بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Everyone seems to love the angels, and why not? There are so many reasons to love them.
To start with, they are always worshipping Allah.
وَلَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَنْ عِندَهُ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ
يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ
To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship). They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they never slacken (to do so). [Surah Al-Anbiya (21) : 19-20]
عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : إِنِّي أَرَى مَا لاَ تَرَوْنَ وَأَسْمَعُ مَا لاَ تَسْمَعُونَ إِنَّ السَّمَاءَ أَطَّتْ وَحُقَّ لَهَا أَنْ تَئِطَّ مَا فِيهَا مَوْضِعُ أَرْبَعِ أَصَابِعَ إِلاَّ وَمَلَكٌ وَاضِعٌ جَبْهَتَهُ سَاجِدًا لِلَّهِ . وَاللَّهِ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلاً وَلَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا وَمَا تَلَذَّذْتُمْ بِالنِّسَاءِ عَلَى الْفُرُشَاتِ وَلَخَرَجْتُمْ إِلَى الصُّعُدَاتِ تَجْأَرُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ
وَاللَّهِ لَوَدِدْتُ أَنِّي كُنْتُ شَجَرَةً تُعْضَدُ
It was narrated from Abu Dharr (radiallahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “I see what you do not see, and I hear what you do not hear. The heaven is creaking and it should creak, for there is no space in it the width of four fingers but there is an angel there, prostrating to Allah. By Allah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much, and you would never enjoy women in your beds, and you would go out in the streets, beseeching Allah.’” (Abu Dharr said]): “By Allah, I wish that I were a tree that was cut to pieces.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadeeth No. 4190. Graded “hasan” (good) by Al-Albani.]
They are honoured servants of Allah.
وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَانَهُ ۚ بَلْ عِبَادٌ مُّكْرَمُونَ
لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يَشْفَعُونَ إِلَّا لِمَنِ ارْتَضَىٰ وَهُم مِّنْ خَشْيَتِهِ مُشْفِقُونَ
وَمَن يَقُلْ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّي إِلَٰهٌ مِّن دُونِهِ فَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِيهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الظَّالِمِينَ
And they say: “The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or children).” Glory to Him! They [those whom they call children of Allah i.e. the angels, Isa. son of Maryam, Uzair, etc.], are but honoured slaves. They speak not until He has spoken, and they act on His Command. He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they cannot intercede except for him with whom He is pleased. And they stand in awe for fear of Him. And if any of them should say: “Verily, I am an ilaah (a god) besides Him (Allah),” such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the dhaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc.). [Surah Al-Anbiyah (21) : 26 – 29]
They are the witnesses of Allah in heaven.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ مَرُّوا بِجَنَازَةٍ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهَا خَيْرًا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم : وَجَبَتْ . ثُمَّ مَرُّوا بِجَنَازَةٍ أُخْرَى فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهَا شَرًّا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم : وَجَبَتْ . قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَوْلُكَ الأُولَى وَالأُخْرَى : وَجَبَتْ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم : الْمَلاَئِكَةُ شُهَدَاءُ اللَّهِ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَأَنْتُمْ شُهَدَاءُ اللَّهِ فِي الأَرْضِ
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) said: “A funeral passed by the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and they praised (the deceased). The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: ‘It is granted.’ Then another funeral passed by and they criticized (the deceased). The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: ‘It is granted.’ They said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you said in both cases, ‘It is granted?’ The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: ‘The angels are the witnesses of Allah in heaven, and you are the witnesses of Allah on Earth.”‘ [Sunan An-Nasai, Hadeeth No. 1935. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
They love those whom Allah loves.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْدًا نَادَى جِبْرِيلَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَبَّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحِبَّهُ فَيُحِبُّهُ جِبْرِيلُ، ثُمَّ يُنَادِي جِبْرِيلُ فِي السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَبَّ فُلاَنًا فَأَحِبُّوهُ، فَيُحِبُّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ وَيُوضَعُ لَهُ الْقَبُولُ فِي أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “If Allah loves a person, He calls Jibreel, saying, ‘Allah loves so and so, O Jibreel love him’ So Jibreel would love him and then would make an announcement in the Heavens: ‘Allah has loved so and-so therefore you should love him also.’ So all the dwellers of the Heavens would love him, and then he is granted the pleasure of the people on the earth.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadeeth No. 577]
The dwellers of the heavens are the angels.
Note: In the above ahadeeth, the word “heaven” is used. The Arabic word is “As-Samaa”. Therefore, heaven here does not mean Paradise (“Al-Jannah”). In the English language, Heaven is used to mean Paradise e.g. Heaven and Hell. However, in Islamic literature, heaven refers to the seven heavens or the seven skies, the lowest one being the sky of this world.
This issue has confused many people. So they think that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) met the other Prophets (alaihimisalaam) in Paradise during Al-Israa wal-Meraaj. No, he did not. He met them in the seven heavens. Paradise is above the seventh heaven.
The angels also seek forgiveness for the believers.
الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ
رَبَّنَا وَأَدْخِلْهُمْ جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِي وَعَدتَّهُمْ وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
وَقِهِمُ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ وَمَن تَقِ السَّيِّئَاتِ يَوْمَئِذٍ فَقَدْ رَحِمْتَهُ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah) and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) (saying): “Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your Way, and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire! Our Lord! And make them enter the Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens) which you have promised them, and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their offspring! Verily, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. And save them from (the punishment, because of what they did of) the sins, and whomsoever You save from (the punishment, because of what they did of) the sins (i.e. excuse them) that Day, him verily, You have taken into mercy.” And that is the supreme success. [Surah Ghaafir (40) : 8 – 9]
They guard humans.
لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّـهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّـهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ
For each (person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him.They guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily! Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah). But when Allah wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find besides Him no protector. [Surah Raad (13) : 11]
They also complete the rows of prayer and do not leave any gaps.
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ : مَا لِي أَرَاكُمْ رَافِعِي أَيْدِيكُمْ كَأَنَّهَا أَذْنَابُ خَيْلٍ شُمْسٍ اسْكُنُوا فِي الصَّلاَةِ . قَالَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا فَرَآنَا حَلَقًا فَقَالَ : مَا لِي أَرَاكُمْ عِزِينَ . قَالَ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْنَا فَقَالَ : أَلاَ تَصُفُّونَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا . فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَكَيْفَ تَصُفُّ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا قَالَ : يُتِمُّونَ الصُّفُوفَ الأُوَلَ وَيَتَرَاصُّونَ فِي الصَّفِّ
Jaabir ibn Samurah (radiallahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) came to us and said: “How is it that I see you lifting your hands like the tails of headstrong horses? Be calm in prayer.” He (the narrator) said: He then again came to us and saw us (sitting) in circles. He said: “How is it that I see you in separate groups?” He (the narrator) said: He again came to us and said: “Why don’t you draw yourselves up in rows as angels do in the presence of their Lord?” We said: Messenger of Allah, how do the angels draw themselves up in rows in the presence of their Lord? He (the Prophet) said: “They make the first rows complete and keep close together in the row.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 864]
The angels are mentioned in the Quran as being those who form ranks.
وَالصَّافَّاتِ صَفًّا
فَالزَّاجِرَاتِ زَجْرًا
فَالتَّالِيَاتِ ذِكْرًا
Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of these ayaat (verses):
“It was reported that Abdullah bin Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
﴿ وَٱلصَّـٰٓفَّـٰتِ صَفًّ۬ا ﴾
“(By those ranged in ranks.) — they are the angels;
﴿ فَٱلزَّٲجِرَٲتِ زَجۡرً۬ا ﴾
(By those who drive the clouds in a good way.) they are the angels;
﴿ فَٱلتَّـٰلِيَـٰتِ ذِكۡرًا ﴾
(By those who bring the Dhikr.) they are the angels.” This was also the view of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) Masruq, Said bin Jubayr, Ikrimah, Mujahid, As-Suddi, Qatadah and Ar-Rabi bin Anas. Qatadah said, “The angels form ranks in the heavens.” Muslim recorded that Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
« فُضِّلْنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ بِثَلَاثٍ: جُعِلَتْ صُفُوفُنَا كَصُفُوفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَجُعِلَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا مَسْجِدًا، وَجُعِلَ لَنَا تُرَابُهَا طَهُورًا، إِذَا لَمْ نَجِدِ الْمَاء »
(We have been favored over the rest of mankind in three ways: our ranks have been made like the ranks of the angels; the entire earth has been made a Masjid for us; and its soil has been made a means of purification for us if we cannot find water.)” Muslim, Abu Dawud, An-Nasai and Ibn Majah recorded that Jabir bin Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Messenger of Allah said:
« أَلَا تَصُفُّونَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ؟ »
(Will you not form ranks as the angels form ranks in the presence of their Lord) We said, `How do the angels form ranks in the presence of their Lord’ He said:
« يُتِمُّونَ الصُّفُوفَ الْمُتَقَدِّمَةَ، وَيَتَرَاصُّونَ فِي الصَّف »
(They complete the rows nearer the front and they consolidate the rows.)” As-Suddi and others said that the Ayah
﴿ فَٱلزَّٲجِرَٲتِ زَجۡرً۬ا ﴾
(By those who drive the clouds in a good way.) means that they drive the clouds.
﴿ فَٱلتَّـٰلِيَـٰتِ ذِكۡرًا ﴾
(By those who bring the Dhikr.) As-Suddi said, “The angels bring the Scriptures and the Quran from Allah to mankind.” “
The above ayaat (verses) were from the beginning of Surah As-Saaffaat. The angels are mentioned again towards the end of this surah.
وَمَا مِنَّا إِلَّا لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُومٌ
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُونَ
There is not one of us (angels) but has his known place (or position); Verily, we (angels), we stand in rows for the prayers (as you Muslims stand in rows for your prayers); Verily, we (angels), we are they who glorify (Allah’s Praises i.e. perform prayers). [Surah As-Saaffaat (37) : 164 – 166]
Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of these ayaat (verses):
“Then Allah says, declaring the angels to be above the position attributed to them by those who disbelieved in them and told lies about them — that they are the daughters of Allah —
﴿ وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلَّا لَهُ ۥ مَقَامٌ۬ مَّعۡلُومٌ۬ ﴾
(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) meaning, each one has his own place in the heavens and in the places of worship, which he does not overstep. Ad-Dahhak said in his Tafsir:
﴿ وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلَّا لَهُ ۥ مَقَامٌ۬ مَّعۡلُومٌ۬ ﴾
“(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) Masruq used to narrate that Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, `The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
« مَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا مَوْضِعٌ إِلَّا عَلَيْهِ مَلَكٌ سَاجِدٌ أَوْ قَائِم »
(There is no place in the lower heaven without an angel standing or prostrating in it.) This is what Allah says:
﴿ وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلَّا لَهُ ۥ مَقَامٌ۬ مَّعۡلُومٌ۬ ﴾
(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place (or position)).’‘ It was reported that Ibn Masud said, “In the heavens there is one heaven in which there is no space a hand span wide but there is the forehead or the foot of an angel on it. ” Then he recited:
﴿ وَمَا مِنَّآ إِلَّا لَهُ ۥ مَقَامٌ۬ مَّعۡلُومٌ۬ ﴾
(And there is not one of us (angels) but has his known place;) Said bin Jubayr similarly said:
﴿ وَإِنَّا لَنَحۡنُ ٱلصَّآفُّونَ ﴾
(And we (angels), we stand in rows.) means, we stand in rows to worship, as we have already seen in the Ayah
﴿ وَٱلصَّـٰٓفَّـٰتِ صَفًّ۬ا ﴾
(By those ranged in ranks (or rows)) Abu Nadrah said, “When the Iqamah had been given, Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would turn to face the people and say: `Make your rows straight, for Allah wants you to follow the ways of the angels.’ Then he would say,
﴿ وَإِنَّا لَنَحۡنُ ٱلصَّآفُّونَ ﴾
(And verily, we stand in rows;) `Move back, O so-and-so, move forward, O so-and-so.’ Then he would go forward and say `Allahu Akbar”’ This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir. In Sahih Muslim it is narrated that Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,
« فُضِّلْنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ بِثَلَاثٍ: جُعِلَتْ صُفُوفُنَا كَصُفُوفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ، وَجُعِلَتْ لَنَا الْأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا، وَتُرْبَتُهَا طَهُورًا »
(We have been favored above mankind in three things: our rows have been made like the rows of the angels; the whole earth has been made a place of prayer for us; and its soil is a means of purification for us.)”
﴿ وَإِنَّا لَنَحۡنُ ٱلۡمُسَبِّحُونَ ﴾
(And verily, we indeed are those who glorify.) means, `we stand in rows and glorify the Lord, praising Him, sanctifying Him and declaring Him to be above any faults or shortcomings. We are servants of Him and in need of Him, humbling ourselves before Him.'”
Filling the gaps in the prayer and straightening the rows is something that many Muslims have always been lax about. Sadly, after the Covid era, things seems to have become worse with people neglecting to fill in the gaps and straighten the rows whilst praying in congregation although there are both warnings and glad tidings associated with these actions.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ الصُّفُوفَ وَمَنْ سَدَّ فُرْجَةً رَفَعَهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَةً
عن النُّعْمَان بْن بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ : لَتُسَوُّنَّ صُفُوفَكُمْ أَوْ لَيُخَالِفَنَّ اللَّهُ بَيْنَ وُجُوهِكُمْ
Numan ibn Bashir (radiallahu anhuma) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) say: Straighten your rows, or Allah would create dissension amongst you. [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 874]
There are many more reasons to love the angels, apart from the ones listed above. You can find many books and articles that discuss the angels in great details Here are some of them:
The World of the Noble Angels in the light of the Quran and Sunnah – Dr. Umar Al-Ashqar (rahimahullah)
Belief in the Angels and its effect on the life of the Ummah – Shaikh Saleh Al-Fawzan
Faith in the Angels – Sister Shawana Aziz
Knowing the Angels – Brother Muhammad Al-Jibaly
Belief in the Angels – Islam QA
However, this series will discuss the angels in a historical context. Usually, the books of history talk about the Prophets (alaihimissalaam) and their people, etc. and the angels are not the focus.
My goal though is to only discuss those parts in history where the angels are mentioned so they will be the focus. A lot of the information will come from the Quran and Sunnah obviously. However, I will also be taking from the tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir and his other book, the Stories of the Prophets.
Please note that there are many incidents whose timeframe is unknown to us so not every incident in this series might be in chronological order.
So, let’s start.
The angel Jibreel came to see both Paradise and Hell
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ أَرْسَلَ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ فَقَالَ انْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا وَإِلَى مَا أَعْدَدْتُ لأَهْلِهَا فِيهَا . فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا فَرَجَعَ فَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لاَ يَسْمَعُ بِهَا أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ دَخَلَهَا . فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَحُفَّتْ بِالْمَكَارِهِ فَقَالَ اذْهَبْ إِلَيْهَا فَانْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا وَإِلَى مَا أَعْدَدْتُ لأَهْلِهَا فِيهَا فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ حُفَّتْ بِالْمَكَارِهِ فَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ لاَ يَدْخُلَهَا أَحَدٌ . قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَانْظُرْ إِلَى النَّارِ وَإِلَى مَا أَعْدَدْتُ لأَهْلِهَا فِيهَا . فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ يَرْكَبُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضًا فَرَجَعَ فَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لاَ يَدْخُلُهَا أَحَدٌ . فَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَحُفَّتْ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ فَقَالَ ارْجِعْ فَانْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا . فَإِذَا هِيَ قَدْ حُفَّتْ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ فَرَجَعَ وَقَالَ وَعِزَّتِكَ لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ أَنْ لاَ يَنْجُوَ مِنْهَا أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ دَخَلَهَا
This was obviously before the creation of Adam (alaihissalaam). The angels were informed of him by Allah.
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ ۖ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُم بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ
And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: “Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth.” They said: “Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, – while we glorify You with praises and thanks (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You.” He (Allah) said: “I know that which you do not know.”
And He taught Adam all the names (of everything), then He showed them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.”
They (angels) said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.”
He said: “O Adam! Inform them of their names,” and when he had informed them of their names, He said: “Did I not tell you that I know the Ghaib (unseen) in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been concealing?”
And (remember) when We said to the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before Adam.”. And they prostrated except Iblis (Satan), he refused and was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allah). [Surah Al-Baqarah (2) : 30 – 34]
Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of these ayaat (verses):
“Allah reiterated His favor on the Children of Adam when He stated that He mentioned them in the highest of heights before He created them. Allah said,
﴿ وَإِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ﴾
(And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels.)
This Ayah means, “O Muhammad! Mention to your people what Allah said to the angels,
﴿ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ خَلِيفَةً۬ۖ ﴾
(Verily, I am going to place a Khalifah on earth).
Meaning people reproducing generation after generation, century after century, just as Allah said,
﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَڪُمۡ خَلَـٰٓٮِٕفَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ﴾
(And it is He Who has made you (Khalaif) generations coming after generations, replacing each other on the earth) (6:165),
﴿ وَيَجۡعَلُڪُمۡ خُلَفَآءَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ ﴾
(And makes you (Khulafaa) inheritors of the earth) (27:62),
﴿ وَلَوۡ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلۡنَا مِنكُم مَّلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةً۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَخۡلُفُونَ ﴾
(And if it were Our will, We would have (destroyed you (mankind all, and) made angels to replace you (Yakhlufun) on the earth.) (43: 60) and,
﴿ فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ خَلۡفٌ۬ ﴾
(Then after them succeeded an (evil) generation (Khalf)) (7:169). It appears that Allah was not referring to Adam specifically as Khalifah, otherwise he would not have allowed the angels’ statement,
﴿ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيہَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيہَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ ﴾
(Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood).
The angels meant that this type of creature usually commits the atrocities they mentioned. The angels knew of this fact, according to their understanding of human nature, for Allah stated that He would create man from clay. Or, the angels understood this fact from the word Khalifah, which also means the person who judges disputes that occur between people, forbidding them from injustice and sin, as Al-Qurtubi said.
The statement the angels uttered was not a form of disputing with Allah’s, nor out of envy for the Children of Adam, as some mistakenly thought. Allah has described them as those who do not precede Him in speaking, meaning that they do not ask Allah anything without His permission. When Allah informed them that He was going to create a creation on the earth, and they had knowledge that this creation would commit mischief on it, as Qatadah mentioned, they said,
﴿ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيہَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيہَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ ﴾
(Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood)
This is only a question for the sake of learning about the wisdom of that, as if they said, Our Lord! What is the wisdom of creating such creatures since they will cause trouble in the earth and spill blood “If the wisdom behind this action is that You be worshipped, we praise and glorify You (meaning we pray to You) we never indulge in mischief, so why create other creatures.”
Allah said to the angels in answer to their inquiry,
﴿ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾
(I know that which you do not know.) meaning, “I know that the benefit of creating this type of creature outweighs the harm that you mentioned, that which you have no knowledge of. I will create among them Prophets and send Messengers. I will also create among them truthful, martyrs, righteous believers, worshippers, the modest, the pious, the scholars who implement their knowledge, humble people and those who love Allah and follow His Messengers.”
The Sahih recorded that when the angels ascend to Allah with the records of the servant’s deeds, Allah asks them, while having better knowledge, “How did you leave My servants” They will say, “We came to them while they were praying and left them while they were praying.” This is because the angels work in shifts with mankind, and they change shifts during the Fajr and Asr prayers. The angels who descended will remain with us, while the angels who have remained with us ascend with our deeds. The Messenger of Allah said,
« يُرْفَعُ إِلَيْهِ عَمَلُ اللَّيْلِ قَبْلَ النَّهَارِ وَعَمَلُ النَّهَارِ قَبْلَ اللَّيْل »
(The deeds of the night are elevated to Allah before the morning, and the deeds of the morning before the night falls.)
Hence, the angels’ statement, “We came to them while they were praying and left them while they were praying,” explains Allah’s statement,
﴿ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾
(I know that which you do not know.)
It was said that the meaning of Allah’s statement,
﴿ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾
(I know that which you do not know.) is, “I have a specific wisdom in creating them, which you do not have knowledge of.” It was also said that it is in answer to,
﴿ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَۖ ﴾
(While we glorify You with praises and thanks and sanctify You) after which Allah said,
﴿ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾
(I know that which you do not know). Meaning, “I know that Iblis is not as you are, although he is among you.” Others said,
﴿ أَتَجۡعَلُ فِيہَا مَن يُفۡسِدُ فِيہَا وَيَسۡفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَۖ ﴾
“(Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, ـ while we glorify you with praises and thanks and sanctify You.) is their request that they should be allowed to inhabit the earth, instead of the Children of Adam. So Allah said to them,
﴿ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴾
(I know that which you do not know) if your inhabiting the heavens is better, or worse for you.” Ar-Razi as well as others said this. Allah knows best.”
Ibn Kathir states in the Stories of the Prophets:
“Abdullah bin Umar (radiallahu anhuma) said: Jinn lived about 2000 years before Adam on the earth, and they shed blood. Allah sent an army of angels who expelled them to remote islands.”
When the angels were commanded to prostrate to Adam, they immediately did so because they never disobey Allah’s commands.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَائِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ لَّا يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَا أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded. [Surah At-Tahreem (66) : 6]
Adam (alaihissalaam) was created from clay whereas the angels were created from light.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : خُلِقَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ مِنْ نُورٍ وَخُلِقَ الْجَانُّ مِنْ مَارِجٍ مِنْ نَارٍ وَخُلِقَ آدَمُ مِمَّا وُصِفَ لَكُمْ
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ
He created man (Adam) from sounding clay like the clay of pottery. [Surah Ar-Rahman (55) : 14]
The angels were the ones who taught Adam (alaihissalaam) how to reply to greetings.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ وَطُولُهُ سِتُّونَ ذِرَاعًا، ثُمَّ قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَى أُولَئِكَ مِنَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ، فَاسْتَمِعْ مَا يُحَيُّونَكَ، تَحِيَّتُكَ وَتَحِيَّةُ ذُرِّيَّتِكَ. فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ. فَقَالُوا السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ. فَزَادُوهُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ. فَكُلُّ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ عَلَى صُورَةِ آدَمَ، فَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْخَلْقُ يَنْقُصُ حَتَّى الآنَ
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits tall. When He created him, He said to him, “Go and greet that group of angels, and listen to their reply, for it will be your greeting (salutation) and the greeting (salutations of your offspring.” So, Adam said (to the angels), As-Salamu Alaikum (i.e. Peace be upon you). The angels said, “As-salamu Alaika wa Rahmatullah” (i.e. Peace and Allah’s Mercy be upon you). Thus the angels added to Adam’s salutation the expression, ‘Wa Rahmatullah’. Any person who will enter Paradise will resemble Adam (in appearance and figure). People have been decreasing in stature since Adam’s creation. [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 543]
The Angel of Death came to Adam (alaihissalaam)
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : لَمَّا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ آدَمَ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ الرُّوحَ عَطَسَ فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ بِإِذْنِهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ يَا آدَمُ اذْهَبْ إِلَى أُولَئِكَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِلَى مَلإٍ مِنْهُمْ جُلُوسٍ فَقُلِ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ . قَالُوا وَعَلَيْكَ السَّلاَمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ . ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى رَبِّهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذِهِ تَحِيَّتُكَ وَتَحِيَّةُ بَنِيكَ بَيْنَهُمْ . فَقَالَ اللَّهُ لَهُ وَيَدَاهُ مَقْبُوضَتَانِ اخْتَرْ أَيَّهُمَا شِئْتَ قَالَ اخْتَرْتُ يَمِينَ رَبِّي وَكِلْتَا يَدَىْ رَبِّي يَمِينٌ مُبَارَكَةٌ . ثُمَّ بَسَطَهَا فَإِذَا فِيهَا آدَمُ وَذُرِّيَّتُهُ فَقَالَ أَىْ رَبِّ مَا هَؤُلاَءِ فَقَالَ هَؤُلاَءِ ذُرِّيَّتُكَ فَإِذَا كُلُّ إِنْسَانٍ مَكْتُوبٌ عُمْرُهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ فَإِذَا فِيهِمْ رَجُلٌ أَضْوَؤُهُمْ أَوْ مِنْ أَضْوَئِهِمْ . قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ هَذَا ابْنُكَ دَاوُدُ قَدْ كَتَبْتُ لَهُ عُمْرَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً . قَالَ يَا رَبِّ زِدْهُ فِي عُمْرِهِ . قَالَ ذَاكَ الَّذِي كَتَبْتُ لَهُ . قَالَ أَىْ رَبِّ فَإِنِّي قَدْ جَعَلْتُ لَهُ مِنْ عُمْرِي سِتِّينَ سَنَةً قَالَ أَنْتَ وَذَاكَ . قَالَ ثُمَّ أُسْكِنَ الْجَنَّةَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أُهْبِطَ مِنْهَا فَكَانَ آدَمُ يَعُدُّ لِنَفْسِهِ . قَالَ فَأَتَاهُ مَلَكُ الْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُ آدَمُ قَدْ عَجِلْتَ قَدْ كُتِبَ لِي أَلْفُ سَنَةٍ . قَالَ بَلَى وَلَكِنَّكَ جَعَلْتَ لاِبْنِكَ دَاوُدَ سِتِّينَ سَنَةً فَجَحَدَ فَجَحَدَتْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُ وَنَسِيَ فَنَسِيَتْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُ . قَالَ فَمِنْ يَوْمِئِذٍ أُمِرَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَالشُّهُودِ
Jibreel came to Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) when he was thrown into the fire
Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) destroyed his people’s idols when they were not present. When they found out, they questioned him. He then pointed out the flaw in their gods. His people then became furious and threw him into the fire.
قَالُوا حَرِّقُوهُ وَانصُرُوا آلِهَتَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ فَاعِلِينَ
They said: “Burn him and help your aliha (gods), if you will be doing.” [Surah Al-Anbiyah (21) : 68]
Both Jibreel and the angel of rain offered their help.
Ibn Kathir states in the Stories of the Prophets:
“It was narrated that when he was thrown and was still in the air, Jibreel approached him and said to him: “Ibrahim, do you need any help?”. He replied: “If from you, then no.”
Ibn Abbas and Said ibn Jubair have narrated that the angel of rain said: When will I be commanded, so that I could bring rain? However Allah’s Command was quicker than all.””
He also stated:
“And Dahhak said: It was narrated that Jibreel was with him wiping his sweat from his face, and he did not suffer anything from it except that sweat.””
All the animals also tried to help Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) – all except the lizard that is.
عَنْ سَائِبَةَ، – مَوْلاَةِ الْفَاكِهِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ – أَنَّهَا دَخَلَتْ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَرَأَتْ فِي بَيْتِهَا رُمْحًا مَوْضُوعًا فَقَالَتْ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا تَصْنَعِينَ بِهَذَا قَالَتْ نَقْتُلُ بِهِ هَذِهِ الأَوْزَاغَ فَإِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَخْبَرَنَا أَنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَمَّا أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ لَمْ تَكُنْ فِي الأَرْضِ دَابَّةٌ إِلاَّ أَطْفَأَتِ النَّارَ غَيْرَ الْوَزَغِ فَإِنَّهَا كَانَتْ تَنْفُخُ عَلَيْهِ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِقَتْلِهِ
It was narrated from Sa’ibah, the freed slave woman of Fakih bin Mughirah, that she entered upon Aishah (radiallahu anha) and saw a spear in her house. She said: “O Mother of the Believers, what do you do with this?” She said: “We kill these house lizards with it, for the Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) told us that when Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) was thrown into the fire, there was no beast on earth that did not try to put it out, apart from the house lizard that blew on it. So the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) commanded that they should be killed.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadeeth No. 3231. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
However, Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) put his trust in His Lord, who sufficed him.
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ آخِرَ قَوْلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حِينَ أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيل
Narrated Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma): The last statement of Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) when he was thrown into the fire was “Allah is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer (of affairs for us). [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Hadeeth No. 87]
قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
وَأَرَادُوا بِهِ كَيْدًا فَجَعَلْنَاهُمُ الْأَخْسَرِينَ
وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ وَلُوطًا إِلَى الْأَرْضِ الَّتِي بَارَكْنَا فِيهَا لِلْعَالَمِينَ
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ نَافِلَةً ۖ وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا صَالِحِينَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ
We (Allah) said: “O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrahim!” And they wanted to harm him, but We made them the worst losers. And We rescued him and Lut to the land which We have blessed for the Alameen (mankind and jinns).
And We bestowed upon him Ishaq, and (a grandson) Yaqub. Each one We made righteous. And We made them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We inspired in them the doing of good deeds, performing Salah, and the giving of Zakah and of Us (Alone) they were worshippers. [Surah Al-Anbiya (21) : 69 – 73]
Jibreel came to help Haajar (radiallahu anha) when she was searching for water
عن سعيدِ بن جُبَيرٍ قال ابن عبّاسٍ : أول ما اتخذَ النساءُ المِنطَقَ من قِبَلِ أمِّ إِسماعيلَ اتَّخذتْ مِنْطقاً لتُعفِّيَ أثرَها على سارة، ثم جاء بها إبراهيمُ وبابِنها إسماعيلَ وهيَ تُرضِعُهُ، حتى وَضعَها عندَ البيتِ عند دَوحةٍ فوقَ زَمزَم في أعلى المسجدِ، وليسَ بمكةَ يَومَئذٍ أحد، وليس بها ماءٌ فوَضعَهما هنالك، ووضعَ عندَهما جِراباً فيهِ تمرٌ وسِقاءً فيهِ ماءٌ، ثم قَفَّى إِبراهيمُ مُنَطلِقاً، فتَبِعَتْهُ أمُّ إِسماعيلَ فقالت: يا إِبراهيمُ أينَ تَذهَبُ وتترُكنا بهذا الوادي الذي ليس فيه إِنسٌ ولا شيء، فقالت له ذلكَ مِراراً، وجعلَ لا يَلتفِتُ إِليها. فقالت له: آلله أمرَكَ بهذا ؟ قال: نعم. قالت: إذَن لا يُضيِّعُنا. ثمَّ رَجعتْ. فانطَلَقَ إِبراهيمُ حتى إذا كان عندَ الثَّنيَّةِ حيثُ لا يَرونَهُ استقبَلَ بوَجههِ البيتَ ثمَّ دَعا بهؤلاءِ الكلماتِ ورَفعَ يَدَيهِ فقال: {ربَّنا إِني أسكَنتُ من ذُرِّيَّتي بوادٍ غير ذي زرع ـ حتى بلغ ـ يَشكُرون} (إبراهيم: 37). وجَعَلت أمُّ إِسماعيلَ تُرضِعُ إِسماعيلَ وتَشربُ من ذلك الماء، حتى إِذا نَفِذَ ما في السِّقاءِ عَطِشَت وعطِش ابنُها، وجعَلَت تَنظُرُ إِليه يَتلوَّى ـ أو قال: يَتلبَّط ـ فانطَلَقَتْ كراهيةَ أن تَنظُرَ إِليه، فوَجدَتِ الصَّفا أقرَبَ جَبلٍ في الأرضِ يَليها، فقامَت عليهِ، ثمَّ استقبَلَتِ الوادِيَ تَنظُرُ هل تَرَى أحداً، فلم تَرَ أحداً، فهبَطَت مِنَ الصَّفا، حتى إِذا بلَغَتِ الواديَ رَفعَت طرَفَ دِرعِها، ثمَّ سَعَت سَعيَ الإنسانِ المجهودِ حتى جاوَزَتِ الواديَ، ثمَّ أتَتِ المرْوَةَ فقامت عليها فنظَرَت هل تَرَى أحداً، فلم تَرَ أحداً، ففعلت ذلك سبعَ مراتٍ. قال ابنُ عباسٍ قال النبيُّ: فذلك سعيُ الناسِ بينهما. فلماأشرَفَت على المروةِ سمعَت صوتاً فقالت: صَهٍ ـ تريدُ نفسَها ـ ثمَّ تسمَّعَتْ أيضاً فقالت: قد أسمعتَ إن كان عندَكَ غِواث، فإِذا هيَ بالملَكِ عند مَوضعِ زَمزم، فبَحَثَ بعَقِبهِ ـ أو قال بجَناحهِ ـ حتى ظهرَ الماءُ، فجعَلَت تَحُوضهُ وتقول بيدِها هكذا، وجَعلت تَغرِفُ منَ الماءِ في سِقائها وهوَ يَفورُ بعدما تَغرِفُ. قال ابنُ عباسٍ قال النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلّم: يَرحَمُ الله أمَّ إسماعيلَ لو تَرَكَت زمزَم ـ أو قال: لو لم تَغرِف منَ الماء ـ لكانت زمزمُ عَيناً مَعيناً. قال: فشَرِبتَ وأرضَعتْ ولَدَها، فقال لها الملَكُ: لا تخافوا الضَّيعة، فإِنَّ ها هنا بيتَ الله يَبني هذا الغلامُ وأبوه، وإنَّ الله لا يُضيعُ أهلَه. وكان البيتُ مرتفعاً منَ الأرضِ كالرابية، تأتيهِ السيولُ فتأخُذ عن يمينهِ وشمالهِ، فكانت كذلكَ حتى مرَّت بهم رُفقة من جُرْهُم ـ أو أهلُ بيتٍ من جُرْهُم ـ مُقبِلينَ من طريقِ كَداء، فنزَلوا في أسفَلِ مكةَ، فَرأوا طائراً عائفاً، فقالوا: إِنَّ هذا الطائر لَيَدورُ على ماء، لَعهدُنا بهذا الوادي وما فيه ماء، فأرسَلوا جَريّاً أو جَرِيَّينِ فإِذا هم بالماء، فرَجَعوا فأخبروهم بالماءِ، فأقبلوا ـ قال وأمُّ إسماعيلَ عند الماء ـ فقالوا: أتأذَنينَ لنا أن نَنزِلَ عندَكِ ؟ فقالت: نعم، ولكنْ لا حقَّ لكم في الماء. قالوا: نعم. قال ابنُ عباسٍ قال النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلّم. فألفى ذلكَ أمَّ إِسماعيلَ وهيَ تحبُّ الإِنسَ، فنزَلوا، وأرسلوا إلى أهلِيهم فنزلوا معهم، حتى إِذا كان بها أهلُ أبياتٍ منهم، وشبَّ الغلامُ وتعلَّمَ العربيةَ منهم، وأنفَسَهُم وأعجبَهم حينَ شَبَّ، فلما أدركَ زوَّجوهُ امرأة منهم. وماتَت أمُّ إِسماعيل، فجاء إبراهيمُ بعدَما تَزوَّجَ إسماعيلُ يُطالِعُ تَرِكتَهُ، فلم يَجد إسماعيل، فسألَ امرأتَهُ عنه فقالت: خرَجَ يَبتغي لنا، ثم سألها عن عَيشِهم وهَيْئِتهم فقالت: نحنُ بشَرّ، نحنُ في ضيقٍ وشدَّة، فشكَتْ إليه. قال: فإِذا جاءَ زوجُكِ فاقرَئي عليهِ السلام وقولي لهُ يَغَيِّرُ عَتبةَ بابه. فلما جاء إسماعيلُ كأنهُ آنس شيئاً فقال: هل جاءكم من أحد ؟ قالت: نعم، جاءنا شيخٌ كذا وكذا، فسأَلَنا عنك فأخبرتُه، وسألني كيف عَيشُنا، فأخبرتهُ أنا في جهدٍ وشِدَّة. قال: فهل أوصاك بشيء ؟ قالت: نعم، أمرَني أن أقرَأ عليكَ السلام، ويقول: غَيِّر عتبةَ بابك. قال: ذاكِ أبي، قد أمرَني أن أُفارِقَكِ، الحَقِي بأهلِكِ، فطلَّقَها، وتزوجَ منهم أخرَى، فلَبِثَ عنهم إبراهيمُ ما شاءَ الله، ثم أتاهم بعدُ فلم يَجِدْه، فدخَلَ على امرأته فسألها عنه فقالت: خرَجَ يَبتغِي لنا. قال: كيف أنتم ؟ وسألها عن عيشِهم وهَيئِتهم فقالت: نحن بخيرٍ وسَعَة، وأثنَتْ على الله. فقال: ما طعامُكم ؟ قالتِ: اللحمُ. قال فما شرابُكم ؟ قالتِ: الماء. قال: اللّهمَّ بارك لهم في اللحم والماء. قال النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلّم: ولم يكن لهم يومَئذٍ حبّ، ولو كان لهم دعا لهم فيه، قال: فهما لا يَخْلو عليهما أحدٌ بغيرِ مكةَ إلا لم يُوافِقاهُ. قال: فإِذا جاءَ زوجُكِ اقرَئي عليهِ السلام، ومُريهِ يُثبتُ عتبةَ بابه. فلما جاءَ إسماعيلُ قال: هل أتاكم مِن أحد ؟ قالت: نعم، أتانا شيخُ حَسنُ الهيئِة ـ وأثنَتْ عليه ـ فسألني عنكَ فأخبَرْتهُ، فسألني كيف عيشُنا فأخبرتهُ أنّا بخيرٍ. قال: فأوصاكِ بشيءٍ قالت: نعم، هو يقرأُ عليكَ السلامَ، ويأمُرُكَ أن تُثبِتَ عتبةَ بابِك. قال: ذاكِ أبي، وأنتِ العتبةَ، أمَرَني أن أمسِكَكِ. ثم لَبِثَ عنهم ما شاءَ الله، ثم جاء بعدَ ذلك وإسماعيلُ يَبري نَبْلاً له تحتَ دَوحةٍ قريباً منَ زَمزَمَ، فلمّا رآهُ قام إليه، فصَنَعا كما يَصنَعُ الوالدُ بالوَلَد والوَلَدُ بالوالد. ثم قال: يا إسماعيلُ، إن الله أمَرَني بأمر. قال: فاصْنَعْ ما أمَرَكَ ربُّك. قال: وتُعِينُني ؟ قال: وأعِينكُ. قال: فإن الله أمَرَني أن أبِنيَ ها هنا بيتاً ـ وأشارَ إلى أكمة مُرتفعةٍ عَلَى ما حَوْلَها ـ قال: فعندَ ذلكَ رَفَعا القواعدَ منَ البَيت، فجعلَ إِسماعيلُ يأتي بالحجارةِ وإِبراهيم يبني. حتى إذا ارتَفَعَ البناءُ جاءَ بهذا الحجَرِ فوضَعَهُ لهُ، فقامَ عليهِ وهو يَبني وإِسماعيلُ يُناوِلهُ الحِجارةَ، وهُما يَقولانِ: {رَبَّنا تقبَّلْ منّا، إِنكَ أنتَ السميعُ العَليم} قال: فجَعَلا يبنيانِ حتى يَدُورا حَولَ البيتِ وهُما يَقولان: {رَبَّنا تقبَّلْ منّا، إِنكَ أنتَ السميعُ العَليم} (البقرة: 127)
Saeed ibn Jubair narrated: Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma) said: The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ismail (i.e. Haajar). She used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah. Ibrahim brought her and her son Ismail while she was suckling him, to a place near the Kabah under a tree on the spot of Zam-Zam, at the highest place in the mosque. During those days there was nobody in Makkah, nor was there any water. So he made them sit over there and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates, and a small water-skin containing some water, and set out homeward. Ismail’s mother followed him saying, “O Ibrahim! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything (to enjoy)?” She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him, “Has Allah ordered you to do so?” He said, “Yes.” She said, “Then He will not neglect us,” and returned while Ibrahim proceeded onwards, and on reaching the Thaniya where they could not see him, he faced the Kabah, and raising both hands, invoked Allah saying the following prayers:
رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ
“O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Kabah at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform salah (prayer), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.” [Surah Ibrahim (14) : 37]
Ismail’s mother went on suckling Ismail and drinking from the water (she had). When the water in the water-skin had all been used up, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty. She started looking at him (i.e. Ismail) tossing in agony; She left him, for she could not endure looking at him, and found that the mountain of Safa was the nearest mountain to her on that land. She stood on it and started looking at the valley keenly so that she might see somebody, but she could not see anybody. Then she descended from Safa and when she reached the valley, she tucked up her robe and ran in the valley like a person in distress and trouble, till she crossed the valley and reached the Marwah mountain where she stood and started looking, expecting to see somebody, but she could not see anybody. She repeated that (running between Safa and Marwah) seven times.” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wassalam) said, “This is the source of the tradition of the walking of people between them (i.e. Safa and Marwah).
When she reached the Marwah (for the last time) she heard a voice and she asked herself to be quiet and listened attentively. She heard the voice again and said, ‘O, (whoever you may be)! You have made me hear your voice; have you got something to help me?” And behold! She saw an angel at the place of Zam-Zam, digging the earth with his heel (or his wing), till water flowed from that place. She started to make something like a basin around it, using her hand in this way, and started filling her water-skin with water with her hands, and the water was flowing out after she had scooped some of it.”
The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) added, “May Allah bestow Mercy on Ismail’s mother! Had she let the Zam-Zam (flow without trying to control it) (or had she not scooped from that water) (to fill her water-skin), Zam-Zam would have been a stream flowing on the surface of the earth.” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) further added, “Then she drank (water) and suckled her child. The angel said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid of being neglected, for this is the House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father, and Allah never neglects His people.’ The House (i.e. Kabah) at that time was on a high place resembling a hillock, and when torrents came, they flowed to its right and left.
She lived in that way till some people from the tribe of Jurhum or a family from Jurhum passed by her and her child, as they (i.e. the Jurhum people) were coming through the way of Kada. They landed in the lower part of Makkah where they saw a bird that had the habit of flying around water and not leaving it. They said, ‘This bird must be flying around water, though we know that there is no water in this valley.’ They sent one or two messengers who discovered the source of water, and returned to inform them of the water. So, they all came (towards the water).” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) added, “Ismail’s mother was sitting near the water. They asked her, ‘Do you allow us to stay with you?” She replied, ‘Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water.’ They agreed to that.” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) further said, “Ismail’s mother was pleased with the whole situation as she used to love to enjoy the company of the people. So, they settled there, and later on they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there. The child (i.e. Ismail) grew up and learnt Arabic from them and (his virtues) caused them to love and admire him as he grew up, and when he reached the age of puberty they made him marry a woman from amongst them.
After Ismail’s mother had died, Ibrahim came after Ismail’s marriage in order to see his family that he had left before, but he did not find Ismail there. When he asked Ismail’s wife about him, she replied, ‘He has gone in search of our livelihood.’ Then he asked her about their way of living and their condition, and she replied, ‘We are living in misery; we are living in hardship and destitution,’ complaining to him. He said, ‘When your husband returns, convey my salutation to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house).’ When Ismail came, he seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife, ‘Has anyone visited you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, an old man of so-and-so description came and asked me about you and I informed him, and he asked about our state of living, and I told him that we were living in a hardship and poverty.’ On that Ishmael said, ‘Did he advise you anything?’ She replied, ‘Yes, he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the threshold of your gate.’ Ismail said, ‘It was my father, and he has ordered me to divorce you. Go back to your family.’ So, Ismail divorced her and married another woman from amongst them (i.e. Jurhum).
Then Ibrahim stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ismail. So he came to Ismail’s wife and asked her about Ismail. She said, ‘He has gone in search of our livelihood.’ Ibrahim asked her, ‘How are you getting on?’ asking her about their sustenance and living. She replied, ‘We are prosperous and well-off (i.e. we have everything in abundance).’ Then she thanked Allah. Ibrahim said, ‘What kind of food do you eat?’ She said. ‘Meat.’ He said, ‘What do you drink?’ She said, ‘Water.” He said, “O Allah! Bless their meat and water.” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) added, “At that time they did not have grain, and if they had grain, he would have also invoked Allah to bless it.” The Prophet added, “If somebody has only these two things as his sustenance, his health and disposition will be badly affected, unless he lives in Makkah.” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) added,” Then Ibrahim said to Ismail’s wife, “When your husband comes, give my regards to him and tell him that he should keep firm the threshold of his gate.’ When Ismail came back, he asked his wife, ‘Did anyone call on you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, a good-looking old man came to me,’ so she praised him and added. ‘He asked about you, and I informed him, and he asked about our livelihood and I told him that we were in a good condition.’ Ismail asked her, ‘Did he give you any piece of advice?’ She said, ‘Yes, he told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you should keep firm the threshold of your gate.’ On that Ismail said, ‘It was my father, and you are the threshold (of the gate). He has ordered me to keep you with me.’
Then Ibrahim stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished, and called on them afterwards. He saw Ismail under a tree near Zam-Zam, sharpening his arrows. When he saw Ibrahim, he rose up to welcome him (and they greeted each other as a father does with his son or a son does with his father). Ibrahim said, ‘O Ismail! Allah has given me an order.’ Ismail said, ‘Do what your Lord has ordered you to do.’ Ibrahim asked, ‘Will you help me?’ Ismail said, ‘I will help you.’ Ibrahim said, Allah has ordered me to build a house here,’ pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it.” The Prophet added, “Then they raised the foundations of the House (i.e. the Kabah). Ismail brought the stones and Ibrahim was building, and when the walls became high, Ismail brought this stone and put it for Ibrahim who stood over it and carried on building, while Ismail was handing him the stones, and both of them were saying,
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (2) : 127]
The Prophet added, “Then both of them went on building and going round the Kabah saying:
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (2) : 127]
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 583]
The name of the angel who came to help her is clearly mentioned in another narration.
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لَمَّا كَانَ بَيْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَبَيْنَ أَهْلِهِ مَا كَانَ، خَرَجَ بِإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَأُمِّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، وَمَعَهُمْ شَنَّةٌ فِيهَا مَاءٌ، فَجَعَلَتْ أُمُّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ تَشْرَبُ مِنَ الشَّنَّةِ فَيَدِرُّ لَبَنُهَا عَلَى صَبِيِّهَا حَتَّى قَدِمَ مَكَّةَ، فَوَضَعَهَا تَحْتَ دَوْحَةٍ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ، فَاتَّبَعَتْهُ أُمُّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَتَّى لَمَّا بَلَغُوا كَدَاءً نَادَتْهُ مِنْ وَرَائِهِ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ إِلَى مَنْ تَتْرُكُنَا قَالَ إِلَى اللَّهِ. قَالَتْ رَضِيتُ بِاللَّهِ. قَالَ فَرَجَعَتْ فَجَعَلَتْ تَشْرَبُ مِنَ الشَّنَّةِ وَيَدِرُّ لَبَنُهَا عَلَى صَبِيِّهَا، حَتَّى لَمَّا فَنِيَ الْمَاءُ قَالَتْ لَوْ ذَهَبْتُ فَنَظَرْتُ لَعَلِّي أُحِسُّ أَحَدًا. قَالَ فَذَهَبَتْ فَصَعِدَتِ الصَّفَا فَنَظَرَتْ وَنَظَرَتْ هَلْ تُحِسُّ أَحَدًا فَلَمْ تُحِسَّ أَحَدًا، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَتِ الْوَادِيَ سَعَتْ وَأَتَتِ الْمَرْوَةَ فَفَعَلَتْ ذَلِكَ أَشْوَاطًا، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَوْ ذَهَبْتُ فَنَظَرْتُ مَا فَعَلَ ـ تَعْنِي الصَّبِيَّ ـ فَذَهَبَتْ فَنَظَرَتْ، فَإِذَا هُوَ عَلَى حَالِهِ كَأَنَّهُ يَنْشَغُ لِلْمَوْتِ، فَلَمْ تُقِرَّهَا نَفْسُهَا، فَقَالَتْ لَوْ ذَهَبْتُ فَنَظَرْتُ لَعَلِّي أُحِسُّ أَحَدًا، فَذَهَبَتْ فَصَعِدَتِ الصَّفَا فَنَظَرَتْ وَنَظَرَتْ فَلَمْ تُحِسَّ أَحَدًا، حَتَّى أَتَمَّتْ سَبْعًا، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لَوْ ذَهَبْتُ فَنَظَرْتُ مَا فَعَلَ، فَإِذَا هِيَ بِصَوْتٍ فَقَالَتْ أَغِثْ إِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَكَ خَيْرٌ. فَإِذَا جِبْرِيلُ، قَالَ فَقَالَ بِعَقِبِهِ هَكَذَا، وَغَمَزَ عَقِبَهُ عَلَى الأَرْضِ، قَالَ فَانْبَثَقَ الْمَاءُ، فَدَهَشَتْ أُمُّ إِسْمَاعِيلَ فَجَعَلَتْ تَحْفِزُ. قَالَ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : لَوْ تَرَكَتْهُ كَانَ الْمَاءُ ظَاهِرًا . قَالَ فَجَعَلَتْ تَشْرَبُ مِنَ الْمَاءِ، وَيَدِرُّ لَبَنُهَا عَلَى صَبِيِّهَا
Narrated Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhuma): When Ibrahim had differences with his wife, (because of her jealousy of Haajar, Ismail’s mother), he took Ismail and his mother and went away. They had a water-skin with them containing some water, Ismail’s mother used to drink water from the water-skin so that her milk would increase for her child. When Ibrahim reached Makkah, he made her sit under a tree and afterwards returned home. Ismail’s mother followed him, and when they reached Kadaa, she called him from behind, ‘O Ibrahim! To whom are you leaving us?’ He replied, ‘(I am leaving you) to Allah’s (Care).’ She said, ‘I am satisfied to be with Allah.’ She returned to her place and started drinking water from the water-skin, and her milk increased for her child. When the water had all been used up, she said to herself, ‘I’d better go and look so that I may see somebody.’
She ascended the Safa mountain and looked, hoping to see somebody, but in vain. When she came down to the valley, she ran till she reached the Marwah mountain. She ran to and fro (between the two mountains) many times. They she said to herself, ‘I’d better go and see the state of the child,’ she went and found it in a state of one on the point of dying. She could not endure to watch it dying and said (to herself), ‘If I go and look, I may find somebody.’ She went and ascended the Safa mountain and looked for a long while but could not find anybody. Thus she completed seven rounds (of running) between Safa and Marwah. Again she said (to herself), ‘I’d better go back and see the state of the child.’
But suddenly she heard a voice, and she said to that strange voice, ‘Help us if you can offer any help.’ Lo! It was Jibreel (who had made the voice). Jibreel hit the earth with his heel like this (Ibn Abbas hit the earth with his heel to illustrate it), and so the water gushed out. Ismail’s mother was astonished and started digging. Abu Al-Qasim (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) (i.e. the Prophet ) said, “If she had left the water, (flow naturally without her intervention), it would have been flowing on the surface of the earth.”) Ismail’s mother started drinking from the water and her milk increased for her child.
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 4, Hadeeth No. 584. The whole narration can be found here.]
Jibreel came to Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) to show him the rites of Hajj
قلتُ: ويزعُمُ قومُكَ أنَّ رسولَ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ سعَى بينَ الصفا والمروةِ، وأنَّ ذلك سُنَّةٌ؟ قال: صدَقوا، إنَّ إبراهيمَ لمَّا أُمِر بالمناسِكِ، عرَضَ له الشيطانُ عندَ المَسْعى فسابَقَه، فسبَقَه إبراهيمُ، ثم ذهَب به جِبْريلُ إلى جَمْرةِ العَقَبةِ، فعرَضَ له شيطانٌ -قال يونُسُ: الشيطانُ– فرماه بسبْعِ حَصَياتٍ، حتى ذهَب، ثم عرَضَ له عندَ الجَمْرةِ الوُسْطى، فرماه بسبْعِ حَصَياتٍ، قال: قد تَلَّه للجَبينِ -قال يونُسُ: وثَمَّ تَلَّه للجَبينِ- وعلى إسماعيلَ قميصٌ أبيضُ، وقال: يا أبَتِ، إنَّه ليس لي ثوبٌ تُكفِّنُني فيه غيرُه، فاخلَعْه حتى تُكَفِّنُني فيه، فعالَجَه ليخلَعَه، فنُودِيَ من خلفِه: {أَنْ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا} [الصافات: 105] فالتفَتَ إبراهيمُ، فإذا هو بكبشٍ أبيضَ، أقرَنَ، أعيَنَ. قال ابنُ عبَّاسٍ: لقد رأيتُنا نتبَعُ ذلك الضَّربَ من الكِباشِ، قال: ثم ذهَب به جِبْريلُ إلى الجَمْرةِ القُصْوى، فعرَضَ له الشيطانُ، فرماه بسبْعِ حَصَياتٍ؛ حتى ذهَب، ثم ذهَب به جِبْريلُ إلى مِنًى، قال: هذا مِنًى -قال يونُسُ: هذا مُناخُ الناسِ- ثم أتى به جَمْعًا، فقال: هذا المَشعَرُ الحرامُ، ثم ذهَب به إلى عَرَفةَ، فقال ابنُ عبَّاسٍ: هل تدري لِمَ سُمِّيتْ عَرَفةَ؟ قلتُ: لا. قال: إنَّ جِبْريلَ قال لإبراهيمَ: عرَفتَ -قال يونُسُ: هل عرَفتَ؟- قال: نعَمْ. قال ابنُ عبَّاسٍ: فمِن ثَمَّ سُمِّيتْ عَرَفةَ، ثم قال: هل تدري كيفَ كانَتِ التَّلْبيةُ؟ قلتُ: وكيفَ كانت؟ قال: إنَّ إبراهيمَ لما أُمِر أنْ يُؤذِّنَ في الناسِ بالحَجِّ، خفَضتْ له الجبالُ رؤوسَها، ورُفِعتْ له القُرَى، فأذَّنَ في الناسِ بالحَجِّ
أَن يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ
قَدْ صَدَّقْتَ الرُّؤْيَا
The angels came to Ibrahim (alaihissalaam) and Sarah (radiallahu anha) to give them glad tidings
وَلَقَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ بِالْبُشْرَىٰ قَالُوا سَلَامًا ۖ قَالَ سَلَامٌ ۖ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَاءَ بِعِجْلٍ حَنِيذٍ
فَلَمَّا رَأَىٰ أَيْدِيَهُمْ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ نَكِرَهُمْ وَأَوْجَسَ مِنْهُمْ خِيفَةً ۚ قَالُوا لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ
وَامْرَأَتُهُ قَائِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِن وَرَاءِ إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ
قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَٰذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًا ۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ
قَالُوا أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ ۖ رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ ۚ إِنَّهُ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الرَّوْعُ وَجَاءَتْهُ الْبُشْرَىٰ يُجَادِلُنَا فِي قَوْمِ لُوطٍ
إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُّنِيبٌ
يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ أَعْرِضْ عَنْ هَٰذَا ۖ إِنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَ أَمْرُ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنَّهُمْ آتِيهِمْ عَذَابٌ غَيْرُ مَرْدُودٍ
And verily, there came Our Messengers to Ibrahim with glad tidings. They said: Salam (greetings or peace!) He answered, Salam (greetings or peace!) and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: “Fear not, we have been sent against the people of Lut.”
And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the people of Lut. But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq , and after him, of Yaqub. She said (in astonishment): “Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband, an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!” They said: “Do you wonder at the Decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His Blessings be on you, O the family [of Ibrahim]. Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.”
Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us (Our Messengers) for the people of Lut. Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant (to Allah all the time, again and again). “O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the Commandment of your Lord has gone forth. Verily, there will come a torment for them which cannot be turned back.” [Surah Hud (11) : 69 – 76]
Ibn Kathir states in his explanation of the above ayaat (verses):
“Allah, the Exalted, says,
﴿ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡ رُسُلُنَآ ﴾
(And verily, there came Our messengers) The word “messengers” here means angels.
﴿ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ بِٱلۡبُشۡرَىٰ ﴾
(to Ibrahim with the glad tidings.) It has been said that the word “the glad tidings” means, “Receive the glad tidings of Ishaq.” Others have said that it means, “The destruction of the people of Prophet Lut.” The proof of the correctness of the first view is in Allah’s statement,
﴿ فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ عَنۡ إِبۡرَٲهِيمَ ٱلرَّوۡعُ وَجَآءَتۡهُ ٱلۡبُشۡرَىٰ يُجَـٰدِلُنَا فِى قَوۡمِ لُوطٍ ﴾
(Then when the fear had gone away from (the mind of) Ibrahim, and the glad tidings had reached him, he began to plead with Us for the people of Lut.) (11:74)
﴿ قَالُواْ سَلَـٰمً۬اۖ قَالَ سَلَـٰمٌ۬ۖ ﴾
(They said: “Salaman.” He answered, “Salamun.”) This means, “Upon you.” The scholars of explanation have said, “Ibrahim’s reply of `Salamun’ was better than that with which they had greeted him with, because the subjective case (Salamun instead of Salaman) alludes to affirmation and eternity. ”
﴿ فَمَا لَبِثَ أَن جَآءَ بِعِجۡلٍ حَنِيذٍ۬ ﴾
(and he hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf.) This means that he (Ibrahim) left with haste in order to bring them food, as a host. The food that he brought was a calf. The word Hanidh means roasted upon heated stones. This meaning has been reported from Ibn Abbas, Qatadah and others. This is as Allah has said in another verse,
﴿ فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجۡلٍ۬ سَمِينٍ۬ • فَقَرَّبَهُ ۥۤ إِلَيۡہِمۡ قَالَ أَلَا تَأۡكُلُونَ ﴾
(Then he turned to his household, and brought out a roasted calf. And placed it before them (saying): “Will you not eat”) (51:26-27) This verse contains many aspects of the etiquettes of hosting guests.
﴿ فَلَمَّا رَءَآ أَيۡدِيَہُمۡ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيۡهِ نَڪِرَهُمۡ ﴾
(But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he mistrusted them,) This means that he felt estranged from them.
﴿ وَأَوۡجَسَ مِنۡہُمۡ خِيفَةً۬ۚ ﴾
(and conceived a fear of them.) This is because angels are not concerned with food. They do not desire it, nor do they eat it. Therefore, when Ibrahim saw them reject the food that he had brought them, without tasting any of it at all, he felt a mistrust of them.
﴿ وَأَوۡجَسَ مِنۡہُمۡ خِيفَةً۬ۚ ﴾
(and conceived a fear of them. ) As-Suddi said, “When Allah sent the angels to the people of Lut, they set out walking in the form of young men, until they came to Ibrahim and they were hosted by him. When Ibrahim saw them, he rushed to host them.
﴿ فَرَاغَ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ فَجَآءَ بِعِجۡلٍ۬ سَمِينٍ۬ ﴾
(Then he turned to his household, and brought out a roasted calf.)(51:26) He slaughtered it (the calf), roasted it on hot stones and brought it to them. Then, he sat down with them. when he placed it before them. (saying): `Will you not eat’ They said, `O Ibrahim! Verily, we do not eat food without a price.’ Ibrahim then said, `Verily, this food has a price.’ They said, `What is its price’ He said, `You must mention the Name of Allah over it before eating it and praise Allah upon finishing it.’ Jibreel then looked at Mikail and said, `This man has the right that his Lord should take him as an intimate friend.’
﴿ فَلَمَّا رَءَآ أَيۡدِيَہُمۡ لَا تَصِلُ إِلَيۡهِ نَڪِرَهُمۡ ﴾
(But when he saw their hands went not towards it (the meal), he mistrusted them,) When Ibrahim saw that they were not eating, he became scared and frightened by them. Then, when Sarah looked and saw that he was honoring them, she began to serve them and she was laughing. She said, `What amazing guests we have. We serve them ourselves, showing them respect and they do not eat our food.”’ Then, concerning Allah’s statement about the angels,
﴿ قَالُواْ لَا تَخَفۡ ﴾
(They said: “Fear not,”) They were saying, “Do not be afraid of us. Verily, we are angels sent to the people of Lut in order to destroy them.” Then, Sarah laughed in delight of the good news of their destruction. This is because they had caused much corruption and their disbelief was severe. For this reason, she was rewarded with the glad tidings of a son, even after her despair. Concerning Allah’s statement,
﴿ وَمِن وَرَآءِ إِسۡحَـٰقَ يَعۡقُوبَ ﴾
(and after Ishaq, of Yaqub.) This means that the son that she was going to have would have a son (her grandson) who would succeed him and beget many children. For verily, Yaqub was the son of Ishaq, just as Allah says in Surat Al-Baqarah,
﴿ أَمۡ كُنتُمۡ شُہَدَآءَ إِذۡ حَضَرَ يَعۡقُوبَ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ إِذۡ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِى قَالُواْ نَعۡبُدُ إِلَـٰهَكَ وَإِلَـٰهَ ءَابَآٮِٕكَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ وَإِسۡمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَـٰقَ إِلَـٰهً۬ا وَٲحِدً۬ا وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ ۥ مُسۡلِمُونَ ﴾
(Or were you witnesses when death approached Yaqub When he said unto his sons, “What will you worship after me” They said, “We shall worship your God, the God of your fathers, Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, One God, and to him we submit.”) (2:133) From this point in this verse there is an evidence for those who say that Ismail was the son of Ibrahim who was to be sacrificed. It could not have been Ishaq, because the glad tidings were given that he would have a son born to him named Yaqub. So how could Ibrahim be commanded to sacrifice him when he was a small child and there had not been born to him a child yet, named Yaqub, who was promised The promise of Allah is true and there is no breaking of Allah’s promise. Therefore, it is not possible that Ibrahim was to sacrifice this child (Ishaq) with the condition being as it was. This makes it clear that Ismail was the son that was to be sacrificed and this is the best, most correct and clearest evidence of that. And all praise is due to Allah.
﴿ قَالَتۡ يَـٰوَيۡلَتَىٰٓ ءَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا۟ عَجُوزٌ۬ وَهَـٰذَا بَعۡلِى شَيۡخًاۖ ﴾
(She said (in astonishment): “Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband an old man”) Allah speaks of her statement in this verse, just as He spoke of her action in another verse.
﴿ فَأَقۡبَلَتِ ٱمۡرَأَتُهُ ۥ فِى صَرَّةٍ۬ فَصَكَّتۡ وَجۡهَهَا وَقَالَتۡ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ۬ ﴾
(Then his wife came forward with a loud voice: she smote her face, and said: “A barren old woman!”) (51:29) This was the custom of the women in their speech and actions when they were expressing amazement.
﴿ قَالُوٓاْ أَتَعۡجَبِينَ مِنۡ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِۖ ﴾
(Then said: “Do you wonder at the decree of Allah”) This means that the angels were saying to her, “Do not be amazed at the command of Allah, for verily, whenever He wants something, He merely says `Be’ and it is. So do not be amazed at this, even though you are old and barren and your husband is a very old man. Verily, Allah is able to do whatever He wills.”
﴿ رَحۡمَتُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَـٰتُهُ ۥ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أَهۡلَ ٱلۡبَيۡتِۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ حَمِيدٌ۬ مَّجِيدٌ۬ ﴾
(The mercy of Allah and His blessing be on you, O the family (of Ibrahim). Surely, He (Allah) is All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.) This means that He is the Most Praiseworthy in all of His actions and statements. He is praised and glorified in His Attributes and His Self. For this reason, it is confirmed in the two Sahihs that they (the Prophet’s Companions) said, “Verily, we already know how to greet you with Salam (peace), but how do we send Salah (prayer) upon you, O Messenger of Allah” He said,
« قُولُوا: اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ، وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد »
(Say, “O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You have sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. And bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You have blessed the family of Ibrahim. Truly, You are the All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.”)
Allah, the Exalted, informs of what happened after the fright of Ibrahim left him and he felt no more fear of the angels when they refused to eat. After this, they gave him the glad tidings of the birth of a son and the destruction of the people of Lut. When they told him of this, he spoke to them as Said bin Jubayr narrated concerning this verse. Said said: When Jibreel and the other angels who were with him came to Ibrahim, they said,
﴿ إِنَّا مُهۡلِكُوٓاْ أَهۡلِ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةِۖ ﴾
(Verily, we are going to destroy the people of this town.) Ibrahim said to them, “Will you destroy a town that has three hundred believers in it” They said, “No.” He then said, “Will you destroy a town that has two hundred believers in it” They said, “No.” He said, “Will you destroy a town that has forty believers in it” They said, “No.” He then said, “Thirty” They still replied, “No.” This continued until he said, “Five” They said, “No.” Then he said, “What do you think if there is one Muslim man in the town, would you destroy it” They said, “No.” With this, Ibrahim said,
﴿ إِنَّ فِيهَا لُوطً۬اۚ قَالُواْ نَحۡنُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن فِيہَاۖ لَنُنَجِّيَنَّهُ ۥ وَأَهۡلَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا ٱمۡرَأَتَهُ ۥ ﴾
(But there is Lut in it. They said: “We know better who is there. We will verily, save him and his family except his wife.”) Therefore, Ibrahim remained silent and his soul was at rest. Concerning Allah’s statement,
(Verily, Ibrahim was, without doubt, forbearing, used to invoke Allah with humility, and was repentant (to Allah).) (11:75) This is a commendation for Ibrahim because of these beautiful characteristics. Then Allah says,
﴿ يَـٰٓإِبۡرَٲهِيمُ أَعۡرِضۡ عَنۡ هَـٰذَآۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ قَدۡ جَآءَ أَمۡرُ رَبِّكَۖ ﴾
(O Ibrahim! Forsake this. Indeed, the commandment of your Lord has gone forth.) This means the decree was settled concerning them and the Word was already given that they should be destroyed. The evil torment was coming to them, that cannot be averted from wicked people.”
In the Stories of the Prophets, Ibn Kathir pointed out that the angels were said to be three: Jibreel, Mikaeel and Israfeel.
All three angels were mentioned in a dua (supplication) that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used to recite at the beginning of his night prayer.
عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَوْفٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَىِّ شَىْءٍ كَانَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَفْتَتِحُ صَلاَتَهُ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ قَالَتْ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ افْتَتَحَ صَلاَتَهُ : اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
Abdur Rahman bin Awf (radiallahu anhu) reported: I asked Aishah, the mother of the believers, (to tell me) the words with which the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) commenced the prayer when he got up at night. She said: When he got up at night he would commence his prayer with these words:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ جِبْرَائِيلَ وَمِيكَائِيلَ وَإِسْرَافِيلَ فَاطِرَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ عَالِمَ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ أَنْتَ تَحْكُمُ بَيْنَ عِبَادِكَ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ اهْدِنِي لِمَا اخْتُلِفَ فِيهِ مِنَ الْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِكَ إِنَّكَ تَهْدِي مَنْ تَشَاءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
Allahumma Rabba Jibraeel wa Maikaeel wa Israafeel; Fatir As-samawati wal-ard, Alim al-ghaybi wash-shahaadah, anta tahkumu bayna ibaadika feema kanu feehi yakhtalifoon, ihdini limakhtulifa feehi min al-haqq bi idhnik, innaka tahdi man tashaau ila siratim mustaqeem.
O Allah, Lord of Jibraeel, Mikaeel and Israfeel, Creator of the heavens and the Earth, Knower of the seen and the unseen. You are the arbitrator between Your servants in that which they have disputed. Guide me to the truth by Your leave, in that which they have differed, for verily You guide whom You will to a straight path.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 1694]
Why were these angels mentioned in this particular dua?
Well, Jibreel (alaihissalaam) is the angel entrusted with the revelation (which is why he is the greatest angel). The revelation from Allah, is what gives life to the hearts.
Mikaeel (alaihissalaam) is entrusted with the rain, which gives life to the earth and the planets, by the permission of Allah. This has to do with the sustenance in this worldly life.
Israfeel is entrusted with blowing the trumpet. That is linked to the life of the bodies. When he blows the trumpet the first time, everyone with die. When he blows it a second time, everyone will be raised up.
And interestingly enough, sleep is referred to as the lesser death by the scholars as it is a type of death. The soul departs the body whilst sleeping.
The night prayer is the first thing that a person does when he wakes up from sleep. So, the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) praised Allah and referred to Him as the Lord of these three angels, all three of whom are linked to life, subhan Allah.