The Names of the Angels and Their Duties and Works
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The Shaykh:
May Allah greet you and bless you.
The questioner:
O brothers, the discussion is still ongoing regarding Surat al-Qadr, and His Eminence spoke about the first verses of this surah. The discussion is still about the saying of Allah the Exalted[Al-Qadr 97:4]. Honorable Shaykh, you spoke about the angels and about the intended meaning of the soul in this verse. Here, we would like to ask about some of the names of the angels and their duties and works. Would you please speak about that? May Allah grant you success.
The Shaykh:
[Al-Fatihah 1:1-2]. Peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his Companions. As for the angels, they are servants among the servants of Allah, the Knower of the Unseen [Ibrahim 14:9]. Glorified and Exalted is He, Allah the Mighty and Majestic created them and made for them [Fatir 35:1], so some of them have more than four wings.
And none knows their creation except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) commands them with commands in the universe, which they execute. They are categories according to their deeds. Among them is the one tasked with carrying the Throne[Ghafir 40:7] and among them is the one tasked with preserving the deeds of the children of Adam. Angels succeed one another with you by night and by day [Al-Infitar 82:10-12]. They accompany the human being, recording in his books of deeds what issues from him of good or evil.
Some of them are in charge of the fetuses in the wombs of pregnant women. So Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, when the fetus completes the fourth stage, which is the fourth month, and the soul is breathed into it, Allah sends to it an angel who writes its provision, its lifespan, its deeds, and whether it will be wretched or happy.
And some of them are in charge of the rain and vegetation, and that is Mika'il. And some of them are in charge of blowing the Trumpet, and that is Israfil. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he would rise at night, would begin his tahajjud with this opening: "O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il, and Israfil." He singled out these angels because of the greatness of what they do. For Jibril is in charge of the revelation, which is the life of the hearts and souls. And Mika'il because he is in charge of the life of the earth and vegetation. And Israfil because he is in charge of blowing the Trumpet and the resurrection on the Day of Resurrection.
And among the angels are those in charge of the mountains. And among the angels are those in charge of the treasury of Paradise and Hellfire. So every angel has a work. And among the angels are those in charge of taking the souls at the end of lifespans[Al-An'am 6:61]. In the other verse: [As-Sajdah 32:11]. So the taking of souls has angels, and for these angels there is a chief who is the Angel of Death, and they are his assistants. So Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, created these angels first for His worship, as He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said: [Al-Anbya 21:26-27]. He, the Exalted, said: [Al-Anbya 21:20]. And they are also in charge of the management of the universe by the command of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. And belief in the angels is one of the six pillars of faith. So whoever does not believe in the angels, he will not be a believer. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
May Allah greet you and bless you.
The questioner:
O brothers, the discussion is still ongoing regarding Surat al-Qadr, and His Eminence spoke about the first verses of this surah. The discussion is still about the saying of Allah the Exalted
The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.
تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍThe Shaykh:
(1) In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (2) [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَNo one knows them but Allah.
لَا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا اللَّهُwings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills
أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُAnd none knows their creation except Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) commands them with commands in the universe, which they execute. They are categories according to their deeds. Among them is the one tasked with carrying the Throne
Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it
الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ(10) And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers, (11) Noble and recording; (12) They know whatever you do.
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَافِظِينَ كِرَامًا كَاتِبِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَSome of them are in charge of the fetuses in the wombs of pregnant women. So Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, when the fetus completes the fourth stage, which is the fourth month, and the soul is breathed into it, Allah sends to it an angel who writes its provision, its lifespan, its deeds, and whether it will be wretched or happy.
And some of them are in charge of the rain and vegetation, and that is Mika'il. And some of them are in charge of blowing the Trumpet, and that is Israfil. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he would rise at night, would begin his tahajjud with this opening: "O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika'il, and Israfil." He singled out these angels because of the greatness of what they do. For Jibril is in charge of the revelation, which is the life of the hearts and souls. And Mika'il because he is in charge of the life of the earth and vegetation. And Israfil because he is in charge of blowing the Trumpet and the resurrection on the Day of Resurrection.
And among the angels are those in charge of the mountains. And among the angels are those in charge of the treasury of Paradise and Hellfire. So every angel has a work. And among the angels are those in charge of taking the souls at the end of lifespans
until, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties].
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لَا يُفَرِّطُونَSay, "The angel of death will take you
قُلْ يَتَوَفَّاكُم مَّلَكُ الْمَوْتِRather, they are [but] honored servants. (27) They cannot precede Him in word
بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِThey exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken.
يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَThe presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 20 من 27|وقفات مع آيات الصيام|تنزل الملائكة والروح فيها بإذن ربهم من كل أمر|صالح الفوزان|فقه — youtube.com (0:45)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.