Physical characteristics ofAngels- I

What they were created from andwhen
The substance from which Allaah,the Most Exalted, created angels is
light. It is narrated on the authority of `Aa'ishah that the Messenger
of Allaah said: "The angels were created from light, the jinn were
created from smokeless fire, and Aadam was created from that which has
been described to you (i.e. in the Quran, which is clay)." [Muslim]
Prophet Muhammad did not explain what light this is that they were
created from. Hence we cannot indulge in trying to say more about this
matter, because it is the matter of the unseen concerning which no
further clarification has been narrated, apart from this
Hadeeth(narration).
We do not know when the angelswere created, for Allaah has not
informed us about that. But we do know that they were created before
Aadam the father of mankind. Allaah has told us that He informed the
angels that He was going to create a Khaleefah (vicegerent) on earth.
Almighty Allaah Says in the Noble Quran (what means):
{And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels,
'Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.} [Quran
2:30]
Allaah also Says (what means): {And when I have proportioned him and
breathed into him of My soul, then fall down to him in prostration.}
[Quran 15:29]
Seeing the angels
Because the angels have bodies of light which are of low density,
mankind cannot see them, especially since Allaah has not given our
eyes the ability to see them.
No one has seen the angels in their true form apart from Prophet
Muhammad . He saw Jibreel (angel Gabriel) twice in the form in which
Allaah created him.
On the other hand, different textsindicate that human beings were able
to see the angels in human form. An example for this is the long
Hadeeth (narration), 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab said: "One day while we
were sitting with the Messenger of Allaah thereappeared before us a
man whoseclothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly
black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and noneof us
knew him. He walked up and sat down by the Prophet ( ). Resting his
knees against his and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs, he
said: 'O Muhammad, tell me about Islam…..'"
After asking the Prophet other questions, the visitor left and the
Prophet said to 'Umar : "O 'Umar, do you know who the questioner was?"
'Umar said: 'Allaah and His Messenger know best' . He said: 'He was
Jibreel (Gabriel); he came to teachyou your religion.'" [Muslim]
(2) Their great physical size
Allaah, the Most Exalted, Says concerning the angels of Hell (what means):
"O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a
Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed]
angels, harsh andsevere; they do not disobey Allaah in what He
commands them but do what they are commanded." [Quran 66:6]
It will be sufficient in this regard to quote the narrations which
speak of two noble angels.
The great size of Jibreel
The Messenger of Allaah saw Jibreel twice in the angelic form in which
Allaah created him. These two occasions are mentioned in the verse
(which means):
"And he [i.e. Muhammad] has already seen him [i.e. Jibreel] in the
clear horizon." [Quran 81:23]
And the verse (which means):
"And he certainly saw him in another descent. At the Lote Treeof the
Utmost Boundary. Near it is the Garden of Refuge [i.e. Paradise]."
[Quran 53:13-15]
That was when he was taken up to the highest heaven during his
miraculous ascension to heaven.
It is narrated that `Aa'ishah said: "I asked the Messenger of Allaah
about these two verses. He said, "That is Jibreel; I never saw him in
the form in which Allaah created him except on these two occasions. I
saw him descending from the heavens, with his huge size fillingthe
horizon between the heaven and the earth." [Muslim]
`Aa'ishah was asked about the verse (which means): "Then he [Jibreel]
approached and descended." [Quran 53:8]
She said, "That is Jibreel. He used to come to him (the Prophet ) in
human form, but on this occasion he came in his real form, and he
filled the horizons of the sky." [Muslim]
It is narrated that 'Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood said: "Muhammad saw Jibreel
with six hundred wings." [Al-Bukhaari]
He (Ibn Mas'ood) said concerning the verse (which means):
{He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord.} [Quran 53:18]
"This means green cushions, filling the horizons." [Al-Bukhaari]
These cushions that filled the horizons were what Jibreel was seated
upon. Ibn Mas'ood also said, "The Prophet of Allaah saw Jibreel with
his own eyes, on a cushion which filled the space between heaven and
earth."
'Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood said: "The Messenger of Allaah sawJibreel in
his true form. He had sixhundred wings, each of which filled the
horizon, and there weremulti-coloured pearls and rubies falling from
his wings." [Ahmad]
Almighty Allaah Says, describing Jibreel (what means):
"…Indeed, it [i.e. the Quran] is a word [conveyed by] a noble
messenger [i.e. Jibreel]. [Who is] possessed of power and with
theOwner of the Throne, secure [in position]. Obeyed there [in the
heavens] and trustworthy." [Quran 81:19-21]
What is meant by the "most honourable messenger" here is Jibreel, and
the Lord of the Throne is the Lord of Glory, may He be glorified.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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