A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
Some of the attributes of the angels, peace be upon them.
Among the most important attributes of the angels mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah:
Firstly:
That they are servants of Allah.
They worship Him, glorified be He.
They neither grow weary nor do they become arrogant.
Allah the Almighty says:
"To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth."
“Unto Him belongeth whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who dwell in His presence are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they weary;” (21:19)
“They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not.” (21:20)
Secondly:
That they are created with an inherent nature of obedience.
Allah the Almighty says:
“O ye who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire whereof the fuel is men and stones, over which are set angels strong, severe, who resist not Allah in that which He commandeth them, but do that which they are commanded.” (66:6)
And Allah the Almighty says:
“They fear their Lord above them, and do what they are bidden.” (16:50)
Thirdly:
That they possess wings.
As Allah the Almighty says:
"All praise is due to Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, who made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four."
“Praise be to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who appointeth the angels messengers having wings two, three and four. He multiplieth in creation what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.” (35:1)
Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.
And that Jibril, peace be upon him, has six hundred wings.
As it is established in the account of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, seeing him in the form in which Allah created him.
He had filled the horizon.
This indicates the magnificence of the creation of the angels.
Fourthly:
They may appear in the form of humans.
As Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, narrated regarding the angels who came to Ibrahim, peace be upon him.
And then to Lut, peace be upon them.
Allah the Almighty says:
“And Our messengers cam unto Abraham with good news. They said: Peace! He answered: Peace! and delayed not to bring a roasted calf.” (11:69)
"They said, 'Peace.'"
"He said, 'Peace.'"
“And Our messengers cam unto Abraham with good news. They said: Peace! He answered: Peace! and delayed not to bring a roasted calf.” (11:69)
This is because he thought they were human beings.
They had arrived as his guests.
However:
“And when he saw their hands reached not to it, he mistrusted them and conceived a fear of them. They said: Fear not! Lo! we are sent unto the folk of Lot.” (11:70)
"They said, 'Do not fear.'"
“And when he saw their hands reached not to it, he mistrusted them and conceived a fear of them. They said: Fear not! Lo! we are sent unto the folk of Lot.” (11:70)
And as it came in the famous hadith of Jibril:
"While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,"
"A man appeared before us whose clothes were intensely white,"
"And whose hair was intensely black,"
"No sign of travel was visible upon him,"
"And none of us knew him."
At the end of the hadith, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
To 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him:
"O 'Umar,"
"Do you know who the questioner was?"
'Umar replied:
"Allah and His Messenger know best."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"That was Jibril,"
"He came to teach you your religion."
Narrated by Muslim.
A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.