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Friday Talks |
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Friday Talks |
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97 |
Believing in angels ( part 1)
Written by: Sk. Younis Saleh
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
29 Rabee Al-Thani 1430 H
24 April 2009 ad
All thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. And peace and prayers upon his messenger Muhammad.
There is an important point which needs to be made clear. That is that those worlds from an Islamic view; are reduced into two circles. The first circle includes the sensed or witnessed world. It is the world that falls under the senses. Like what we can see, like land and skies, mountains and valleys, oceans and rivers, plants and animals. That is the witnessed world. It also includes all sounds we can hear, and all scent and fragrant we can smell and all that can be tasted with the tongue and all that can be touched with the hand. All this falls into the sensed world.
The second circle includes the unseen world. It is all that which can not be sensed by the normal human senses. Such worlds are the world of angels and the world of Jinn and Satan, and the facts of the day or resurrection, the judgment, and path which will have to be crossed, and paradise and hell fire. All those are worlds which humans can not sense with one of the senses Allah gave human.
The best way to have faith in those un-sensed worlds is though following the holy Koran and the Prophet’s teachings. What ever they mention of such worlds we are obliged to believe and say: We truthfully trust and believe. Why? It is because it came from the All Majesty Allah. He described Himself as the one who knows about both the un-sensed and the witnessed worlds. Allah says: {It is He Allah who there is no other god other than Him, the one who knows both the un-sensed and the witnessed world. He is the Gracious the Merciful}59:22. The best to tell us about such worlds is Allah Himself, because He created them and knows of their existence and truth. We believe the messenger (ppbu) because Allah commanded us to do so when Allah said: {He does not say what he pleases, it is all inspired revelations}53:4.
Believing in the angels is an obligation. The faith of a Muslim can only be complete when he or she believes in their existence. In its entirety, believing in angels is to have faith that Allah did create another world called it the angels. The signs and proofs for this world are many. For example in the Koran Allah says: {the messenger had faith into what was brought down upon him form His Lord, and so did the believers. Each of them believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers} 2:285.
The messenger (ppbu) talked many times of angels. In one instance he was reported saying: {Angels were created from light, and Jinn were created from the flame of fire, and Adam was created from what was already was described to you}. Allah described the angels who are responsible for hell fire when he says: {you, who believe, protect yourself and your families, from a fire which is fueled by people and rocks. In charge of it are powerful and tough angels, who never disobey Allah whatever He commands them. And they do what they are commanded} 66:6. Angels are also described to be magnificent in creation in their size.
The messenger (ppbu) saw angel Gabriel in his true form with 600 wings. Each wing was enough to block the horizon, and wings are of different colors of jewels and pearls of what only Allah would know. The messenger (ppbu) said: {I saw Gabriel descending from the heavens blocking from view the entire creation of what is between heavens and earth}. The messenger (ppbu) also said: {I was granted permission to talk about one of the angels carrying the throne. The distance between the lobe of his ear and his shoulder is as big as a 700 years walk}.
All the following description and characteristics of angels are mentioned in the Koran. One of the angels’ characteristics is that they have wings. Some have two, and some have three and some have four and some have many more wings.
Angels look nothing like people. They do not eat, nor drink, they do not sleep, and they do not feel board. They do not tire. They are very generous, and devoted. They have the ability to change and reshape, as Gabriel was sent to Miriam in the shape of a human. Angels are extremely fast. Their speed exceeds the speed of light. In fact their speed can not be measured by human standards. The messenger (ppbu) used to be asked the question by someone, when immediately Gabriel comes down with the answer from Allah.
Angels also are given by Allah the ability to inflict punishment on to the infidels and the hypocrites. Just as happened to the people of Lut.
Angels live and inhibit the heavens. And they are of great numbers which only Allah knows. Listen to what the messenger (ppbu) talking about this thriving and flourishing house in the seventh heaven. He said: {each and every day 70 thousand angels approach it and when they leave and they don’t come back to it} (indicating that different angels come each day). The messenger (ppbu) also said: {almost in each and every inch of the heavens there is an angel with its forehead down kneeling to Allah}. How about their names? We only know a few like: Gabriel and Michael (Mika-eel) as mentioned in the Koran. Gabriel is the trusted spirit and the messenger of Allah to his human prophets and messenger. Michael is charged with the rain and the plants. Another name is: Israfeel who is an angel with great fear for Allah, from the day it was created has been kneeling to Allah and has never looked up in respect and in fear of Allah. Angel Israfeel is charged with blowing the great horn which will shock everybody in the heavens and the earth except those whom Allah will not want to be shocked announcing the end of this worldly life.
There is also the angel of death who is charged with receiving the souls of humans at death. This angel has other angels helping him.
Another angel who is charged with hell fire and his name is Malik. And the angel charged with paradise and his name is Radwan.
Two angels called: Monkar and Nakeer they interrogate humans after death when they are in their final resting place, the grave.
One might ask: what is the relationship between angels and humans? And the answer is that the relationship is so strong with age old ties. It started since Allah ordered angels to kneel down before Adam. The relationship further matured and gave its fruits by commanding angels to communicate his revelations to his human prophets and messengers. Angels also had a roll which started at the first moment of the creation of each and every human. The messenger (ppbu) said: {when the fetus becomes 42 nights old, Allah sends an angel to form it, and create its hearing and vision, its skin and flesh and bone. Then the angel asks: “O’ Lord, a male or female?” Allah decides and the angel rights down}.
Angels roll does not stop there. Allah charges angels with the roll of protecting that new human for the rest of his or her life. Every slave has an angel charged with protecting him/her in his sleep and awakening from Jinn and humans and monsters. Anything that approaches this human the angel will fend it away except something which Allah permitted to befalls him/her.
Allah also charged to each and every human two other angels who never leave him/her. They keep a strict watch and take note of everything the human says or does whether bad or good.
So any one who have spoken good words let them be thankful to Allah, for they will find the good later. And this whosoever spoke of other than good words, let them know that there still a chance in this life to fix that. The messenger (ppbu) said: {the angel on the left (meaning the one responsible for writing the bad deeds) holds on for six hours in delay for the Muslim wrong doer. If he/she feels remorse, repents and asks Allah for forgiveness for that sin, then the angel drops it. Otherwise, the sin is written}.
Finally, some angels are charged with stirring the good inclinations within the souls of the slaves. The messenger (ppbu) said: {Allah has assigned to each human a constant companion angel and a constant companion from the Jinn}. The messenger (ppbu) was asked: even you, messenger of Allah? He said: {Yes, me too. But Allah has given me support over my Jinn and he became a Muslim. So, he only entices me with good}. Those two constant companions (the angel and the Jinn) compete over this human individual. The angel entices and tempts him to good. While, the Jinn companion entices and tempts him to bad.
The messenger (ppbu) said: {both Satan and the angel influence the human with thoughts. The influence of Satan is just a promise of bad and of denial of truth, while the influence of the angel is a promise of good and affirmation of truth. So, whoever of you finds such an influence then let them know it is from Allah, and be thankful to Allah. And whoever finds the other type; let them ask Allah to protect them from Satan}
(End of part One)
Notes:
The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God. Aya (or Ayah):
is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day. Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help. Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
Faheem Bukhatwa, my email
address is : faheemfb@gmail.com
