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Religious history has recorded several instances where
Angels appeared in the form of pleasant-looking men to certain
individuals, including Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Maryam (mother
of Prophet Jesus Christ), Ibraheem (a.s.) and Prophet Lot; and
also to communities, such as the inhabitants of the twin cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Neither male nor female, these intelligent beings do not eat,
drink, sleep nor have desires. They are created from light (noor)
and in such a way that they always obey and never go against
Divine commands and never tire of serving Almighty Allah. For
Muslims, this Article of Faith stipulates that they must believe
in the Angels, whose population is infinite. This command is
contained in the Qur'anic verse:
"Uprightness is not to turn your faces towards east or west, but
uprightness is to believe in Allah (SWT) and the Last Day, the
angels, the Book and the Prophets,…." [Al-Baqarah: 177]
Names of few of the angels and their brief description is
mentioned below:
Jibreel
: To deliver the Divine Revelations from Allah
Almighty to His chosen Messengers from among the Prophets.
Mikaaeel
: To manage man's mundane necessities, bring forth
rain and oversee the cultivation of crops.
Israafeel
: To blow the Trumpet:
once, for the destruction of the universe; and again, for the
Resurrection of all accountable beings to face Judgment Day.
Izraaeel
: Angel of Death, the
most fearsome of them all, who does not delay nor expedite the
hour of claiming the soul.
Apart from the above ten, there are numerous other angels whose
duties are:
- To carry the throne of Allah
- To glorify Allah and to
continuously prostrate to Him
- To beg forgiveness from Allah for
believers and those who have repented.
- To beg for goodness for those
human beings doing good deeds, and to beg for the destruction
of those reluctant to donate a portion of their wealth in the
way of goodness
- To say Ameen (Amen) together with
those praying to Allah in congregation
- To take turn guarding humans all
day and night, with the changing of the guard occurring in the
late afternoon and at dawn.
(Taken from VisionIslam) |
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