-aika' is used for angels, or, "the one who carry messages ", or for the words "energics" or "power". Therefore, thc word `Malaa-aika' comes down to mean that our Creator is running the world and millions and billions of other worlds in the universe with the aid of powerful helpers known as `Malaa-aika'.
The Malaa-aika are, unlike us, not
creatures but some kind of Power which Allah has created for some
special aims and purposes. Secondly, they do not own frce-will
like us. Unlike wc human-beings Allah has not vested them with
any authority nor do they have any sense of desire or intent.
They are perpetually and ceaselessly
occupied in fulfilling Allah's Programmes. Allah has also limited
their knowledge. Only a limited knowledge is given to them, just
enough as is required by them to fulfil their duty . See Surah 2,
verse 32. In 19.64 the angels state this: "Malaa-aika cannot
do anything out of their own free will. 'They descend only by the
command of Allah,".
There are innumerable items such as
telephone, TV., microchips, microphone, speakers, computers, fax
machines, transmitters, wireless, small and large machinery and
equipment etc. In actual fact they are all varying types of Power
which work and operate for man's aim and objectives. But these
powers cannot act and operate on their own or out of their own
free-will.
Powerful and strong they all may be
but they work and act only in accordance with man's aim and
directives. In the very same way the angels also act even when in
competition amongst themselves in order to fulfil Allah's
Programmes. Their varieties run in millions and billions. Some
could be perceived that is they could be seen, felt or could be
touched but some are invisible to the human eye. Now let me tell
you something which you will find both surprising and
interesting. The Powers are not limited only to our world or to
the universe itself. But they are also contained in us - we human
beings.
This Power may be expressed in
conventional phrase and eulogy as "Physiological power or
strength" . This may seem to be a bit hard to understand but
must be understood as it is quite important. These Powers are
also called " Natural Forces". While there are other
such forces which create awe and fear in us.
But the fact is that these powers,
energics or natural forces both visible or invisible and all in
their entirely have been Commanded by Allah to bow down before
Man because Man is the excellent, the Supreme in Allah's
Creation. As you may have read in the Qur'an that Allah Commanded
the angels to bow down before Man and they did bow down meaning
all these millions and billions or all of these subdued for Man.
ln other words man can acquire and
make use of these forces according to his wish and intent. Bowing
for prostration otherwise is for none but Allah but the angels
have been Commanded to bow before us as well. Allah Himself
clarifies this:- "We have subdued them for you. You can
subdue all of them. Therefore Adam (Man) is the subduer of the
Malaaaikaa (angels) and Momin is he who has faith in this
fact."
Now I will show you one more
important fact which you will also find as quite interesting as
well. That the Malaa-aikaa descended not only on the Messengers
of Allah but also on the common people then and now as well.
"Those who say that our
sustainer is Allah and thereafter staunchly rally around this
claim on them angels decend in this very world.". - 41 .30.
Not only this, Allah has also made
yct anothcr rousing statemcnt. He statcs: "The angels
support and honour those who lead life according to the Quran
". 33.43.
Furthermore, you may surely have
read about the wars betwecn the Muslims and the disbelievers and
the angels came to the aid of the Muslims by joining forces with
them in actual combat. But the question is how did all this
happen? What did the angels look like? And how did they discharge
their duty? How did they convey Revelations from Allah to His
Messengers? How does the angel of death give death?
All these are questions should not
to be brushed aside. They are related to "Allah's World of
Immortality". No one can explain a word more than that Allah
has explained about Himself. In he very same way, we cannot know
a word more than what Allah has explained about the Angels in His
Revelations to His Apostles and Messengers. The knowledge that we
have is quite limited for example that "The angel of death
gives death". - 32.11. And beyond this we have no knowledge
about the angel of death.
And by those angels (forces) by
whose presencc we have recognition and discernment of Allah. In
other words, in the universe, the forces of nature and invisiblc
energies stand witness to the fact that "Apart from Allah
(the One God) there is no god" 3.18. For this reason we are
asked to declare faith also in the angels. 2.177, 2.285 and 4.1
36.
Now we come to a point which is also
quite important. You may have, innumerable times, heard or read
about the devil Shaithaan or Iblees. These words also appear in
the Qur'an. We often start our actions with "Aouzobillah
hemenush shaitaan nir rajecm". This means: I seck refuge
with God from the accursed Satan.
In every human being there are some
emotions which when enraged render the human being helpless and
uncontrollable. All such emotions are termed as
"satanic". Then again, there are also some enunions in
the human being, whose sharpness and ferocity pushes man into the
darkness of despondency, frustration and helplessness and the
human being then is in such a state that he is unable to
understand anything nor is his wisdom then is of any help to him.
Thc word Iblees is used to describe such a situation or affair.
Do remember a Muslim is no more a Muslim who falls for these two states of emotional affairs. He becomes a "Kafir" (disbeliever). The Momin is the one who has full control of his rebellious emotions.
The Qur'an refers to very many
things but in allegorical terms, and therefore they should not be
taken at face-value. For instance, if someone says that you are a
lion then it does not mean that you are a jungle animal. Satan
and Iblees are also names of matters of excitement, tumult and
commotion. These are all matters which, Commands the Qur'an, must
be kept in rein and control. This, therefore, means that every
human being has an Iblees in him. But the state of rebellious
excitement, tumult and commotion must be kept in rein and
control. Momin is he who keeps Iblees under control. But he is no
more a Momin or Muslim if he gives in to these emotional state of
affairs.
This article has been
Iranslated,from Urdu by Mr. I. Atcha.