The Image of Angels in Christian Traditions

In Christian tradition angels are described as the creation that serve God. Angel is a Greek word, which literally means sending message. There is no specific time period in Christianity when angels were created. Its only mention that, at the time of their creation they were admiring God. Its mentioned in Bible that they take the message of God to Earth. They bring down protection from God as well as the punishment. Punishment is for enemies of God. In some versions of Bible guardian angels are described which are with every person on earth. But by and large majority of Christian scholar reject this concept. (www.religionfacts.com, 2016)

Belief in angels for Christians is based on their description in Holy Scriptures. It is part of their belief on unseen realm. The word angel can be used for someone who brings the message, so Christians use it for John the Baptizer. According to Mal. 3.1 the Hebrew form of term is used to describe Christ before incarnation. This is what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe. But this account is rejected by first chapter of Hebrew.

According to common terminology word angel indicates a heavenly order of being, but it is definitely below divinity but superior to humanity. According to common Christian belief the angel are created beings. The psalmist wrote: “Praise ye him [God], all his angels... let them praise the name of Jehovah; for he commanded, and they were created” (Ps. 148:2, 5). It is also mentioned in Scriptures that: “[God] made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts... and the host of heaven worships you” (Neh. 9:6). There is no mention with certainty that when they were created. However there is probable opinion that they were created at the beginning creation week of God. According to EX. 20:11, creation of everything was complete during the first week.

What exactly is the job of angels is not known with certainty in Christianity. According to the scriptures (Heb. 1:14) the angels are described as spirits. However nature of that spirit is unknown. According to Luke 24:39 spirit has no physical body therefore they do not have flesh or bones, therefore they are not involved in any kind of physical activity, like for example marriage. (Mt 22:30). There is not much information about the formation of these heavenly creatures.

Angel follow a kind of divine law. Therefore they are accountable for their actions. So naturally some of them would commit sins too. This is described in the Scriptures. Although angels do commit sins there is no mention of redemption for them, its apparently not applicable to them. It is confirmed by scripture which says “For verily not to angels does he give help, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham” (Heb. 2:16 ASV). They are a kind of ministering spirits and their job is to carry out orders of God in the universe.

They worship God and serve Him (Is. 6:2; Rev. 22:8, 9). According to Luke 1:26f they used to change their shape to human form and used to deliver message for Jehovah. Their job is also described to be the protectors for human beings. In essence, though not much is known about angel the sure serve useful purpose in Divine scheme of things. (Jackson, 2019)

Angels in Quran and Hadith

In Islam belief in angels is the essential pillar and no one can be a believer without it. The pillars are six in number namely Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, The last day, and Qadr (predestination) is from Allah, good or bad. There is a world of the unseen, incomprehensible to us. Angels are part of that world. We are given information through Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). Angels are created from light. There is an authentic hadith in which Ayesha (RA) reported: 'The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: ‘The angels are created from light, just as the jinn are created from smokeless fire and mankind is created from what you have been told about.’' [Muslim]. We do not know precise timing of their creation. However they are certainly created before human being, because Allah told the angels about the creation of man, as Allah says in Quran 'Behold, your Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth.’' [2:30]

Angels are described in Quran having a great size. Angel Gibreel is the greatest of all the angels. Gibreel is described in hadith from Abdullah ibn Masood who said: “ the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw Jibreel in his true form. He had six hundred wings, each of which covered the horizon. There fell from his wings jewels, pearls and rubies, only Allah knows about them.'

Regarding their appearance, Allah says in Quran 'Praise be to Allah, Who created (out of nothing) the heavens and the earth, Who made the angels messengers with wings - two, or three, or four (pairs) adds to Creation as He pleases: for Allah has power over all things.' [35:1] The beauty of angel Jibreel is described by Allah as Dhoo Mirrah, which literally means someone with no defect in the mind and body. Jibreel is also described in hadith as having beautiful appearance and is tall.

Qutadah said: 'He is tall and beautiful.' All angels are not of the same sizes or status. They are different in virtues as well. Angels don’t drink or eat. This has been hinted in various verses of Quran. Conversation between angels and Ibrahim (AS) when they visited. Allah says in Quran “Then he turned quickly to his household, brought out a fatted calf, and placed it before them. He said, ‘Will you not eat?’ (When they did not eat), he conceived a fear of them. They said: ‘Fear not,’ and they gave him glad tidings of a son endowed with knowledge.' [51:26-28]. Angel do not get bored. They worship Allah all the time and never get tired.

Exact number of angels is only known to Allah. According to one authentic hadith when Prophet (PBUH) was taken to bait Al Ma’moor, he said that daily seventy thousand angels make visit there and leave. Angels are given names but we only know few of these names. Belief in the names should be part of our faith. The names that are given to us by Quran and Hadith are Jibreel, Mikail, Israfeel, Israeel, Malik, Munkar, Nakeer, Haroot and Maroot. Allah has granted different powers to angels. They take many forms including human form. Angel Jibreel went to Maryam (AS) in the form of a man. Angels went to Ibrahim (AS) and Loot (AS) in human form. Angel Jibreel came to The Prophet (PBUH) in the form of a man with clean white clothes and as narrated in famous “Hadith of Jibreel”. (Al-Munajjid, 2000)

Conclusion

In the above discussion about angels it is apparent that both Christianity and Islam accept the presence of angels, but there are basic differences in their belief.