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- The material of their creation from which they were created is: Light;
As Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) recounted from her father: that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Angels were created from light, and jinns were created from fire, and Adam was created from what was described to you.”
It is worth mentioning that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not show us from which light they were created? Therefore, we cannot delve into this matter for further specificity, because it is absent and there is nothing more clear than this hadith.
Since angels are gentle bodies of light, humans cannot see them, especially since Allah did not give our eyes the ability to see them, and no one from this nation, ever saw the angels in their true images except the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), he saw Gabriel twice in his image that God created him, and the texts have shown that humans can see angels, if angels are represented in the form of humans.
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- The second quality: The greatness of their creation:
Allah Almighty describes the Angels of Hell-Fire:
( O believers! Protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, overseen by formidable and severe angels, who never disobey whatever Allah orders—always doing as commanded.) At-Tahrim 66:6
It means that the angels that attend to Hell-Fire are severe and formidable. And when they strike, they strike hard. Their count is nineteen.
Among these angels: Jibril (peace be upon him): The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw him in his angelic image that Allah created him twice, Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported that he said: “Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw Jibril with six hundred wings” and in a narration he had “filled between heaven and earth” and in a narration: “Each of his wings has blocked the horizon”.
Among those great angels are the ones who carry the throne:
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “I was allowed to speak of an angel from the angels of Allah who carry the Throne: (the distance) between his earlobe and shoulder covers a journey of seven hundred years.”
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- Third quality: they have wings
Allah Almighty has told us about their wings:
(All praise is for Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, Who made angels ˹as His˺ messengers with wings—two, three, or four. He increases in creation whatever He wills. Surely Allah is Most Capable of everything. ) Fatir 35:1
There are some angels who have two wings, some have three or four, or many more. The Prophet pbuh has informed us about Jibril who has six hundred wings.
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- Fourth Quality: They are beautiful creatures:
Allah Has created them in the best of forms. Allah Almighty says about Gabriel (Jibril):
(He has been taught by one ˹angel˺ of mighty power and great perfection, who once rose to ˹his˺ true form) An-Najm 53: 5-6
And people have always described the angels as being beautiful.
(When they saw him, they were so stunned ˹by his beauty˺ that they cut their hands, and exclaimed, “Good God! This cannot be human; this must be a noble angel!”) Yusuf 12: 111
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- Fifth Quality: they are not identified as male nor female
The polytheists of the Arabs went astray when they claimed that the angels were females, and added to that fabrication a greater one, claiming that these females were the daughters of God, Allah the Almighty said in a statement exposing their lies and slander:
( Ask them ˹O Prophet˺ if your Lord has daughters,1 while the pagans ˹prefer to˺ have sons. Or ˹ask them˺ if We created the angels as females right before their eyes. Indeed, it is one of their ˹outrageous˺ fabrications to say, “Allah has children.” They are simply liars. Has He chosen daughters over sons? What is the matter with you? How do you judge? Will you not then be mindful? Or do you have ˹any˺ compelling proof? Then bring ˹us˺ your scripture, if what you say is true! They have also established a ˹marital˺ relationship between Him and the jinn. Yet the jinn ˹themselves˺ know well that such people will certainly be brought ˹for punishment˺. Glorified is Allah far above what they claim!) As-Saffat 37:149-159
It is worth warning and caution that angelism is a mystical world that man has not seen, and such unseen worlds are not subject to our worldly human measurements, but rather the polytheists of the Arabs have fallen into the feminization of angels, which is not suitable for judging the unseen things.
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- Sixth Quality: They do not eat nor drink.
Angels do not need the food or drink as humans do, as Allah Almighty has informed us that the angels who went to see Ibrahim (in the form of humans), and he presented food to them, but they did not reach out to eat, so he was afraid of them. But they informed him of their reality, so his fear faded.
( Has the story of Abraham’s honoured guests reached you ˹O Prophet˺? ˹Remember˺ when they entered his presence and greeted ˹him with˺, “Peace!” He replied, “Peace ˹be upon you˺!” ˹Then he said to himself,˺ “˹These are˺ an unfamiliar people.” Then he slipped off to his family and brought a fat ˹roasted˺ calf, and placed it before them, asking, “Will you not eat?” ˹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. Then his wife came forward with a cry, clasping her forehead ˹in astonishment˺, exclaiming, “˹A baby from˺ a barren, old woman!” They replied, “Such has your Lord decreed. He is truly the All-Wise, All-Knowing.”) Adh-dariyat 51: 24-30
( 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.”) Hud 11:70
The scholars have agreed that the angels do not eat, drink nor intermarry.
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- Seventh Quality: They do not get bored nor weary
The angels Worship Allah, glorify Him they obey Him and do as they are commanded, without complaints nor boredom. They never grow weary as humans do.
( To Him belong all those in the heavens and the earth. And those nearest to Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they tire.) Al-Anbiya 21: 20
( But if the pagans are too proud, then ˹let them know that˺ those ˹angels˺ nearest to your Lord glorify Him day and night, and never grow weary.) Fussilat 41:38
Al-Siyuti said: ‘They never grow weary’ : Angels don’t sleep.
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- الصفة الأولى: مادة خلقهم التي خلقوا منها هي: النور
كما روت عائشة رضي الله عنها وعن أبيها: أن رسول الله ﷺ قال: “خلقت الملائكة من نور، وخلق الجان من مارج من نار، وخلق آدم مما وصف لكم”.
وجدير بالتنبيه أن رسول الله ﷺ لم يبين لنا أي نور هذا الذي خلقوا منه؟ ولذلك فإننا لا نستطيع أن نخوض في هذا الأمر لمزيد من التحديد؛ لأنه غيب لم يرد فيه ما يوضحه أكثر من هذا الحديث.
ولما كانت الملائكة أجساما نورانية لطيفة، فإن العباد لا يستطيعون رؤيتهم، خاصة أن الله لم يعط أبصارنا القدرة على هذه الرؤية، ولم ير الملائكة في صورهم الحقيقية من هذه الأمة إلا الرسول ﷺ، فإنه رأى جبريل مرتين في صورته التي خلقه الله عليها، وقد دلت النصوص على أن البشر يستطيعون رؤية الملائكة، إذا تمثل الملائكة في صورة بشر.
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- الصفة الثانية: عظم خلقهم
قال الله تعالى في ملائكة النار:” يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَاراً وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلائِكَةٌ غِلاظٌ شِدَادٌ لا يَعْصُونَ اللهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ “. التحريم :6
أي: على النار قائمون عليها -وهم الخزنة التسعة عشرة- غلاظ القلوب والطباع، شداد البطش إذا بطشوا.
ومن هؤلاء الملائكة: جبريل عليه السلام: فقد رآه رسول الله ﷺ على صورته الملائكية التي خلقه الله عليها مرتين، فعن عبد الله بن مسعود أنه قال: ” رأى محمد ﷺ جبريل له ستمائة جناح ” وفي رواية قد “قد ملأ ما بين السماء والأرض” وفي رواية: “كل جناح منها قد سد الأفق”.
ومن هؤلاء الملائكة عظيمي الخلق حملة العرش، فقد روى أبو داود عن جابر بن عبد الله – رضي الله عنهما – أن رسول الله ﷺ قال:” أذن لي أن أحدث عن ملك من ملائكة الله، من حملة العرش، إن ما بين شحمة أذنه إلى عاتقه مسيرة سبعمائة عام”.
وفي رواية عند الطبراني عن أنس قال: قال رسول الله ﷺ: “أذن لي أن أحدث عن ملك من حملة العرش، رجلاه في الأرض السفلى، وعلى قرنه العرش، وبين شحمة أذنيه وعاتقه خفقان الطير سبعمائة عام، يقول ذلك الملك: سبحانك حيث كنت”.
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- الصفة الثالثة: من صفاتهم أن لهم أجنحة
أخبرنا الله تعالى بتلك الأجنحة فقال سبحانه: “الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَثْنَى وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ”.
فأخبر أن منهم من له جناحان، ومنهم من له ثلاثة، أو أربعة، ومنهم من له أكثر من ذلك، وقد تقدم ذكر الأحاديث التي يخبر فيه الرسول ﷺ أن لجبريل ستمائة جناح.
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- صفة الرابعة: أنه جميلي الخلقة:
أي أن الله خلقهم على صور جميلة كريمة، قال تعالى في جبريل: “عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَى. ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَى”. ومعنى: ” ذُو مِرَّةٍ”: أي ذو منظر حسن
وقد تقرر عند الناس وصف الملائكة بالجمال، كما في قوله تعالى:” فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُ أَكْبَرْنَهُ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَاشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَذَا إِلَّا مَلَكٌ كَرِيمٌ”.
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- الصفة الخامسة: أنهم لا يوصفون بالذكورة ولا بالأنوثة
وقد ضل مشركوا العرب حين زعموا أن الملائكة إناث، وزادوا على تلك الخرافة خرافة أعظم وأكبر، فزعموا أن هؤلاء الإناث بنات الله، قال الله تعالى في بيان كذبهم
وافترائهم:
“فَاسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَلِرَبِّكَ الْبَنَاتُ وَلَهُمُ الْبَنُونَ. أَمْ خَلَقْنَا الْمَلَائِكَةَ إِنَاثًا وَهُمْ شَاهِدُونَ. أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ مِنْ إِفْكِهِمْ لَيَقُولُونَ. وَلَدَ اللَّهُ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ. أَصْطَفَى الْبَنَاتِ عَلَى الْبَنِينَ. مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ. أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ. أَمْ لَكُمْ سُلْطَانٌ مُبِينٌ. فَأْتُوا بِكِتَابِكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ. وَجَعَلُوا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجِنَّةِ نَسَبًا وَلَقَدْ عَلِمَتِ الْجِنَّةُ إِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ. سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ”
ومن الجدير بالتنبيه أن الملاكة عالم غيبي لم يطلع عليه الإنسان، ومثل هذه العوالم الغيبية لا تخضع لقياساتنا البشرية الدنيوية، وإنما وقع مشركوا العرب فيما وقعوا فيه من تأنيث الملائكة لأجل هذا الميزان الذي لا يصلح وضعه للحكم على الأمور الغيبية.
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- الصفة السادسة: لا يأكلون ولا يشربون
الملائكة لا يحتاجون إلى طعام البشر وشرابهم، فقد أخبرنا الله أن الملائكة جاؤوا إبراهيم في صورة بشر، فقدم لهم الطعام، فلم تمتد أيديهم إليه، فأوجس منهم خيفة، فكشفوا له عن حقيقتهم، فزال خوفه واستغرابه:
“هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ ضَيْفِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْمُكْرَمِينَ () إِذْ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالُوا سَلَامًا قَالَ سَلَامٌ قَوْمٌ مُنْكَرُونَ () فَرَاغَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ فَجَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ سَمِينٍ () فَقَرَّبَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ أَلَا تَأْكُلُونَ () فَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ وَبَشَّرُوهُ بِغُلَامٍ عَلِيمٍ () فَأَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فِي صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ () قَالُوا كَذَلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ”.
وفي آية أخرى قال: “فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَى قَوْمِ لُوطٍ”.
نقل اتفاق العلماء أن الملائكة لا يأكلون ولا يشربون ولا يتناكحون.
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- الصفة السابعة: لا يملون ولا يتعبون
الملائكة يقومون بعبادة الله وطاعته وتنفيذ أوامره، بلا كلل ولا ملل، ولا يدركهم ما يدرك البشر من ذلك، قال تعالى في وصف الملائكة: “وَلَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ. يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ” ومعنى لا يفترون: لا يضعفون، وفي الآية الأخرى:
“فَإِنِ اسْتَكْبَرُوا فَالَّذِينَ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ يُسَبِّحُونَ لَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْأَمُونَ” أي: لا يملون.
وقد استدل السيوطي بقوله: (لا يفترون) على أن الملائكة لا ينامون، ونقله عن الفخر الرازي.