Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Angel: a designation by appointment

MSA stated: Both Adam and his wife were asked by Allah not to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. But they disobeyed Him and ate the fruit. So both of them had committed a great sin.
Allah taught Adam how to seek His forgiveness. But no such tutoring was given to his wife.  
Here is a brief comment on this issue. I hope it explains the basic point on should Adam and his wife have been expelled from heaven and if Iblis was an angel or not. Unlocking this mystery strikes the real heart of Islam. 
quote "......" unquote 

Answer: You raise several points. 
 I've already explained in my previous email why I understand that only Adam was held responsible, even though his wife had also eaten with him. 
Regarding Iblis being a Jinn or an Angel, the Quran states that humans are created from clay and jinn from smokeless fire; as for angels, the Quran does not specify if they are a separate creation and/or what they are made of. In Quran 35:1, the term جَاعِلِ  is used to state that angels are made/appointed as messengers with wings. Moreover, in every narration of the story of Adam, it is related that the angels were ordered to prostrate/submit. Iblis could only disobey this command if he was also an angel. Hence, I believe that angel is a designation by appointment and not by creation. 
In my blogpost on Satan's Enmity: Origin & ObjectiveI've discussed that Adam was superior to the angels by virtue of the knowledge taught to Adam by God. 
The Quran uses the Arabic term for inheritance for the Gardens promised to the righteous Believers who do Good Deeds. Inheritance implies that we will not be guests but rather owners of those gardens. I think this means we shall have a much larger role and be entrusted with the land we inherit! 
The inheritance will vary in accordance with the faith and actions of each individual, as indicated in the size of the gardens mentioned in 57:21 and 3:133, and as stated in 8:4. For those who believe and seek forgiveness for their sins, God will grace them with a garden as extensive as heaven [singular] and the earth, while those who also keep their duty to God, the pious, the reward will be greater: as extensive as the heavens [plural] and the earth. The believers will have exalted grades/grades of dignity, forgiveness and honourable sustenance.  
The last two verses of Surah al-Ahzab inform us that The Human volunteered for The Trust. Since he has been unjust and ignorant, that is the reason why the hypocrites and the polytheists must be punished, while God turns in mercy and forgives the believers. The verse specifically mentions both men and women of all three categories.   
The second and third verse of Surah Al-Insan inform us that we have been created to be tested, and provided with the faculties and the guidance we need. Its up to us whether we are grateful for it or if we reject it.   
I hope the above helps unlock the mystery for you. 

SA asserted: alQuraan has clearly stated that:
1. Man is made of twisted black clay.
2. Jinn is made of the flame of fire.
3. Angel is made of light with wings in pair(s).
4. All living things are based on water.
5. Only Man and Jinn has the power of choice. 
When ALLAH taala commanded the Angels, Iblis took the benefit of doubt and remained stationed in the Heavens of ALLAH taala. After causing the mischief he got caught and argued with ALLAH taala to invoke HIS wrath upon himself. Mr. and Mrs. Adam repent and begged for HIS mercy so they were pardoned. All three of them were removed from the Heavens as enemies to write the test on earth. This answers the objection of MSA as well. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Adam were held responsible for their mistake and dealt together.
Rasool is a designation not a creation. 35:1 concludes the two together.

Reply: Can you kindly quote the verse of alQuraan which clearly states that angel is made of light?  

SA responded: I have to declare that I can not substantitate the creation of Angels from alQuraan, so please consider me wrong and scracth that statement. However, whenever, I find that in alQuraan, Inshaa ALLAH, I will share it with everyone. 
Now against your belief that Angels are not a creation but merely a designation, there are quite a few evidences in alQuraan. Here is one that supersedes them all:
اللَّهُ يَصْطَفِي مِنَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا وَمِنَ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ
This is the 75th ayat of SuratulHajj and it clearly states that Rusul are taken from both The Angels and The Men.  
Please let me know if this does not corrects your misbelief. 

Reply: Thank you for pointing out Q 22:75; I concede that there is a definite gap in our comprehension of these terms - perhaps we will someday understand better, if Allah wills. 
However, consider also Q 6:130 
يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِي وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا قَالُوا شَهِدْنَا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِنَا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَشَهِدُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا كَافِرِينَ
O assembly (of) [the] jinn and [the] men! Did (there) not come to you Messengers from (among) you, relating to you My Verses and warning you (of the) meeting (of) this day of yours?" They will say, "We bear witness against ourselves." And deluded them the life (of) the world, and they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers.
http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/130/

SA replied: Weren't we discussing the Angels? Quoting Rusul among Jinn and Ins does not deduce that Angels are nothing but Jinns. 
You are trying to read alQuraan according to your (mis)belief and being an article of Faith it is far worse than just a grave mistake. 

Consider this: 
 مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَجِبْرِيلَ وَمِيكَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ
لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ
http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/177/

Reply: It is an article of faith to believe that angels exist. It is not an article of faith to assert/insist that they are or not a separate form of creation. Since I believe the the entire Quran is from Allah, and free from errors, I wonder what is meant by Q18:50 

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا
And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam," so they prostrated except Iblis. (He) was of the jinn, and he rebelled against the Command (of) his Lord. Will you then take him and his offspring (as) protectors other than Me, while they (are) to you enemies? Wretched for the wrongdoers (is) the exchange. 

And Allah knows best! 





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