Belief in Allah and in His Angels (peace be upon them)

Belief in Allah [1]

It means: Belief in His Divinity and Godhship. Also, belief in His Perfect Attributes with which He described Himself and the Attributes which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) described Him. People should believe in them without Takyif (questioning Allah's Attributes), Tamthil (likening Allah's Attributes to those of his creation), Tahrif (distortion of the meaning), or Ta`til (denial of Allah's attributes). Every attribute should be taken for its real meaning according to the will of Allah and the will of His Prophet (peace be upon him) and in a way that suits Allah (Glory be to Him).

Belief in angels (peace be upon them):

They are the servants of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) whom Allah (may He be Exalted) created from light to worship Him. It was reported in Sahih Al Bukhari on the authority of `A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Angels were created from light jinns were created from a smokeless flame of fire, and Adam was created of what has been described to you."

Of their attributes: They have wings, and have functions:

• Some of them are entrusted with revelation, and this is the function of Gabriel (peace be upon him).

• Some of them are entrusted with rain to send it down and move it where Allah commanded, and this is the function of Michael (peace be upon him) who has a high status at His Lord and has helpers to do what he commands them to do, and direct wind and clouds as Allah (Glory be to Him) wills.

• Some of them are entrusted with the horn which he shall blow to establish the Hour, and this is the function of Israfil (peace be upon him).

• Some of them are entrusted with taking out souls, and this is the function of the angle of death [2] and his aid. It was reported in the Hadith of Al Bara' ibn `Azib that his helpers come to a person according to his actions. So, if he was a good person, angels shall come in the best shape and image, but if he was a bad person, angels shall come in the ugliest image and shape with the harshest threat then drive the soul, and when it reaches the throat, the angel of death takes it, then they do not leave it in his hand a twinkle of an eye but put it in shrouds and suitable Hanut[3].

• Some of them are entrusted with protecting a person in all his conditions: Moving, standing, sleeping, and wakeful, and in all his conditions who are called "Al Mu`aqibbat".

• Some of them are entrusted with recording the actions of people whether good or bad, and this is the function of Al Kiram Al Katibun, and those are included in Allah's Saying: "And He sends guardians (angels guarding and writing all of one's good and bad deeds) over you." [Surat Al An`am: 61].

• Some of them are entrusted with the trial of the grave, and this is the function of Munkar and Nakir (the two angels who test the faith of the dead in their graves).

• Some of them are the keepers of Paradise, and this is the function of Radwan (peace be upon him).

• Some of them are the keepers of Hell-Fire, and this is the function of Az-Zabaniyah, and their heads are nineteens headed by Malik (peace be upon him). It was reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Hell will be brought on that Day (the Day of Resurrection) with seventy bridles; and with every bridle will be seventy thousand angels, pulling it."[4]

• Some of are entrusted with the semen in the womb.

• Some of them are the bearers of the Throne.

• Some of them are wandering in earth to seek the assemblies of mentioning Allah as was reported in Sahih Muslim.

• Some of them are entrusted with mountains.

                            

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[1] Belief in Allah: Firm belief in the oneness of Allah and singling out Allah with the most Beautiful Names and worship without associating anyone with Him in worship.

[2] There is no authentic proof to the name of the angel of death such as Izra'il, `Abdur-Rahman, or others which some layment deem to be true.

[3] Hanut means all kinds of perfume and herbs with good odor which decorate a dead body such as must, ambergris, Kamphor, and else.

[4] Reported by Muslim and At-Tirmidhy (may Allah bestow mercy on them) on the authority of Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him).