Part 43

They claim that this is what is required by and in accordance with the texts since Allaah, the Most High, addressed the people with that which is understandable to them. This claim of theirs is false and futile and its futility is shown in a number of ways, from them: [a] That resemblance between Allaah, the Most High, and His creation is something futile and false, disproven by the intellect and the Revelation. It is, further, not possible that the texts of the Book and the Sunnah require and necessitate something that is false and futile. [b] That Allaah, the Most High, addressed the people with that which is in essence understandable to them: however as for its essential reality and how that which is spoken of is, then this is knowledge which Allaah, the Most High, has kept to Himself. This is the case with regard to Allaah's self and His attributes. So Allaah has affirmed for Himself that He hears, and hearing is something understandable to us, and is the ability to perceive sounds. But as for how the reality of Allaah, the Most High's, Hearing is, then this is not known to us. This is because hearing differs even amongst created beings, so the difference in that regard between the Creator and the creation will be far greater. Also Allaah, the Most High, has informed us that He ascended (istawaa) upon His Throne ('Arsh). So ascension is some thing that is in essence understandable to us. However as for the reality of Allaah's having ascended and how that is, then this is something that is not known to us. So ascending or mounting a chair is not the same as mounting a difficult and wild camel. So if it is something wherein the creation differ, then the difference between the Creator and the creation will be far greater. Eemaan in Allaah, the Most High, as we have described it, will produce great fruits for the Believers, from them: (i) That he implements and realises the tawhid of Allaah, the Most High, such that he is not attached and devoted to other than Him. So he does not place hope in others, fear others, and does not worship any besides Him. (ii) Completion of ones love for Allaah, the Most High, and to revere Him as is demanded by His perfect names and exalted attributes, (iii) To accomplish worship of Him by doing whatever He has commanded, and avoiding whatever He has forbidden. His angels; [127] ________________________________________________________ The angels {al-malaa 'ikah) are created beings unseen to us and hidden from us. They are worshippers of Allaah, the Most High, and have none of the qualities of Lordship or Divinity, nor any right to be worshipped. Allaah, the Most High, created them from light, and bestowed upon them complete submission to His commands and the power to carry them out. Allaah, the Most High, says, "And the angels who are near Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they become weary of worshipping Him. They praise and glorify Him day and night and never slacken in that." [surah al-Ambiyaa (21):19-20] They are many in number, so many that only Allaah, the Most High, can enumerate them. It is also established in the two Saheehs from the hadith of Anas, radiyallaahu 'anhu, concerning the night-journey and ascension (mi'raaj) of the Prophet, that the 'Much Frequented House' {al-Baytul-Ma 'moor) was shown to the Prophet, and that seventy thousand angels pray in it every day, and then when they leave they never return to it, but another group arrives every day [Collected by alBukhaaree (Eng transl. 4/287, 290/ no. 429) and Muslim (Eng. transl. 1/100, 103/no. 309)]. Eemaan in the angels comprises four matters: (1) To believe in their existence. (2) To believe specifically in those whose name we know, such as Jibreel. As for those whose names are unknown to us, then we have general and comprehensive belief in all of them. (3) To believe in whatever has been described to us of their attributes. With regard to Jibreel, the Prophet informed that he saw him in the appearance that he had been created upon, having six hundred wings and filling up the horizon [Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. transl. 4/301/nos. 455,457)]. It sometimes occurs that an angel changes into the form of a man by the command of Allaah. This occurred with Jibreel when Allaah, the Most High, sent him to Maryam: he took the form of a perfect man. Also when he came to the Prophet who was sitting with his Companions, he came in the form of a man having very white clothes and very black hair; no signs of having travelled were seen upon him and none of the Companions knew him. So he sat with the Prophet and placed his knees together with his knees, and placed his palms upon his thighs. Then he asked the Prophet about Islaam, eemaan, ihsaan, the Last Hour, and its signs. So the Prophet answered him, and he departed. Then he said: "This was Jibreel He came toyou to teach you your Religion" [Reported by Muslim (Eng. transl. 1/ 1/no.l)]. Likewise the angels whom Allaah sent to Ibraaheem and Loot were also in the form of men.