We would like you, may Allah reward you, to give us a brief overview of the creation of the angels, and whether they come in the form of an animal. We ask for clarification.
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The questioner : We would like you, may Allah reward you, to give us a brief overview of the creation of the angels, and whether they come in the form of an animal. What is the truth of that?
The Shaykh : The angels are a hidden realm created by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from light, and He charged them with whatever He willed of worship and commands. He chose some of them as messengers, as the Exalted said:[Al-Hajj 22:75] Among them are the messengers entrusted with revelation, such as Jibril (peace be upon him). Among them are the messengers entrusted with taking the souls of the children of Adam, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-An'am 6:61] Among them are the scribes who record the deeds of the children of Adam. Among them are the guardians who protect them by the command of Allah. Among them are the travelers who roam the earth seeking circles of dhikr, and so on, of their deeds and duties as mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah.
As for their descriptions, it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he saw Jibril with six hundred wings that filled the horizon. However, with this, they have the ability, by the permission of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), to take the form of a human being. Jibril came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the form of a man with intensely white clothes and intensely black hair, with no trace of travel on him, and none of the Companions recognized him. He sat with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), placed his knees on the Prophet's knees, put his hands on his thighs, and asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about Islam, faith, excellence in worship, and the signs of the Hour, and about the Hour and its signs.
And as he came to him in the form of Dhihyyah al-Kalbi, and as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us in the story of the three from the Children of Israel: the leper, the bald one, and the blind one. The angel came to each of them and asked what they loved most. Then, after Allah (Mighty and Majestic) blessed them by removing their defects and granting them wealth, the angel returned to them in the form of each of them was before their defect was removed and they became wealthy. The story is well known and famous.
Then, the angels (peace be upon them) have great power and great speed in flying and reaching their destinations. Have you not seen the statement of Sulayman (peace be upon him):[An-Naml 27:38] That is the throne of Bilqis, which is the bed upon which she sits, and it is a great throne. [An-Naml 27:39-40] The scholars said that this man called upon Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and the angels carried the throne until they placed it with Sulayman (peace be upon him).
Then, have you not seen that when a person dies, the angels take his soul and ascend with it to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If he is a believer, they take it to what is above the heavens, and his soul is returned to him when he is buried in his grave. All of this indicates that the angels (peace be upon them) have great strength and great speed. Whoever wishes to learn about some of their descriptions and conditions should refer to the books compiled on this matter, including the book: "Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya" by Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him).
The Shaykh : The angels are a hidden realm created by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from light, and He charged them with whatever He willed of worship and commands. He chose some of them as messengers, as the Exalted said:
Allah chooses from the angels messengers and from the people
الله يصطفي من الملائكة رسلاً ومن الناسuntil, when death comes to one of you, Our messengers take him, and they do not fail [in their duties].
حتى إذا جاء أحدكم الموت توفته رسلنا وهم لا يفرطونAs for their descriptions, it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he saw Jibril with six hundred wings that filled the horizon. However, with this, they have the ability, by the permission of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), to take the form of a human being. Jibril came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the form of a man with intensely white clothes and intensely black hair, with no trace of travel on him, and none of the Companions recognized him. He sat with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), placed his knees on the Prophet's knees, put his hands on his thighs, and asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about Islam, faith, excellence in worship, and the signs of the Hour, and about the Hour and its signs.
And as he came to him in the form of Dhihyyah al-Kalbi, and as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us in the story of the three from the Children of Israel: the leper, the bald one, and the blind one. The angel came to each of them and asked what they loved most. Then, after Allah (Mighty and Majestic) blessed them by removing their defects and granting them wealth, the angel returned to them in the form of each of them was before their defect was removed and they became wealthy. The story is well known and famous.
Then, the angels (peace be upon them) have great power and great speed in flying and reaching their destinations. Have you not seen the statement of Sulayman (peace be upon him):
[Solomon] said, "O assembly [of jinn], which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"
يا أيها الملأ أيكم يأتيني بعرشها قبل أن يأتوني مسلمين(39) A powerful one from among the jinn said, "I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy." (40) Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."
قال عفريت من الجن أنا آتيك به قبل أن تقوم من مقامك وإني عليه لقوي أمين ، قال الذي عنده علم من الكتاب أنا آتيك به قبل أن يرتد إليك طرفكThen, have you not seen that when a person dies, the angels take his soul and ascend with it to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If he is a believer, they take it to what is above the heavens, and his soul is returned to him when he is buried in his grave. All of this indicates that the angels (peace be upon them) have great strength and great speed. Whoever wishes to learn about some of their descriptions and conditions should refer to the books compiled on this matter, including the book: "Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya" by Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him).