XI.—ANGELS.
The existence of angels (malak, pl. maláik), and their purity, are absolutely required to be believed in by the Qurán, and he is reckoned an infidel who denies that there are such beings, or hates any of them or asserts any distinction of the sexes. The Muhammadans reckon four archangels: (1) Jibráíl (Gabriel), who is God's messenger ; (2) Míkáíl (Michael), who is the protector of the Jews; (3) Isráfíl, who will sound the last trumpet at the resurrection; (4) Azráíl, the angel of death. Muhammad undoubtedly obtained the names of these archangels from the Scriptures and Jewish tradition, although in the Apocryphal Book of Enoch[1] the names of the six archangels are Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sarakiel, Gabriel—a fact which may be cited as an additional proof, that when Muhammad availed himself of Jewish traditions, he quoted or adopted them with the same want of accuracy as when he appealed to the Divine word of God.
There are also the two recording angels called the Muaʾqqibát, or the angels who continually succeed each other, who record the good and evil actions of a man, one standing at his right hand and another on his left. These are also called the Kirám-ul-Kátibín (the exalted writers). The angel who has charge of Heaven is Rezwán and the angel who presides over Hell is Málik.
Munkar and Nakír are described by Muhammad as two black angels with blue eyes who visit every man in his grave, make him sit up, and examine him as to his faith in God and in Muhammad his prophet. If the answer is satisfactory, he will be allowed to sleep on in peace, but if he replies that he knows nothing of "God's Apostle," then he will be struck with an iron hammer called Mitraqat, and he will roar out, and his cries will be heard by all animals that may be near his grave, excepting men and genii.[2] This exciting ceremony is said to take place as soon as the funeral party have proceeded forty paces from the grave![3]
Enlightened Muhammadans of the present day attempt to explain all this in a figurative sense, but in vain, for there is a very trustworthy tradition, recorded both by Bokhári and Muslim, to the effect that Muhammad related that he himself heard the infliction of torment on infidels in their graves when passing through the grave-yard, and that his camel was frightened by their groans! This is one of the many instances of Muhammad's superstitious belief which the more recent Muhammadan divines endeavour to explain in a metaphorical sense. We have, however, shown in a previous article that the traditions of Bokhári are of considerable historical weight, so that there can be little doubt that Muhammad believed "the punishments of the grave?" to be real and literal, which is opposed to the teaching of God's revealed word (vide Eccl. ix. 10; xii. 7; Psalm cxlvi. 4).
The Devil is said to be a fallen angel who was turned out of Paradise because he refused to do homage to Adam.[4] He is called Iblís, a word which is most probably derived from balas, a wicked or profligate person; and also Shaitán (Satan). Besides angels and devils, there are said to be a distinct order of creatures called Jinn (Genii) who were created of fire some thousands of years before Adam. According to tradition the species consists of five distinct orders:—1. Jánn; 2. Jinn; 3. Shaitán; 4. ʾIfrít; 5. Márid.
Their chief abode is the mountains of Qáf, which are supposed to encircle the world.
There are good and evil Genii. If good, they are exceedingly handsome; if evil, they are horribly hideous. The evil genii are said to have been at liberty to enter any of the seven heavens till the birth of Jesus, when they were excluded from three of them. On the birth of Muhammad they were forbidden the other four heavens. They continue, however, to ascend to the confines of the lowest heavens, and there listen to the conversations of the angels respecting the decrees of God, which they sometimes impart to men by means of talismans and invocations.
The good genii are Muslims, and perform all the religious duties of the faithful.
King Solomon is said to have had great power over the genii by means of his magic ring.[5]
Students of Islám must bear in mind that most of the absurd stories of the genii are related in the Qurán, and have, therefore, received from Muhammad all the authority of a divine revelation.