Invitation to Ahmadiyyat — Page 186
186 who spread idolatrous beliefs always say that God has given his powers to someone but never claim that such a person rules the world independent of God. With this teaching, that conformed both to the Holy Quran and reason, the Promised Messiah as dispelled the darkness of Shirk and revealed to the Muslims the straight path that they had long abandoned. He, thus, accomplished that which had been destined for the second coming of the Messiah. The second pillar of faith in Islam, after belief in the Oneness of God, is the belief in angels, and this too had been completely distorted by the Muslims. Some believe that the angels can com - mit sin or object against God—Heaven forbid! The story of Adam has been presented in such a fashion that it appears as if angels stood up before God and criticised His commandments, whereas, in fact, they were proclaiming: 16 َو ُنْحَن ُحِّبَسُن َكِدْمَحِب َو ُسِّدَقُن َكَل١ؕ ‘And we glorify You with Your praise and extol Your holiness. ’ The story they tell about the angels H a r u t and M a r u t is painful indeed. It is said that God sent two angels to the world disguised as men but they became infatuated with a woman of ill repute and were hung upside down in a well as punishment. God save us! It is also said, God forbid, that Lucifer was the chief of the angels. Others believe that angels are physical beings who move about like human beings. For example, the angel Izr a‘i l runs around tak - ing people’s lives. On the other extreme are those who deny the very existence of angels and consider them to be imaginary beings.