3. WHAT THE ANGELS DO
In the last chapter, we focused on the angels’ qualities. In this chapter, we focus on actions that are common to all angels. In the next chapter, we discuss actions specific to certain angels.
How the Angels Behave with Allah
THEY ARE CLOSE TO ALLAH
The angels are among the best of Allah’s creation. Because of this, He gave them important duties and allowed many of them to be close to Him. Allah (swt) says:
«Al-Masih (Al-Masth (or the Messiah) is a name for Isa (or Jesus).) will never refuse to be a servant to Allah, nor will the angels who are near (to Allah).» (An-Nisa’ 4:172.)
THEY CONSTANTLY WORSHIP AND GLORIFY ALLAH
The angels constantly worship Allah, praying to Him, glorifying Him, praising Him, making hajj (pilgrimage) to al-Bayt-ul-Ma’mur, and so on. Allah (swt) says:
«Those (angels) near Him are never too proud to worship Him, nor do they
become tired (of the worship). They exalt Him night and day without reducing their worship.» (Al-Anbiya’ 21:19-20.)
The Prophet (pbuh) explained what the angels say in their exaltation:
<The best way kind of dhikr is that which Allah chose for His angels, “Subhan-Allahi wa-bi-hamdih—Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Him.> (This was recorded by Muslim (2731) from Abi Tharr.)
THEY PRAY IN STRAIGHT LINES
The angels pray to Allah (swt) in straight lines, just as we should. Allah (swt) says:
«By the angels who are lined up in rows (before Allah), and who drive (the clouds) along, and who recite the Qur’an …» (As-Saffat 37:1-3.)
Jabir Bin Samurah reported that the Prophet (puh) once told his companions:
<Don’t you like to line up like the angels line up before their Lord? They complete the first row, then the next; and they pack together in the rows.> (This was recorded by Muslim (430) and others.)
THEY MAKE SUJUD TO ALLAH
The angels pray to Allah standing, bowing, and making sujud. Anas and Hakim Bin Hizam reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<The heavens have squeaked (from weight), and they have the right to squeak. There is not even a span (A span is approximately nine inches (22 cm).) but that it has an angel in sujud or standing (in prayer), exalting and praising Allah.> (This was recorded by at-Tahawi, at-Tabarani, and others. It was verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah 852 and Sahih-ul-Jami‘ 1020).)
THEY GO FOR HAJJ
The angels visit al-Bayt-ul-Ma‘mur to worship Allah (swt). Every day, seventy thousand of them enter it and never come back again until the Day of Judgment. Anas reported that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
<Al-Bayt-ul-Ma‘mur is in the seventh heaven. Seventy thousand angels enter it every day to pray, and (after leaving) they never return to it.> (This was recorded by al-Bukhari (3207) and Muslim (162).)
THEY FEAR ALLAH
Allah deserves to be feared; and the angels know Him so well that they truly fear Him. Allah (swt) says:
«To Allah bow (in sujid) all the living creatures in the heavens and on Earth. The angels do too, without any arrogance. They fear their Lord above them, and they do as they are commanded (by Him).» (An-Nahl 16:49-50.)
The Prophet (pbuh) describes Jibril’s fear of Allah:
<On the night of Isra’, I passed by the highest angels. Jibril looked like a worn-out rug from fearing Allah (swt).> (This was recorded by at-Tabarani (in al-Awsat) and al-Bazzar from Jabir. It was verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah 2289).)
THEY OBEY ALLAH
We have seen that the angels are most obedient to Allah (swt) and never disobey Him. Allah also says:
«They are only honored servants (to Allah). They cannot speak before Him, and they act by His command.» (Al-Anbiya’ 21:26-27.)
THEY LOVE WHAT ALLAH LOVES AND HATE WHAT HE HATES
The angels love what Allah loves and hate what He hates. So they love the people whom Allah (swt) loves and hate those whom He hates. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<Indeed, when Allah loves a (good) person, He calls to Jibril, “I love so and-so, so love him.” Jibril loves him and calls out in the heavens, “Allah loves so-and-so, so love him.” The heavens’ angels love him, and acceptance is laid down for him on Earth.
And when Allah hates a (bad) person, He calls to Jibril, “I hate so-and-so, so hate him.” Jibril then hates him and calls out in the heavens, “Allah hates so-and-so, so hate him.” The angels of the heavens hate him, and hatred is laid down for him on Earth.> (This was recorded by Muslim (2637). Al-Bukhari only recorded the first part about love (3209).)
We saw earlier that the angels also love the gatherings that Allah (swt) loves. They like to accompany those who pray, recite Qur’an, mention Allah, or do other good deeds.
From this, we see the great falsehood of the myth about an angel of love called Cupid. He is pictured as a young naked boy carrying a bow and arrows. When he shoots an arrow at two individuals, they immediately fall in love. True angels only love and
bring love with Allah’s permission.
THEY ONLY DESCEND WITH ALLAH’S PERMISSION
The angels cannot descend from the heavens whenever they wish, but only when Allah (swt) tells them. Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to Jibril, «Why don’t you visit us more often?» Allah (swt) then revealed:
«We (angels) only descend by your Lord’s command. To Him belongs that which is before us and that which is behind us.»(Maryam 19:64.),(This was recorded by al-Bukhari (3218).)
The Angels with the People
THEY BRING DOWN ALLAH’S MESSAGES
Allah (swt) selected the angels for a very great and noble job, which is taking His commands and teachings to the people. Allah (swt) says:
«All praise is to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and Earth, the One who has made the angels messengers …» (Fatir 35:1.)
The angels deserved this great responsibility because of their wonderful qualities that we discussed earlier.
THEY BLOW LIFE INTO PEOPLE AND RECORD THEIR FUTURE
While we are in our mother’s womb, Allah (swt) sends an angel to blow life into us and write important things from our future. Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<The creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother’s womb for forty days as a seed, then as a clot for as long, then as a lump (of flesh) for as long. Allah then sends an angel who is commanded to blow the soul into him and write down four things: his sustenance, life-span, deeds, and whether he will be miserable or happy.> (This was recorded by al-Bukhari (3208) and Muslim (2643).)
THEY WRITE WHAT THE PEOPLE DO
There are angels who stay with us at all times. They record all what we do, whether good or bad. Allah (swt) says:
«Do they think that We do not hear their secrets and private talks? Yes indeed (We do)! And Our messengers are by them, recording.» (Az-Zukhruf 43:80.)
These angels are most noble, and do not forget to write a thing. Every person in this life has two angels: one on his right recording his good deeds, and one on his left recording his bad deeds. Allah (swt) says:
«Surely, there are (angels) appointed over you to watch you. They are honorable recorders. They know all that you do.» (Al-Infitar 82:10-12.)
Also, Allah (swt) says:
«(We know) when the two receiving (angels) write, seated on the right and on the left. He (the person) does not utter one word but that with him is an observer ready (to write it).» (Qaf 50:17-18.)
The angel on the left gives a person a chance to repent from his sin before he records it for him. Abu Umamah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
«Indeed, the angel on the left lifts the pen for six hours off a sinful Muslim. If he then regrets and seeks Allah’s forgiveness for his sin, the angel drops it. Otherwise, he records it as one sin.> (This was recorded by at-Tabarani, al-Bayhaqi, and Abu Nu‘aym, and was verified to be hasan by al-Albani (as-Sahihah 1209 and Sahih-ul- amt 2097).)
Similar to a hadith that we cited earlier (In Chapter 2.), Abi Umamah (4) also reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<On Jumu‘ah (Friday), the angels stand at the doors of the masjid holding records. They write the names of those who come first and second and third. When the imam arrives (to give the khutbah), they fold up the records.> (This was recorded by Ahmad and at-Tabarani, and was verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih-ut-Targhib 710 and
Sahih-ul-Jami 1958).)
When we realize that there are two angels seeing and writing all that we do, this will encourage us to do more good deeds and avoid sinning.
The Angels with the Believers
The angels are friends of the believers. They do everything they can in order to help and protect them.
THEY MAKE DU’‘A’ FOR THE BELIEVERS
The angels make du‘a’ for the believers. They also make du‘a’ for the believers who perform specific acts of worship. We will see examples in the following.
Making general du‘a’ for the believers. The angels ask Allah to forgive the believers, protect them from punishment, and admit them into Jannah. Allah (swt) says:
«The angels who carry the Throne and those around it exalt and praise their Lord, believe in Him, and seek forgiveness for the believers (saying), “Our Lord, You surround all things with mercy and knowledge; forgive those who repent and follow Your way, and protect them from the punishment of the great Fire. Our Lord, admit them to the Gardens of ‘Adn that You have promised them and whoever was righteous of their parents, spouses, and children—You surely are the Mighty and Wise. And protect them from all harm, for, anyone whom You protect from harm on that Day will surely receive Your mercy; that is the great success.”» (Ghafir 40:7-9.)
Making du’a’ for those who await the prayers.
The angels make du‘d’ for a person who goes to the masjid early and waits for the prayer to start. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<A person remains (as though) in prayer while he sits in the masjid waiting for the prayer. The angels continue to say, “O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him,” until he leaves or breaks his wudu’ > (This was recorded by al-Bukhari (176), Muslim (649).)
Making du’a’ for those who sit after the prayers. After finishing the prayer, a Muslim should try to stay in his place for some time to make thikr or read Quran. When he does this, the angels keep making du‘a for him. Aba Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<The angels pray for any of you who remains in his place after the prayer, as long as he keeps his wudu’ and does not leave. They say, “O Allah, forgive him; O Allah, have mercy on him.”> (This was recorded by al-Bukhari (659), Muslim (649).)
The angels’ prayer for the believers means that they ask Allah to forgive them and show them mercy. As for Allah’s prayer for a person, as in the next hadiths, it means that Allah praises that person among the angels. With Allah’s praise, he is greatly rewarded in the heavens and on Earth.
Making du‘a’ for those who connect the rows. A’ishah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<Indeed, Allah (swt) and His angels pray for those who connect the rows (in the prayer). Whoever fills a gap, Allah raises him one level because of it> (This was recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and others, and was verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih-ul-Jami‘ 1843 and Sahih-ut-Targhib 501).)
Making du’a’ for those who pray in the front. In addition to going early to pray in the masjid, a Muslim is encouraged to stand in the front rows. Al-Bara, Abi Umamah, and other sahabah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<Indeed, Allah and His angels pray for (those who pray in) the front rows.> (This was recorded by Ahmad and Abu Dawud. It was verified to be authentic by al-Albani (Sahih-ul-Jami‘ 1839-1842 and Sahih-ut-Targhib 491-493).)
Making du’a’ for those who sleep with wudu’. Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<When a person goes to sleep with taharah (or wudu’), an angel stays in
his covers. If he wakes up at any time of the night, the angel says, “O Allah,
forgive Your servant so-and-so because he slept with taharah.”> (This was recorded by Ibn Hibban and at-Tabarani. It was verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah 2539).)
Making du’a’ for those who eating suhur (Suhur is an early breakfast taken before dawn for fasting.). Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<Indeed, Allah and His angels pray for those who eat suhur.> (This was recorded by Ibn Hibban and at-Tabarani. It was verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih-ul-Jami‘ 1844 and as-Sahihah 1654).)
Making du‘a for those who visit the sick. ‘Ali reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<Whenever a Muslim visits a sick Muslim, Allah sends seventy thousand angels to pray for the visitor. If he visits him in the morning, they pray for him until the evening; and if he visits him in the evening, they pray for him until the morning.> (This was recorded by Ahmad and Ibn Hibban. It was verified to be authentic by al-Albani (as-Sahihah 1367).)
Making du‘a for those who give charity. There are angels who make du‘d’ for those who give charity for Allah’s sake. This charity can be for helping the poor, building masjids, teaching Islam and Quran, and so on. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<Every morning, two angels descend (from heaven). One of them says, “O Allah, replenish for those who give (charity).” And the other says, “O Allah, give loss to those who refuse to give.”> (This was recorded by al-Bukhari (1442) and Muslim (1010).)
Making du’a for those who say salah upon the Prophet. ‘Amir Bin Rabi‘ah (&) reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:
<When a person says salah for me, the angels keep praying for him as long as he prays for me. Let him then choose whether to say little or much of this.> (This was recorded by Ahmad and Ibn Majah. It was verified to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih-ul-Jami‘ 5744 and Fadl-us-Salah 6).)
By Muhammad Al-Jibaly
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