Part 15

5 jinn: unseen creatures created from smokeless fire; see Glossary for additional explanation.

Nurturing Eeman in Children 105

When children reach the age of responsibility, angels will begin to record their good and bad deeds and will watch them at all times. The records of each human being are preserved by the recording angels, who are assigned to a person throughout their lifetime. They write the record of deeds that will be presented on the Day of Judgment. Allah (4%) mentions,

Or do they think that We hear not their secrets and their private conversations? Yes, [We do], and Our messengers [angels] are with

And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers, noble and recording; they know whatever you do.) (Quran 82: 10-12)

Parents should teach young people that each person has two recording angels, one on the left and one on the right. The angel on the

7 Bukhari and Muslim

left records evil actions and intentions, and the angel on the right records good deeds and intentions. This is evident in the Qur’an:

When the two receivers [recording angels] receive, seated on the right and on the left. He [a person] does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].? (Qur’an 50: 17-18)

There are guardian angels that protect humans from whatever has not been decreed for them. They are stationed in front and behind each person.

Bo Mere ge eee we he

Allah (gg) also indicates,

Nurturing Eeman in Children 107

‘ tyee bene Bem 7 6% eee ok EVV 2p] 4Q).. BES SSE Ls Sate SS Sail hs And He is the subjugator over His servants, and He sends over you

These guardian angels have been given the task of protecting the individual until the decree of Allah arrives; then they withdraw from him in order to allow the decree to reach him. They are present until the time of death.”

Angels supplicate to Allah to send blessings and forgiveness upon the believers. Allah (3) says,

ne ae ee ee : eo eee o. SE Sal AB Se ER Ke Le call ap {It is He who confers blessings upon you, and His angels [ask Him to

do so] that He may bring you out from darkness into the light; and ever is He, to the believers, merciful. (Qur’an 33: 43)

When the angels pray for the believers, this assists them in avoiding disbelief and sin and guides them to the light which is the path of Islam.'? Children should feel comforted knowing that Allah in * His mercy has provided such assistance.

Children should be taught that angels will accompany them at the time of their death. The Angel of Death and his helpers are entrusted with the task of taking the soul of each human at the time of death. Allah (4) mentions,

Pk obey oc ey Ft ete Beg Be tees ob 4D SAS SISK B ull oti ak Ke Seep

Say: The angel of death, who has been entrusted with you, will take

you. Then to your Lord you will be returned.) (Quran 32: 11)

For the hypocrites and disbelievers, the process will be difficult and repulsive.

Dv tnd) 6) A005 18d Ghve KIT 485 8 Gy {Then how {will it be] when the angels take them in death, striking their faces and their backs?} (Quran 47: 27) For the believers, it will be pleasant.

BS G Bai is KC a Se ab % Sai A Eailp fest

{The ones whom the angels take in death, [being] good and pure; [the angels] will say: Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you

The appearance of the angels at death is also determined by the condition of the soul at that time. If the person is evil, the angels take

2 Al-Ashgar, (2002), The World of the Noble Angels, pp. 80-83

Nurturing Eemdan in Children 109

on an ugly appearance, a disgusting odour, and a harsh demeanour. For the doer of good, they have the best appearance, the most beautiful form and smell, and will bring the good news in a pleasant manner.

Children should be reminded to say “As-salému alaykum”

* the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it together, tranquillity descends upon them, mercy encompasses them,

Ramadan is a particularly opportune time to have discussions about angels. On the Night of Decree, '* the angels come down from the heavens with the decrees of Allah, as Allah (3%) describes,

and the Spirit [Gabriel] descend therein by permission of their Lord

This means that they bring down the decree for everything destined to occur in the following year; another important task of the angels of which we should make our children aware.

Relating stories and reminding children of their various roles will make angels ‘real’ or true for them and solidify their faith in this

'* Muslim and Abu Dawood

15 The Night of Decree (or Night of Power), or Laylat al-Qadr in Arabic, is one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Worship and other forms of good deeds performed on this night are rewarded as if one had been performing them for a thousand months.