The Characteristics and Description of Angels

 

Dr Muhammad Salah

 

‏٢٠ نوفمبر‏، الساعة ‏٨:٤٥ م‏  · 

The Characteristics and Description of Angels

1. Created From Light

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The angels were created from light, just as the jinn was created from smokeless fire and Adam was created as he has been defined (in the Qur'an) for you.’" [Sahih Muslim 2996].

2. Huge in Size

The Prophet (ﷺ), who said: ‘I have been given permission to speak about one of the angels of Allah who carry the Throne. The distance between his ear-lobes and his shoulders is equivalent to a seven-hundred-year journey.’" [Abu Dawood].

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, describing Jibreel:

"I saw Jibreel descending from heaven, and his great size filled the space between heaven and earth." [Muslim].

3. Possess Wings

"Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels messengers with wings - two, or three, or four (pairs) adds to Creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things." [35:1]

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saw Jibreel in his true form. He had six hundred wings, each of which covered the horizon. There fell from his wings jewels, pearls and rubies, only Allah knows about them." It was reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad, and Ibn Katheer said in al-Bidayah that its isnad (chain of narrators) is jayyid (good).

4. Beautiful Appearance

"He [the Prophet] has been taught by one Mighty in Power, Dhoo Mirrah (free from any defect in body and mind), then he rose and became stable." [53:5-6]

Ibn ‘Abbas said: "‘Dhoo Mirrah means that he has a beautiful appearance." Qutadah said: "He is tall and beautiful."

People’s perception of Angels also relate to beauty and perfection and humans are even likened to Angels when they possess such qualities. An example is when the women in the story of Prophet Yusuf describe him:

". . . When they [the women] saw him, they did extol him and (in their amazement) cut their hands: they said: ‘Allah preserve us! No mortal is this! This is none other than a noble angel!’" [12:31]

5. They never get tired of worshiping Allah

"They glorify ˹Him˺ day and night, never wavering. [21:20]

". . . For in the presence of your Lord are those who celebrate His praises by night and by day. And they never become tired (nor feel themselves above it)." [41:38]

6. They do not eat or drink

This attribute of the Angels can be found upon their meeting with Prophet Ibrahim (AS):

Then he slipped off to his family and brought a fat ˹roasted˺ calf, and placed it before them, asking, “Will you not eat?” (When they did not eat) so he grew fearful of them.1 They reassured ˹him˺, “Do not be afraid,” and gave him good news of a knowledgeable son [51:26-28]

And when he saw that their hands did not reach for the food, he became suspicious and fearful of them.1 They reassured ˹him˺, “Do not be afraid! We are ˹angels˺ sent ˹only˺ against the people of Lot.” [11:70]

7. They are great in number

As described by the Prophet ( ﷺ ) "Then I was taken up to the Much-Frequented House: every day seventy thousand angels visit it and leave, never returning to it again, another [group] coming after them." [al-Bukhari].

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Hell will be brought forth that day by means of seventy thousand ropes, each of which will be pulled by seventy thousand angels." [Muslim].

8. Their different status

Narrated by Mu‘adh ibn Rifa‘ah al-Zuraqi from his father, who had been one of the people present at Badr. He said: "Jibreel came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked, ‘How do you rate the people among you who were present at Badr?’ He said: ‘They are the best of the Muslims,’ or something similar. [Jibreel] said: ‘So it is with the angels who were present at Badr.’" [al-Bukhari].

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