The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 443
442 Α'ΙΝΑ-Ε-ΚΑMĀLĀT-E-ISLAM-DAFI UL-WASĀWIS manner of Allah's descent and ascent from the Throne to the lowest heaven. Allah has made it an article of faith to believe in their existence and He says: مَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ ا Therefore, believe in their descent and ascent and do not intrude into their nature. This is the better way and closer to righteousness. Allah has described them as those who stand up, fall prostrate, line up, glo- rify, and remain firm at the appointed stations. He made these attrib- utes eternal and indispensable to them and has distinguished them with these characteristics. So, how is it possible for angels to abandon their prostrations and standings, break their rows, and cease their glo- rification and adulations so as to descend to the earth by deserting their stations, leaving the heavens empty? Instead, they move around with- out leaving their station, like the King settled upon the Throne. You know that Allah descends to our heaven in the latter part of every night, but it is not said that He leaves the Throne and then ascends to it at other times. The same is the case with the angels who adopt the character of the attributes of their Lord as a shadow mirrors its original. Although we do not grasp its true essence, we believe in it. How can we relate their characteristics to that of a man, for we know the essence of his characteristics and the scope of his qualities, actions, and movements? Allah has forbidden us to do so in relation to angels and has said: وَمَا يَعْلَمُ جُنُودَ رَبِّكَ إِلَّا هُوَ 2 1. None knows the hosts of thy Lord but He (Sūrah al-Muddaththir, 74:32). [Publisher] 2. And none knows the hosts of thy Lord but He (Sūrah al-Muddaththir, 74:32). [Publisher]