بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Last time we focused on the angels’ qualities. Today insha Allah we will focus on angels’ relationship with Allah.
They constantly worship Allah
The angels are in constant worship to Allah alone. They pray to him, they make hajj, they make sujood (prostration), they obey his commands and so on.
وَلَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَنْ عِندَهُ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ ﴿١٩﴾ يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ
To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him are not prevented by arrogance from His worship, nor do they tire. (19) They exalt [Him] night and day [and] do not slacken. (4:172)
They are close to Allah.
The angels are one of Allah’s best creation. Because of this, Allah allowed some to be near to Him.
لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ الْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِّلَّـهِ وَلَا الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَسْتَنكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعًا
Never would the Messiah disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels near [to Him]. And whoever disdains His worship and is arrogant – He will gather them to Himself all together. (21:19-20)
They fear Allah
The angels know Allah very well. Thus they know to fear displeasing him.
وَلِلَّـهِ يَسْجُدُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِن دَابَّةٍ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ ﴿٤٩﴾ يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
And to Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the angels [as well], and they are not arrogant. (49) They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.
The Prophet PBUH also spoke about this:
“On the night of Israa’, I passed by the highest angels. Jibreel looked like a worn-out rug from fearing Allah SWT. (Tabaraanee in al-Awsat. Saheeh by Albaanee)
They obey Allah
They never disobey Allah. They are aware of His might and His power. They were created to be perfect servants to Him. They would never disobey anything He says. This shows the concept of Angels in Islam is different than in Christianity. In Christianity they believe angels can sin, and angels can become evil. They consider Shaitan a “fallen angel.” An angel who has become evil.
وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَانَهُ ۚ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ ﴿٢٦﴾ لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ
And they say, “The Most Merciful has taken a son.” Exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honored servants. (26) They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command. (21: 26-27)
They love what Allah loves
The angels love what Allah loves. They love the people whom Allah loves. The Prophet PBUH said:
Indeed, when Allah loves a (good) person, He calls to Jibreel (upon him peace), “I love so-and-so, so love him.” Jibreel loves him and calls out in the heavens, “Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.” The angels of the heavens love him, and acceptance is laid down for him on earth.
And when Allah hates a (bad) person, He calls to Jibreel, “I hate so-and-so, so hate him.” Jibreel then hates him and calls out in the heavens, “Allah hates so-and-so, so hate him.” The angels of the heavens hate him, and hatred is laid down for him on earth.
Who wouldn’t want Allah and all the billions and possibly trillions of angels to love us? Who would want Allah and all his angels to hate us? I pray Allah makes us of the people who are loved by Allah and His angels, and not of the people whom Allah and His angels hate. Ameen.
That’s all for today. Insha Allah we’ll continue next time learning more about Allah’s angels. See you then!