“They do not precede Him in speech...

“They do not precede Him in speech, and (only) according to His commandment do they act.” [^3] They have been given many important and various duties from the side of Allah: Some of them bear the ‘Arsh (throne): “…bear the throne of Your Lord above them.” [^4] A group of them manage the affair: “And those who manage the affair.” [^5] A group of them are the angels of taking souls: “…until when Our messengers came to them to take them away…” [^6] A group of them are the recorders of the deeds of men: “And surely there are Watchers over you,” “Honourable scribes:” “They know (and understand) whatever you do.” [^7] A group of them are the protectors of man from dangers and evil events: “…and He sends guardians (to watch) over you until when death comes to one of you…” [^8] A group of them are ordered to punish the disobedient people: “And when Our messengers (the angels) came to Lot, he was grieved for them and felt straitened to protect them.

He said: ‘This is a distressful day’.” [^9] A group of them are Divine helpers to the believers in battles: “O you who believe!

📌Remember Allah’s blessing upon you when hosts came against you, so We sent upon them a strong wind and hosts, that you saw not, and Allah sees what you do.” [^10] And, finally, a group of them are the bringers of revelation and heavenly Books from Allah for Divine prophets: “He sends down the angels with the inspiration of His commandment upon whomever of His servants He wills…” [^11] 4- They are always busy glorifying Allah, as Surah Ash-Shura, No.

42, verse 5 says: “…and the angels celebrate the Praise of their Lord and seek forgiveness for those who are on the earth…” Yes, because of talent and potentials of development that man has, he is higher than and superior to the angels so much so that all angels, with no exception, once for the sake of the creation of Adam fell in prostration and Adam became their teacher.[^12] 6- Some angels appear for prophets and even other than the prophets in the form of human beings, as we recite in Surah Maryam that the great angel of Allah came to Mary as a handsome man: “…Then We sent unto her Our Spirit (Holy Spirit) that presented himself to her a perfect man”.

In other occurrences of the Qur’an we recite that angels appeared in the form of some men before Abraham and Lot[^13]. It is understood from the verses of this Surah that the people of Lot, too, saw them in the form of some handsome me.[^14] Is the appearance in the form of man a concrete fact?

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