3. iv.
To believe in the duties that we know of which they carry out by the command of Allah (swt): This
includes their glorifying Allah (swt) and declaring Him free and far removed from all imperfections,
and their worshipping Him day and night without wearying or slackening.
Having said this, Allah (swt) has informed us that their worship is not confined to praising and
glorifying Him, but also includes the execution of His will. The Quran and Sunnah have indicated the
existence of several kinds of angels, each which is charged with a certain aspect of the universe.
Allah (swt) entrusted the sun and the moon to certain angels and He did the same with the planets,
the mountains, the clouds and rain. The wombs were entrusted to angels who supervise the nutfah
(sperm) and the stages it goes through until it completes the human form. He entrusted death to
certain angels and to every servant He assigned angels who guard over him. Also the angels whose
duty it is to question the deceased when they are placed in the grave.
•
Iman in the angels has great fruits, from them:
i.
Knowledge of the greatness of Allah (swt), His power, His authority and His dominion, since the
greatness of any created thing shows the greatness of the Creator.
ii.
Thankfulness to Allah (swt) for His care and concern for the welfare of mankind, since he entrusted
some angels with protecting them.
iii.
Love of the angels for their worship of Allah (swt).
iv.
A servant avoids doing that which is displeasing to Allah (swt) knowing that everything issued from
him is recorded.
Third Pillar - Iman in the Divine Scriptures
•
Believing in the Books that Allah (swt) revealed to His messengers and prophet’s is another of the
cornerstones of Iman. Just as the Prophet (saw) received the Quran from Allah (swt), so did all the
messengers who preceded him also received divine revelation.
•
What is meant by the books, is that which Allah (swt) sent down to His Messengers as a mercy to the
creation and as a guidance for them in order to enable them to attain success and happiness in this life and
in the next.
•
Iman in the books comprises four matters:
i.
To believe that they were sent down by Allah (swt): Just like disbelief in the angels is tantamount to
kufr, so is disbelief in any of the books revealed by Allah (swt).
ii.
To specifically believe in those books whose names we know: From them the Tawrah which was
revealed to Moosa (as), the Injeel which was revealed to Eisa (as), the Zabur which was revealed to
Dawud (as) and of course the Quran which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Though Allah (swt) did not inform us of the names of the books revealed to all the other
messengers, He did inform us that each prophet carried the divine message to his people:
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ϵŠÏù (#θà n=tF÷z$# $yϑŠÏù Ĩ$¨Ζ9$# t÷t/ zΝä3ósuŠÏ9
Mankind were one community and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings,
and with them He sent the scripture in truth to judge between people In matters wherein
they differed ... [Al Baqarah; 44:77]
4. We must believe in those unnamed books in general. It is not permissible to attribute any scripture
to Allah (swt) if it was not named in the Quran.
iii.
To affirm whatever reports are established as being contained in them: Such as whatever is
reported in the Quran and those reports which have not been changed or distorted from the
previous books. These include such things as stories of the prophets and the clear unadulterated
understanding of tawheed.
iv.
To act upon whatever rulings they contain that have not been abrogated: To be pleased with that,
and to fully submit to it – whether we understand the wisdom behind it or not. All of the previous
books are abrogated by the sublime Quran. Allah (swt) says:
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And we have sent down to you (O Muhammad ) the Book (this Qur'an) in truth, confirming the
scripture that came before it and Mohayminan (a witness) over it. [Al Baqarah; 44:77]
The meaning of this verse is that the Quran is a judge upon them, so it is not therefore permissible
to act upon any ruling contained in the previous books, except for that which is proven to be
correct from them and is affirmed and approved by the Quran.
The Quran gives mankind general laws that encompass everything it requires for achieving
happiness in this life and in the Hereafter. It abrogates all the practical legislations specific to past
nations and reaffirms the final, eternal laws that are suited for every place and age.
•
In light of the evidence of the corruption of the previous scriptures, believing in these books is to believe
that they were originally revealed by Allah (swt) to His messengers and had the same purpose as the Quran,
i.e. guidance and mercy.
•
Iman in the revealed books produces great fruits; from them:
i.
The knowledge that Allah (swt) takes care of His servants in that He sent down for each people a
books for their guidance.
ii.
The knowledge of Allah’s (swt) wisdom in prescribing for each people those prescribed laws
suitable for their conditions.
iii.
Giving thanks to Allah (swt) for having blessed us with that.
Review questions
1.
What do verses 19-20 of Surat Al-Anbiya tell us about the angels that is uniquely different to human
beings?
2.
What is a general principle we follow when we establish and affirm issues of the unseen (ghayb) such as
the angels?
3.
What are the names of three angels which are specifically mentioned in the Quran? What
responsibilities has Allah (swt) assigned to them.
4.
What are the tangible fruits of believing in the angels which a believer should experience in their lives?
5.
Briefly list and explain the four matters which belief in the books of Allah (swt) comprises of.