He also said:
Allah created Adam from clay; because He shaped him and breathed into
him the spirit He created for him, and instructed the angels to
prostrate to him, and He favoured himover them by teaching him the
names of all things and He created himwith His own hand and soon, he
and the righteous among his descendants are superior to the
angels,even though mankind was created from clay andthe angels from
light.
End quote from Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 11/95
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Allah, may He be glorified,created from inferior material that which
is superior to that which was created from something else. This is a
sign of His perfect power, may He be glorified. Hence Muhammad,
Ibraaheem, Moosa, 'Eesa, Nooh and the Messengers are superior to the
angels.The view of Ahl as-Sunnahis that the righteous among mankind
are superior to the angels, even though their substance is light and
the substance of mankind is dust.
End quote from as-Sawaa'iq al-Mursalah, 3/1002
He also said:
The righteous among mankind are superior to the angels, because the
worship of the angels is free from any contamination of the whims and
desires of the human nafs; it is done by beings that have nothing to
prevent, undermine or resist it. It is like breathing for the living.
As for the acts of worship of human beings, they aredone despite the
inclinations of their heartsand by suppressing their whims and desires
and going against their natural urges. So they are more perfect. Hence
most of the scholars said that humans were superior to the angels for
this reason and others.
End quote from Tareeq al-Hijratayn, 349-350
There are some scholars who highlighted a different approach to this
issue. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Comparing angels to the righteous among mankind is a matter concerning
which there are differences among thescholars, each of whom quoted
texts to support his opinion. But the most correct view is that the
righteous among mankind are superior to the angels on the basis of the
final outcome becauseAllah, may He be glorified and exalted, will give
them reward the like of which cannot be attained by the angels as far
as we know. Rather the angels will be in the abode of thebelievers –
namely Paradise – and will enter upon them from every gate,
congratulating them(with the words): "Salamun Alaikum (peace be upon
you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the
final home!" [ar-Ra 'd 13:24 – interpretation of the meaning]. From
the point of view of their origin, the angels are superior because
they were created from light and their innate nature is to worship and
obey Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, and they have been given
the strength to do that. Allah, may He be exalted, says that among the
angels are the angels of Hell:
"over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobeynot,
(from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that
which they are commanded"
[at-Tahreem 66:6]
"And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to
worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship).
They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they
never slacken (to do so)"
[al-A'raaf 7:206].
This is the decisive view concerning this matter.
Indulging in discussion of this matter and seeking todetermine whether
the righteous among mankind or the angels aresuperior is a kind of
superfluous knowledge. Man has no need of understanding and learning
about this matter.
End quote from Fataawa Noor 'ala ad-Darb, 8/6
He is right, may Allah have mercy on him. This and similar matters are
things that people have no need to indulge in discussion of and enter
into disputes as to which group is superior and which group worships
more? It is a kind of superfluous knowledge and the Muslim has no need
to know which group is superior and more perfect. What the Muslim
should do is focus on putting his own affairs in order by obeying his
Lord.
And Allah knows best.
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