Questions of the unseen

23-5-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is there anything more powerful and evil than the Shaytan (devil)? Do Angels ever pass away (die)? Will Angels get punished? What does it mean, when you think of Islam, when your deep sleep, and you cry? Can the dead see us?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

The believer is stronger than the devil, Allaah says (which means): {Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitan (Satan).}[Quran 4:76]. Allaah further says (which means): {From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allaah).}[Quran 114:4]. The whisperer is the devil who withdraws when the person mentions Allaah. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Indeed a believer defeats and overcomes the devil in the same way he overpowers his camel during travel." [Ahmad]

As regards the angels, they die in the same way all other creatures die, Allaah says (which means): {Whatsoever is on it (the earth) will perish.}[Quran 55:26]. Al-Qurtubi may Allaah have mercy upon him said regarding the interpretation of this verse: 'When this verse was revealed, Ibn 'Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him said: "the angels said: "The people of the Earth will perish", so Allaah revealed (which means): {Everything will perish except His Face.}[Quran 28:88], then the angels realized that they will perish as well.'

However, one cannot imagine that the angels will be punished as Allaah created them only to worship Him and to obey Him. Allaah says (which means): {They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they never slacken (to do so)}[Quran 21:20]. Allaah further says (which means): {They disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do that which they are commanded.}[Quran 66:6].

Concerning crying in a dream when thinking about Islam, this could be due to the sadness over the situation of Islam today; it might also be from the devil who want to sadden him, or because of something else.

With regard to your question whether the dead can see us, the answer is 'no'. The sight is withdrawn from the dead as soon as his soul is taken away. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "When the soul is taken away from the dead person, the sight follows it." [Muslim]

Allaah knows best.

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