WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:09.220 A Summary of the Creed of Ahl al-Sunnah 00:00:09.220 --> 00:00:13.220 Belief in the angels: general and detailed 00:00:13.220 --> 00:00:19.920 Belief in the angels is the second pillar of faith. 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:21.920 Allah Almighty said: 00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:26.920 “The messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers - We make no distinction between any of His messengers - and they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant us) Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying.” (2:285) 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:33.020 “The messenger believeth in that which hath been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) believers. Each one believeth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers - We make no distinction between any of His messengers - and they say: We hear, and we obey. (Grant us) Thy forgiveness, our Lord. Unto Thee is the journeying.” (2:285) 00:00:33.020 --> 00:00:39.020 And in the hadith of Gabriel, when he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about faith, 00:00:39.020 --> 00:00:42.020 he (peace be upon him) said: 00:00:42.020 --> 00:00:48.020 “O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His messenger and the Scripture which He hath revealed unto His messenger, and the Scripture which He revealed aforetime. Whoso disbelieveth in Allah and His angels and His scriptures and His messengers and the Last Day, he verily hath wandered far astray.” (4:136) 00:00:48.020 --> 00:00:52.020 "And that you believe in the divine decree, both the good and evil thereof." 00:00:52.020 --> 00:00:54.079 Reported by Muslim. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:59.079 Belief in the angels is both general and detailed. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:04.079 As for general belief, it is an obligation upon every believer, 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:09.079 which is to firmly affirm their existence and their worship of their Lord. 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:14.079 “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) 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:20.109 As for detailed belief, it depends on the knowledge of each accountable individual, 00:01:20.109 --> 00:01:23.109 and it pertains to what has been conveyed in the Holy Qur'an 00:01:23.109 --> 00:01:26.109 and what has been authentically established in the Prophetic Sunnah, 00:01:26.109 --> 00:01:30.109 concerning their names, attributes, and functions. 00:01:34.909 --> 00:01:40.969 Since belief in the angels is one of the six pillars of faith, 00:01:40.969 --> 00:01:44.969 and they were the intermediaries in the descent of revelation, 00:01:44.969 --> 00:01:49.969 invalidating belief in them invalidates faith in its entirety. 00:01:49.969 --> 00:01:54.969 Therefore, one must beware of falling into any of these nullifiers, 00:01:54.969 --> 00:01:57.030 the most significant of which are: 00:01:57.030 --> 00:02:00.030 First: Denying their existence, 00:02:00.030 --> 00:02:08.030 as it entails belying the texts of the Qur'an and the authentic, mutawatir Sunnah that mention them. 00:02:08.030 --> 00:02:11.189 Second, and related to this: 00:02:11.189 --> 00:02:17.189 Denying what has been mentioned in the texts regarding their descriptions, actions, or names. 00:02:17.189 --> 00:02:21.259 Third: Hating them or showing animosity toward them, 00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:24.259 as in the words of Allah Almighty: 00:02:24.259 --> 00:02:31.259 “Who is an enemy to Allah, and His angels and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael! Then, lo! Allah (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers.” (2:98) 00:02:31.259 --> 00:02:35.259 “Who is an enemy to Allah, and His angels and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael! Then, lo! Allah (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers.” (2:98) 00:02:35.259 --> 00:02:43.349 Fourth, and related to this: Cursing them, mocking them, or deriding their functions. 00:02:43.349 --> 00:02:48.800 The origin of the creation of angels and the origin of the creation of Iblis 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:53.340 The angels are created from light, 00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:57.340 as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 00:02:57.340 --> 00:02:59.340 "The angels were created from light, 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:03.340 “And the jinn did He create of smokeless fire.” (55:15) 00:03:03.340 --> 00:03:06.340 and Adam was created from what has been described to you." 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:08.400 Reported by Muslim. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:12.400 This alludes to the fact that they are inherently guided to the truth, 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:16.400 so they never disobey their Lord nor do they act arrogantly. 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:20.460 As for Iblis, he is definitively not from the angels, 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:26.460 and it is incorrect to claim so based on the fact that he was commanded to prostrate to Adam, 00:03:26.460 --> 00:03:28.460 as Allah Almighty said: 00:03:28.460 --> 00:03:32.460 “He said: What hindered thee that thou didst not fall prostrate when I bade thee? (Iblis) said: I am better than him. Thou createdst me of fire while him Thou didst create of mud.” (7:12) 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:38.500 and because Allah, Glorified be He, explicitly stated that the command to prostrate was addressed to the angels, 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:40.500 as Allah Almighty said: 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:45.500 "And when We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam,' and they prostrated, 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:49.500 except for Iblis; he refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers." 00:03:50.500 --> 00:03:53.500 This claim is invalid for the following reasons: 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:59.500 First: Allah, Glorified be He, explicitly declared that Iblis was from the jinn. 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:01.500 Allah Almighty said: 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:10.500 “And (remember) when We said unto the angels: Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil-doers.” (18:50) 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:12.719 Second: 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:18.720 The exception of Iblis from the angels' prostration in all the relevant verses 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:20.720 is a discontinuous exception (istithna' munqati'), 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:25.720 meaning that the excepted entity in all of them is not of the same genus as that from which it was excepted; 00:04:25.720 --> 00:04:29.720 it is a grammatical construct indicating rectification, in the sense of "however." 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:33.720 This is proven by the explicit statement in Surah al-Kahf 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:35.720 that Iblis was from the jinn. 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:37.819 Third: 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:41.819 Iblis himself never claimed to be an angel; 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:44.819 rather, he explicitly stated that he was created from fire. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:50.819 He said: "I am better than he; You created me from fire and created him from clay." 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:54.819 Thus, he is from the jinn, as explicitly stated by Allah Almighty, 00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:58.819 and as the Messenger (peace be upon him) informed us 00:04:58.819 --> 00:05:02.939 that the jinn are the ones created from fire. 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:06.939 The command to prostrate was directed to Iblis along with the angels, 00:05:06.939 --> 00:05:08.939 even though he was not one of them, 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:14.939 because he initially displayed worship and obedience to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:16.939 and exerted great diligence therein. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:20.939 So he was tested with the command to prostrate along with the angels to Adam, 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:23.939 whereupon his fiery nature became manifest, 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:28.939 which is characterized by levity, rashness, and arrogance. 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:35.129 Some descriptions of the angels, peace be upon them 00:05:35.129 --> 00:05:40.160 Among the most important descriptions of the angels mentioned in the Book and the Sunnah: 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:43.160 First: They are servants of Allah, 00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:45.160 worshipping Him, Glorified be He, 00:05:45.160 --> 00:05:48.160 and they never grow weary nor do they display arrogance. 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.160 Allah Almighty said: 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:53.160 "And to Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth..." 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:59.160 “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) 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:04.160 “They glorify (Him) night and day; they flag not.” (21:20) 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:06.350 Second: 00:06:06.350 --> 00:06:08.350 They are inherently disposed to obedience. 00:06:08.350 --> 00:06:10.379 Allah Almighty said: 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:15.379 “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) 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:17.379 And Allah Almighty said: 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:23.379 “They fear their Lord above them, and do what they are bidden.” (16:50) 00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:25.449 Third: 00:06:25.449 --> 00:06:27.449 They possess wings, 00:06:27.449 --> 00:06:29.449 as Allah Almighty said: 00:06:29.449 --> 00:06:39.449 "[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..." 00:06:39.449 --> 00:06:42.449 “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) 00:06:42.449 --> 00:06:47.449 "Indeed, Allah is over all things competent." 00:06:47.449 --> 00:06:51.449 And Gabriel, peace be upon him, has six hundred wings, 00:06:51.449 --> 00:06:58.449 as established when the Messenger (peace be upon him) saw him in his original form in which Allah created him, 00:06:58.449 --> 00:07:00.449 blocking the horizon. 00:07:00.449 --> 00:07:04.509 This demonstrates the immense grandeur of the angels' creation. 00:07:04.509 --> 00:07:06.670 Fourth: 00:07:06.670 --> 00:07:08.670 They may appear in human form, 00:07:08.670 --> 00:07:13.670 as Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, recounted regarding the angels who came to Abraham, 00:07:13.670 --> 00:07:16.670 and then to Lot, peace be upon them. 00:07:16.670 --> 00:07:18.670 Allah Almighty said: 00:07:18.670 --> 00:07:24.670 “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) 00:07:24.670 --> 00:07:26.670 "He said, 'Peace...'" 00:07:26.670 --> 00:07:30.670 “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) 00:07:30.670 --> 00:07:33.670 That was because he thought they were humans 00:07:33.670 --> 00:07:35.670 who had arrived as guests. 00:07:35.670 --> 00:07:43.670 “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) 00:07:43.670 --> 00:07:45.670 "They said, 'Do not fear...'" 00:07:45.670 --> 00:07:48.670 “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) 00:07:48.670 --> 00:07:52.740 And as conveyed in the famous hadith of Gabriel: 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:57.740 "While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), 00:07:57.740 --> 00:08:01.740 there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:03.740 and with exceedingly black hair. 00:08:03.740 --> 00:08:06.740 No signs of travel were seen upon him, 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:09.740 and none of us knew him." 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:16.740 At the end of the hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:17.740 "O 'Umar, 00:08:17.740 --> 00:08:19.740 do you know who the questioner was?" 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.740 'Umar replied, 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:24.740 "Allah and His Messenger know best." 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:27.740 The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:29.740 "Indeed, he was Gabriel, 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:32.740 who came to you to teach you your religion." 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:34.740 Reported by Muslim. 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:38.830 Names and functions of some of the angels 00:08:38.830 --> 00:08:42.539 Part of the detailed belief in the angels 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:48.539 is believing in their names and functions mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah. 00:08:48.539 --> 00:08:50.539 Among them are: 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:53.539 First: Gabriel, peace be upon him, 00:08:53.539 --> 00:08:56.539 who is the greatest and most virtuous of the angels, 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:59.539 entrusted with bringing down the revelation, 00:08:59.539 --> 00:09:01.539 and titled "the Trustworthy Spirit" (al-Ruh al-Amin), 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:03.539 as Allah Almighty said: 00:09:03.539 --> 00:09:06.539 “Which the True Spirit hath brought down” (26:193) 00:09:06.539 --> 00:09:10.570 “Upon thy heart, that thou mayst be (one) of the warners,” (26:194) 00:09:10.570 --> 00:09:13.570 The name of Gabriel is also mentioned in the words of Allah Almighty: 00:09:13.570 --> 00:09:18.570 "Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His angels, and His messengers, 00:09:18.570 --> 00:09:20.570 and Gabriel and Michael..." 00:09:20.570 --> 00:09:24.570 “Who is an enemy to Allah, and His angels and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael! Then, lo! Allah (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers.” (2:98) 00:09:24.570 --> 00:09:25.950 Second: 00:09:25.950 --> 00:09:27.950 Israfil, 00:09:27.950 --> 00:09:31.950 entrusted with blowing the Trumpet when the Hour is established; 00:09:31.950 --> 00:09:32.950 and Michael, 00:09:32.950 --> 00:09:35.950 entrusted with rain and vegetation. 00:09:35.950 --> 00:09:38.950 The Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned them together 00:09:38.950 --> 00:09:40.950 along with Gabriel 00:09:40.950 --> 00:09:44.950 in the opening supplication of the night prayer, 00:09:44.950 --> 00:09:45.950 saying: 00:09:45.950 --> 00:09:50.950 "O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Israfil, and Michael, 00:09:50.950 --> 00:09:53.950 Creator of the heavens and the earth..." 00:09:53.950 --> 00:09:55.049 the hadith. 00:09:55.049 --> 00:09:57.049 Reported by Muslim. 00:09:57.049 --> 00:10:01.240 The Holy Qur'an mentioned Michael using the phrasing "Mikal," 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:04.240 as in the preceding verse. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:05.559 Third: 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:08.559 Malik, the keeper of Hellfire. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:10.559 Allah Almighty said: 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:14.559 "And they will call, 'O Malik, let your Lord put an end to us!'" 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:18.559 His assistants are described as the keepers of Hell. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:20.559 Allah Almighty said: 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:24.559 “And those in the Fire say unto the guards of hell: Entreat your Lord that He relieve us of a day of the torment.” (40:49) 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:29.559 "'Pray to your Lord to lighten for us a day from the punishment.'" 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:31.750 Fourth: 00:10:31.750 --> 00:10:32.750 The Angel of Death. 00:10:32.750 --> 00:10:36.750 He has become famous among people by the name 'Izra'il, 00:10:36.750 --> 00:10:39.750 but this is from the Isra'iliyyat (Judeo-Christian traditions), 00:10:39.750 --> 00:10:43.750 and he is not confirmed by this name in either the Qur'an or the Sunnah; 00:10:43.750 --> 00:10:46.750 rather, he is referred to as the Angel of Death. 00:10:46.750 --> 00:10:48.750 Allah Almighty said: 00:10:48.750 --> 00:10:56.909 “Say: The angel of death, who hath charge concerning you, will gather you, and afterward unto your Lord ye will be returned.” (32:11) 00:10:56.909 --> 00:10:57.909 Fifth: 00:10:57.909 --> 00:10:59.909 Munkar and Nakir, 00:10:59.909 --> 00:11:08.100 the two angels entrusted with questioning the servant in the grave about his Lord, his religion, and his Prophet. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:09.100 Sixth: 00:11:09.100 --> 00:11:12.100 The Bearers of the Throne, and they are eight. 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:14.100 Allah Almighty said: 00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:17.100 "And the angels will be at its edges..." 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:22.100 “And the angels will be on the sides thereof, and eight will uphold the Throne of thy Lord that day, above them.” (69:17) 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:24.460 Seventh: 00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:26.460 The Noble Scribes (al-Kiram al-Katibun). 00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:31.460 Every servant has two angels who record his deeds and keep account of them against him: 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:35.460 one on his right and the other on his left. 00:11:35.460 --> 00:11:37.490 Allah Almighty said: 00:11:37.490 --> 00:11:43.490 “When the two Receivers receive (him), seated on the right hand and on the left,” (50:17) 00:11:43.490 --> 00:11:48.490 “He uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready.” (50:18) 00:11:48.490 --> 00:11:50.490 And Allah Almighty said: 00:11:50.490 --> 00:11:53.490 "And indeed, appointed over you are keepers, 00:11:53.490 --> 00:11:56.490 noble and recording; 00:11:56.490 --> 00:11:59.490 they know whatever you do." 00:11:59.490 --> 00:12:00.679 Eighth: 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:05.679 Guardian angels who protect a person from harm in worldly life. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:07.679 Allah Almighty said: 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:14.679 “For him are angels ranged before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.” (13:11) 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:16.870 Ninth: 00:12:16.870 --> 00:12:18.870 And among the angels as well: 00:12:18.870 --> 00:12:20.870 the angel entrusted with the mountains, 00:12:20.870 --> 00:12:24.870 the angel entrusted with the drop of fluid in the wombs, 00:12:24.870 --> 00:12:30.870 angels who fight alongside the believers and reassure them by Allah's command, 00:12:30.870 --> 00:12:32.870 the visitors of al-Bayt al-Ma'mur, 00:12:32.870 --> 00:12:37.870 and wandering angels who attend gatherings of remembrance, 00:12:37.870 --> 00:12:41.480 among others. 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:44.480 The impacts of belief in the angels 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:51.470 Belief in the angels and their functions yields many positive impacts, 00:12:51.470 --> 00:12:53.470 including: 00:12:53.470 --> 00:12:54.470 First: 00:12:54.470 --> 00:12:56.470 Loving them and finding solace in them, 00:12:56.470 --> 00:12:59.470 as they are noble servants 00:12:59.470 --> 00:13:03.470 who love the believers and seek forgiveness for them. 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.539 Second: 00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:09.539 Fear of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and venerating and revering Him, 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:13.539 because these angels, despite their immense and formidable creation, 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:16.539 fear their Lord and stand in awe of Him; 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:20.700 so how much more should weak, helpless man? 00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:21.700 Third: 00:13:21.700 --> 00:13:26.700 Modesty before Allah and before the noble recording angels, 00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:31.700 who never depart from the servant and account for his deeds, 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:39.950 such that the servant feels ashamed that they should observe him committing acts of disobedience to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, that he ought not to commit. 00:13:39.950 --> 00:13:40.950 Fourth: 00:13:40.950 --> 00:13:45.950 Reassurance and steadfastness during times of hardship and jihad, 00:13:45.950 --> 00:13:52.950 knowing that Allah strengthens the believers with angels who fight alongside them. 00:13:52.950 --> 00:13:57.659 A Summary of the Creed of Ahl al-Sunnah