A look at the nature of the Angels
The angels instinctively worship Allah. They do not have the ability to disobey Him. Allah (swt) said:” They disobey not, from executing the commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded.” (Qur’an 66: 6)
Their abstaining from sin and doing acts of obedience is part of their nature, and it does not require any effort on their part, because they have no desires that could prevent them from doing so. Perhaps this is the reason why a group of scholars said that the angels are not accountable, and that they are not included in the promises of Paradise and threats of Hell.
What we can say is that the angels are not accountable in the same manner as the sons of Adam are, but saying that they are not accountable at all is a view that is to be rejected. They are commanded to worship and obey Allah. Allah said:” They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.” (Qur’an 16: 50). This verse shows that they fear their Lord, and this fear is one of the responsibilities enjoined by Shari’ah; “Indeed it is one of the highest forms of being a slave of Allah in the fullest sense, as Allah says of the angels:” And they stand in awe for fear of Him.” (Qur’an 21: 28)
The status of the angels
The best manner in which the angels are described is slaves of Allah, but they are honoured slaves. We have already referred to the fact that the claim made by the mushrikeen - that the angels were the daughters of Allah – is a false one with no element of truth. Allah showed those who believed this as liars, and described the true nature of the angels and their status in more than one place in the Qur’an. He said:” And they say:’ The Most Gracious (Allah) has begotten a son.’ Glory to Him! They are but honoured slaves.” (Qur’an 21: 26)
The angels are slaves who bear all the characteristics of uboodiyyah: they serve Allah and carry out His instructions. The knowledge of Allah encompasses them, and they can not go beyond what He commands them to do or go against the instructions that are given to them. They are in fear of Allah.
One aspect of the uboodiyyah of the angels is that they do not make suggestions before their Lord, and they do not oppose any of His commands. Rather they do as they are commanded and hasten to respond. Allah said in the Qur’an:” They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His command.” (Qur’an 21: 27).
Examples of their worship
The angels are slaves of Allah whose responsibility is to worship Him. They fulfil this responsibility and worship Him with the greatest of ease. We will describe here some of the acts of worship done by the angels which Allah and His Messenger have told us about.
- 1. Tasbeeh (glorifying Allah)
The angels remember Allah (dhikr), and the greatest dhikr is tasbeeh. They glorify Allah as mentioned in the Qur’an:” And the angels glorify the praises of their Lord.” (Qur’an 42: 5).
They glorify Allah so much because tasbeeh is the greatest form of dhikr. Muslim narrated in his Saheeh that Abu Dharr said:” The Messenger of Allah was asked what kind of dhikr is the best. He said:’ That which Allah has chosen for His angels or His slaves: Subhaan Allah wa bi hamdihi.”’ (Muslim)
- 2. Standing in rows
We have already mentioned the hadith in which the Messenger urged his companions to follow the example of the angels in making straight rows for the prayer:” Why do you not form rows as the angels form rows before their Lord?” When he was asked about how they form rows, he said:” They complete the rows, and do not leave any gaps.” (Muslim).
- 3. Hajj
The angels have a Ka’bah in the seventh heaven to which they go on Hajj. This Ka’bah that which Allah called Al-Bait al-Ma’moor (the Much-Frequented House), and swore by it in Surah at-Toor:” And by Al-Bait al-Ma’moor (the house over the heavens parallel to the Ka’bah at Makkah, continuously visited by the angels).” (Qur’an 52: 4)
Ibn Kathee said in his commentary on this verse:” It is reported in Al-Saheehihain that the Messenger of Allah said in the hadith about the Israa’, after he had passed the seventh heaven:’ Then I was taken up to the Mush-Frequented House. Every day seventy thousand angels enter it, and the never return to it, and when they leave another seventy thousand come’ (Bukhari). They worship there, and they perform tawaaf around it just as the people of this earth perform tawaaf around their Ka’bah. The Much-Frequented House is the Ka’bah of the inhabitants of the seventh heaven, hence the Prophet (saw) found Ibrahim (as) leaning back against the Much-Frequented House, because he was the builder of the earthly Ka’bah, and the reward should fit the action.”
(Ends)
by Dr. Umar S. Al-Ashqar
