of Nokounam, (Session 1671)
The Holy Quran, akin to a radiant lamp, guides humanity towards truth and knowledge. Within this celestial scripture, concepts such as Al-Muaww (the Refuge) and Angels hold a special station, each narrating in its own way the boundless mercy of God and the astonishing order of the cosmos. Al-Muaww, as a secure sanctuary, embraces the hearts of believers within divine mercy, whilst Angels, like innumerable legions of God, act as executors of divine commands across the realm. This treatise, by a profound examination of Quranic verses, elucidates these two fundamental notions and articulates the Quranic wisdom in a clear and dignified manner for readers. By contemplating these concepts, like a traveller resting beneath the shade of a mighty tree, one may access the depth of divine wisdom.
Al-Muaww is a divine attribute derived from the root Awa, meaning to shelter and to accommodate. This attribute, like a merciful canopy, safeguards the believers against storms of fear and peril, bestowing upon them divine security. This concept is emphasised in the Holy Quran as specifically pertaining to the believers, in contrast to more general divine names such as Ar-Razzaq (the Provider), which encompass all creatures.
And remember when you were few and oppressed in the land, fearing that people might seize you, but He sheltered you, supported you with His victory, and provided you with good things, that you might be grateful.
And remember when you were few and weak in the land, and you feared that people might abduct you; then He gave you refuge, strengthened you with His aid, and provided you with wholesome provisions, so that you might give thanks.
This verse, like a clear mirror, manifests that God, in the hour of the early believers weakness and fear, placed them under His protection. The term Fa-awaakum (He sheltered you) conveys divine refuge accompanied by support and wholesome provision, as if God, like a compassionate mother, enfolds His faithful children within the embrace of His mercy. This attribute, alongside Muayyid (the Supporter), meaning empowerment and affirmation, complement each other, demonstrating the comprehensiveness of divine grace. Unlike disbelievers whose refuge is the fire, believers dwell under the merciful shade of Al-Muaww.
The concept of Al-Muaww in the Holy Quran, like a clear spring, reflects Gods particular mercy towards believers, offering them refuge and support in times of hardship and weakness. This attribute, coupled with victory and wholesome provision, exemplifies the totality of divine mercy and invites believers to gratitude and thankfulness.
Angels, like the countless stars of the heavens, are immense legions of God who fulfil numerous roles within the cosmic order. The Holy Quran refers to angels in the plural form over sixty-eight times and, except for specific instances such as Malak al-Mawt (the Angel of Death), it seldom employs the singular Malak (angel). This multitude, like an endless ocean, indicates the infinite abundance and diversity of angels, encompassing those near to God (Muqarrabn), the striking angels (Musawwimn), and the keepers of Hellfire (Khzinn al-Nr).
And to Allah belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Mighty, Wise.
And to God belong the armies of the heavens and the earth, and God is Mighty, Wise.
This verse, like an engraving on a tablet, introduces angels as part of Gods vast hosts, dispersed across the heavens and earth by the wisdom and might of the Lord. Their numbers, as mentioned in verses such as Your Lord will send upon you three thousand angels sent down and Your Lord will send upon you five thousand marked angels, illustrate only a sample of their infinite multitude rather than a limitation.
Angels, like a caravan of light, are dispersed in various ranks and functions throughout the universe. Some of these duties include:
And you see the angels surrounding the Throne, glorifying the praise of their Lord.
And you see the angels surrounding the Throne, singing the praises of their Lord.
This verse, like a celestial painting, depicts the nearest angels engaged in glorification within the sacred precincts of God. The variation in angelic ranks, like the diverse colours of a vast canvas, reveals the astonishing order of the universe.
The multitude of angels, like the stars in the infinite heavens, transcends the scope of terrestrial arithmetic confined by finite numbers. Angels are not produced like humans or animals through eggs and gestation but are created incessantly like an ever-flowing fountain.
The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.
The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him on a Day whose measure is fifty thousand years.
This verse, like a window into the unseen realm, indicates that the movement of angels occurs beyond human notions of time and space. Their numbers, occasionally mentioned as three or five thousand, serve merely as examples to aid human comprehension rather than as a limit to their infinite quantity.
Angels, as boundless legions, hold diverse responsibilities within the cosmic order. From the nearest angels who glorify God in the sacred realm to the striking angels assisting believers in battle, their multiplicity and variety reveal the majesty of the Creator. These legions govern the universe with remarkable order and cannot be enumerated by limited human mathematics.
Humans, like precious gems, possess a collective status enabling them to perform a variety of tasks, as though one individual encompasses a whole world. Conversely, angels, each like a star emitting a unique light, hold specific duties and lack such comprehensiveness.
And when your Lord said to the angels, Indeed, I will place upon the earth a vicegerent.
And when your Lord said to the angels: I will place upon the earth a vicegerent.
This verse, like a golden tablet, presents man as Gods vicegerent who, due to his collective rank, can accomplish all tasks. Yet angels, each within a specific stature, attend only to their designated roles. This difference is like the distinction between an ocean and a single drop, manifesting the greatness of the perfect human.
The Holy Quran, as a scientific and guiding book, refers to the vast capacity of angels which Islamic communities have often overlooked. This neglect, like a buried treasure, obstructs the utilisation of divine confirmations. The verses indicate that angels speak with steadfast believers and assist them, but such connection requires spiritual preparedness and avoidance of material defilements.
Indeed, those who say, Our Lord is Allah and then remain steadfast the angels will descend upon them.
Indeed, those who say, Our Lord is God, and then remain steadfast, the angels will descend upon them.
This verse, like a springtime glad tidings, proclaims that angels accompany steadfast believers and converse with them. Yet hearts tainted by material corrosion, like broken vessels, lack capacity for this blessing.
Humans, by virtue of their collective status, are like gems capable of fulfilling all duties, while angels each hold a particular role. Neglecting the capacity of angels obstructs access to divine confirmations. Islamic communities must reflect upon the Quranic verses and prepare spiritually to revive this capacity, thereby reclaiming their dignity and power.
The concepts of Al-Muaww and Angels in the Holy Quran, like two wings of knowledge, guide humanity towards divine truth. Al-Muaww is a merciful refuge preserving believers within the shade of divine mercy, and Angels are the boundless legions of God entrusted with the order of the universe through infinite multitude and diversity. Humans, with their collective status, possess the ability to benefit from these blessings, yet neglect of such capacities is akin to being lost in a desert, depriving them of divine power. The Holy Quran, as a precise and scientific book, indicates the path to utilising these favours and invites Islamic communities to revive these teachings, so that through reflection and action, they may regain their honour.
Supervised by Sadegh Khademi
