The theme of angels has suddenly commanded the attention of the news media and countless individual's worldwide. Books being published about Angels have exceeded (5) five million copies. The reported stories about angelic intervention spans the world. Everything about Angels depicts them as being beautiful and having wings, rare and yet familiar. In the Holy Quran we read; "Praise be to Allah who made angels with wings two, three and four pairs." Many People have reported as having had an encounter with an angel or angels. Belief in Angels as being celestial beings is not of recent origin. The belief in angels is evident in all-major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Also in Buddhism, Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. In Islam, the belief in angels is a cardinal article of Faith. Angels are seen as being servants of Allah (God). They are created of light and act as intermediaries between Allah (God) and His creation. We cannot fully comprehend the true nature of angels and their being able to materialize in the form of human beings, but there are many reported traditions that relate to their having being seen as humans. At the time of the creation of Adam, they were commanded by Allah (God) to prostrate before Adam. Not being possessed of a free will, they all obediently prostrated. Their prostration was a sign of obedience to Allah (God) and respect to Adam. {Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam": they bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord"}. The report prevalent in the Judeo-Christian religion is that one, Iblis (Satan) did not prostrate and has since been termed a fallen Angel. This term is not accepted in Islam, as there are no fallen Angels. The Quran is quite clear on this point. Iblis (Satan) was not an angel, but was one of the Jinns, who possessed a free will. He was possessed of a fiery and an arrogant nature, puffed up with pride. When questioned by Allah (God) as to why he did not also prostrate, he said that as Jinns, "I am better than he is: Thou did create me of (smokeless) fire and him from the earth (clay)." His arrogant attitude led to his being eventually expelled from heaven. There are in creation Archangels, with countless Angels under their respective command being: Jibril (Gabriel), Mika'IL (Michael), Israfrl, Ezrail, and Malik. Blessed indeed is the Night of Power when God's mercy descends, through the medium of His angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) bringing the message of Mercy, the Holy Quran. The night of spiritual darkness is dissipated, peace and blessings descends upon the human hearts and souls, Peace reigns supreme as the darkness of ignorance is replaced by the spiritual dawn of a glorious new day. In the Holy Quran we read: {In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful}. "We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power. And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is. The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) by Allah's permission on every errand: Peace! It is, until the rise of the Dawn." The one specific Archangel mentioned in the Scriptures is Jibril (Gabrial), the conveyor of the divine message to all the prophets to whom he was sent by Allah (God). He conveyed and inspired the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH even as he conveyed and inspired .the Gospel to Jesus PBUH, the Tawrah (Torah) to Moses PBUH and he inspired the book and wisdom to Abraham. We are reminded of that modest Jewish girl Mariam (Mary), whose life was completely changed by the message which the Angel Gabriel, did bring to her, being that she would give birth to a son who would be called Essa (Jesus). Mika'IL (Michael) is the Archangel of Justice and Israfil, the Archangel of the Trumpet Call, who will call all the people to the court of Allah (God) on the Day of Judgment. Ezrail, the Archangel of Death, who will order the assigned Angels to take an individual's soul at a time specified by Allah (God). He has countless Angels under his command. Archangel Malik is assigned as the guardian of the gates of hell. {They will cry: "O Malik! Would that thy Lord put an end to us!" he will say, "Nay, but ye shall abide!".} There are "guardian angels" which are assigned to every human being and who is guarded according to Allah's (God's) command. "Verily over you (are appointed Angels) to protect you." Behold, two (recording angels) appointed to learn 'his doings' Learn 'and note them', One sitting on the right and one on the left". These two recording angels Rakeeb and Ateed. One is on the right and one on the left side of every individual. The one on the right records every good deed performed by the individual, and enters a credit of +10 points. The one on the left records every misdeed. He however hesitates to write for some time in the hope that the individual will repent and seek forgiveness. Failing to repent, the angel reluctantly records a debit of +l one point. The ratio is 10 to 1, which indicates the mercy of Allah (God). On the Day of Judgment these two Angels will present the individual with a copy of their records, being their good deeds and their bad deeds. Also among the angels, there are two angels Munkar and Nakir. These angels are in charge of questioning the people in the grave. And they will show them heaven and hell. Moreover, the angel Ridwan is the custodian of the Garden (Paradise) as stated in Hadiths. In addition to this, Harut-and Marut are two Angels who came down upon Babylon, warning the inhabitants of their evil ways. The people at this time were delving into the pseudo-science of astrology, practicing magic, witchcraft, wizardry and other deceiving practices. Myths abounded, having been fabricated by Satan and his minions. They taught people magic claiming that Sulayman (AS) (Solomon) was a sorcerer who practiced sorcery; but Allah absolved Solomon of this false allegation. He was a true believer and never taught magic. It was the Satan, who taught the people so "They followed (believing) what the evil ones gave out falsely against the power of Solomon: the blasphemers were, not Solomon, but the evil ones, teaching the people magic". The two angels were fully aware of the conniving of Satan. They did not withhold knowledge. They explained the difference between true science and pseudo-science. They also warned the inhabitants that knowledge could be destructive in the hands of the evil person. The Holy Quran points out that Allah assured that the two Angels were aware of the inhabitants practicing sorcery and magic. There was no sin in their discussing this evil practice; but the angels warned the inhabitants, "We are only a trial, so don't commit blasphemy ". Those who study the science and use it for the good of humanity will be blessed, while those who use it in an evil way not only harm their own souls, but humanity in general. Angels are ever present in the mosques recording the prayers of the faithful and will testify at the Day of Judgment. There are countless Angels who are constantly praying to Allah (God) and asking that He forgive the believing people. "Those who sustain the throne of Allah (God) and those around it sing glory and Praise to their Lord, believe in Him and implore forgiveness for those who believe: our Lord! Thy Reach is over all things. In Mercy and knowledge forgive, then, those who turn in Repentance, and follow Thy Path, and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire!" "And grant our Lord! That they enter the Gardens of Eternity, which thou have promised to them, and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their posterity! For Thou art (He), the Exalted in Might full of wisdom." It has been recorded that Iblis, (Diabolis) is the Satan whose followers or progeny are considered among the evil Jinns. The Quran and the Hadiths describe the Jinns as invisible spirits, created of smokeless fire. Like the human creation, they possess a free- will. They may believe or disbelieve, accept or reject, lead to the good or to the evil ways. In the Quran, we read that Allah (God) questioned the angels "Was it you that these men used to worship." They proclaimed their dependence on Allah (God) and they denied ever encouraging that they be worshipped. They also added that many men and women (practicing sorcery) worshipped not the angels but the evil Jinns. Responding to the force of evil which lies hidden in their hearts and in their surroundings. We also read that a group of the Jinns overheard the Prophet Muhammad P B U H reciting verses from the Holy Quran. They returned to their fellow Jinns giving the 'Good News'. Finally, we can conclude that there are among the Jinns, and among the humans, those who are believers and those who are disbelievers. {Behold, We turned towards thee a company of Jinns (quietly) listening to the Quran: when they stood in the presence therefore, they said, 'Listen in silence!' When the (reading) was finished, they returned to their people, to warn (them of their sins)}. Every man and woman has an associate from among the angels, who inspires them to good and noble actions, and an associate from among the Jinns who incites in them their base passions to commit sinful acts. The evil Jinns are always seeking to mislead mankind. "They who whispers into the hearts of mankind. Among the (good) Jinns and among mankind". Men and women are required to keep their passions under control at all times and to resist the Jinn's evil prompting. When men or women succeed in over coming the urge to commit evil acts, the Jinns are brought into subjection and actually assists commanding nothing but good. The will power of the human being when it is used in the right way will enable all men and women to overcome there base passions. They would bring themselves near to Allah (God). Men would be able to plan, initiate and perform the tasks that are assigned them as vicegerents of Allah (God). People who have had an encounter with an angel or a Jinn are reluctant to discuss their experience fearing that they would be ridiculed; however, there are many people who have reported an angelic experience. Saleem Ameen Ganam. ANGELS and JINNS
CELESTIAL BEINGS