Part 6

What is an angel?

We hear that Allah is formless. But being formless is not the same as being Allah. Ether, too, is formless but nobody calls it Allah. The reason is that in spite of being formless the existence of ether can be demonstrated and it contains properties of matter, too. Moreover, it is devoid of consciousness. All matter, however subtle it may be, has existence and location. There is no substance in the world whose existence cannot be detected by scientific instruments or perceived by the senses.

It is heard that there is a kind of creatures called angels who roam about everywhere in heaven and earth and even as companions of man and yet man had no knowledge of their existence? If they are what invisible substance are they made of? Is it subtler than ether? What kind of substance is that? Contrarily, are they formless but gifted with consciousness?

Allah is a great formless power having consciousness and vigor. On the other hand, there is this other entity called an ‘angel’ which is also formless and endowed with consciousness and vigor. Now if we believe in the angels how can Allah be called incomparable and peerless?

Some say that the angels are made of radiant light or rays (Nuur). Generally, light is not invisible. It is a visible substance. It is, however, true that there are certain rays which cannot be seen with the naked eye, for instance, alpha ray, cosmic rays etc. Scientists have been able to demonstrate their existence and properties by means of various devices. But they have failed to discover and angel made of any of these rays. What kind of rays are the angels made of ?

What is the job of the angels?

The Holy Quran and the Bible tell us regarding creation that everything came into being simply by order of Allah. He had no need for the assistance of any angel in the act of Creation. He who can create something can also preserve and supervise it. But why did Allah create innumerable angels in spite of his ability to conduct the affairs of the world? It is said that the angels have no power to do anything on their own. Although angels have their respective assignments they can’t do a thing without the command of Allah. If Allah has to order each and every angel to look after all sorts of business relating to the governance of the world is He any the less busy for it? It is also said that among the numberless angels there are four principal ones. They are Zibrail, Mikail, Israfil and Azrail. Let us briefly discuss their activities.

Zibrail -This angel is supposed to be the messenger who used to communicate the commands of Allah to the prophets. Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the last of the prophets. No other prophet is expected to be born in this world. Therefore angel Zibrail will presumably no more visit the world. However, some say that he will show up on a few particular occasions. Be that as it may, has angel Zibrail anything to do at present? Or, is he unemployed?

Psychologists tell us that skill in hypnotism enables one to communicate mentally with a particular person living far way. It is called telepathy. The Almighty could have talked to the prophets personally by means of this art of telepathy. But instead of doing so why did He take the trouble of creating an angel to send His messages to the prophets through him and for what reason did He Himself talk to Hazrat Musa (Moses)?

1. Mikail -Angel Mikail is said to be in charge of ration or food distribution among people. But who rations out the food for the lower animals and insects? Angel Mikail or Allah Himself? If Allah does it, why doesn’t He do the same for human beings as well? And if on the contrary, Mikail rations out food for all living creatures how come no other disease-free creature except man dies from starvation? Then again, if angel Mikail is in charge of food supplies for human beings only, what is the justification for making conspicuous discrimination between man and man in this regard? Some are allowed to have sumptuous meals of several courses at appointed hours everyday while some others have to be content with gruel if they can get some. What accounts for this favoritism of Mikail’s?

Angel Mikail is also supposed to be in charge of the meteorological department of the Holy One. But no evidence of his efficiency nor of his impartiality is found in this department either. Leaving aside the past, there is at present world-wide food crisis and the leaders of many countries are trying to bring under cultivation every inch of fallow land in their respective countries. They are, however, unable to attain complete success because of their limited power. But nothing is unattainable on the part of angel Mikail. If rainfall could have been insured by exchanging the temperature of the Sahara with that of the Northern and Southern arctic zones millions of acres of land would have become fertile and fit for agricultural production, thus solving the problem of food shortage, to some extent. Can Mikail do this? If he can, why doesn’t he do it?

Arabia, particularly the city of Mecca, is supposed to be very dear to Allah. The reason is that almost all the prophets of the world were born in Arabia and the last of the prophets Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was born in Mecca. Yet rainfall is scarce in the Arab country whereas it is excessive in Cherapunji of Assam, a state of India which is a country Allah is not fond of. Why is this so?

Take the example of India and Bangladesh, if you like. Vanaras or Varanasi in India is a place of pilgrimage for the Hindus with numerous temples housing the images of all sorts of gods and goddesses and Chittagong in Bangladesh is famous for the shrines and mausoleums of twelve Muslim saints. But why do the cyclones lash Chittagong with a vengeance instead of Vanaras? 

It is seen that the temperature, gusty wind, cloud and rainfall vary greatly in the different regions of the world. Is it due to their geographical location in relation to their proximity to the seas and the mountains or is it due to the partiality of Mikail?

Israfil -This angel is supposed to be standing -Allah knows where- with a trumpet in his hand. When he will blow the trumpet at the command of Allah the great cataclysm (‘Kiamat’-Doomsday) will occur. And when he will blow it again at the command of Allah the plains of ‘Hashar’ etc. will be recreated. 

In the beginning the universe was created simply by order of Allah. Why then can’t it be destroyed only by His order? What need is there for Israfil to blow his trumpet? Then again the command of Allah was enough for the creation of the universe on the first occasion but after the great cataclysm a second blowing of the trumpet would be necessary for the recreation of the plains of Hashar etc. Why ? and what for?

We hear that angel Israfil has been standing erect with the trumpet in his (’ hand from time immemorial and will remain in that position till Doomsday. Yet during this incalculable time he will blow the trumpet only twice. Does not Allah know the exact date of Doomsday? If He does what is the point in keeping Israfil standing there for such an eternity?