Do the jinn and the angels have intellects?

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Question:
The lecture mentioned what implies that intellect is a characteristic of humans. Does this mean that the jinn and the angels are not described as having intellect? We ask for clarification.

Answer:
No, no, this intellect exists. Allah gives the jinn what He gives to humans; among them are those who are accountable, the righteous and the wicked, the Muslim and the disbeliever, the innovator and the follower of the Sunnah. As He said regarding the jinn that they said:

And among us are the righteous, and among us are [others] not so

وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الصَّالِحُونَ وَمِنَّا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ

[Al-Jinn 72:11]

. Among them are the righteous and others. He said:

⁽¹⁴⁾ And among us are Muslims [in submission to Allah], and among us are the unjust. And whoever has become Muslim - those have sought out the right course. ⁽¹⁵⁾ But as for the unjust, they will be, for Hell, firewood.'

وَأَنَّا مِنَّا الْمُسْلِمُونَ وَمِنَّا الْقَاسِطُونَ فَمَنْ أَسْلَمَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ تَحَرَّوْا رَشَدًا وَأَمَّا الْقَاسِطُونَ فَكَانُوا لِجَهَنَّمَ حَطَبًا

[Al-Jinn 72:14-15]

. And Allah mentioned that He addressed them in Surat al-Rahman, and after every verse He said:

So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

[Ar-Rahman 55:71]

. He addresses the jinn and humans, so they have intellects by which they understand, and they are accountable for it. Likewise, He gives the angels intellects befitting them, and they understand and convey His messages. For this, they have great care:

they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.

لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ

[At-Tahrim 66:6]

. Intellect is that by which a person understands his interests, benefits, and harms. The angels are among the best of Allah's servants and the choice of His creation, Glorified and Exalted is He. They execute His commands, and at their head is Jibril, the messenger between Allah and the messengers (peace be upon them). They have intellects befitting them, by which they fear Him, Glorified and Exalted is He. He said in His great Book:

And they say, "The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son."

وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَلَدًا

[Maryam 19:88]

. Rather, they are honored servants who do not precede Him in speech and act by His command. These are the angels.

Rather, they are [but] honored servants. ⁽²⁷⁾ They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command.

بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ

[Al-Anbya 21:26-27]

He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, from fear of Him, are apprehensive.

يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ وَهُم مِّنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ

[Al-Anbya 21:28]

If Allah had given them intellects by which they understand and comprehend, they would not have feared Him, Glorified and Exalted is He, and they would not have executed His commands. So they have the intellects befitting them that befit their great status with their Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He. People vary in this according to what Allah gives them. Humans vary, the jinn vary, and the angels vary; they are not all the same. Each has his share that Allah has given him. You will find two brothers between whom there is a great difference in intellect and religion, and they are full brothers from the same father and mother. Between them is a difference in intellect, religion, demeanor, and character that only Allah can count.

Source قناة «فضيلة الشيخ ابن باز Alsheikh Binbaz»، 092 هل للجن والملائكة عقول؟ للإمام ابن باز — youtube.com

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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