Allah has given the angels the ability to take on forms other than their own; the Angels came to Abraham, Lot, Saint Mary and Muhammad in human forms.
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The angels have great amazing powers including their ability to take on different forms.
Allah has given the angels the ability to take on forms other than their own.
1) The Angels came to the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) in human form, and he did not know that they were angels until they did not eat his food and he was afraid of them then they told him that they are but Angels coming with glad tidings that he will beget Isaac. (See the verses 51:24-28 in the Appendix)
2) Similarly, the angels came to the Prophet Lot (Lut) in the form of young men with beautiful faces to try his (homosexual) people who wanted to have sex with them; and this was the last trial for Lot’s people before Allah has punished them (See the verses 11:77-81 in the Appendix)
3) Also, Allah sent the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) to Saint Mary (Maryam) in the form of a man, as Allah informed us in the Noble Quran: (See the verse 19:17 in the Appendix)
4) The Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) used to come to the Prophet Muhammad in different forms:
- Sometimes he would appear in the form of one of Muhammad’s companion called Dihyah al-Kalbi, who was very handsome, and
- Sometimes in the form of a Bedouin.
5) Muhammad’s companion saw the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) in his human form; it is narrated that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (a famous Muhammad’s companion) said:
“One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of travel were to be seen on him, and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by the Prophet. Resting his knees against his and placing his hands on his thighs, he said: ‘O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.’…” .
In this Hadeeth, Gabriel (Jibreel) asked the Prophet Muhammad the following:
- What is Islam?
- What is Faith?
- When is the Hour (the Last Day)?
When he has left, the Prophet Muhammad said to his companion: “this is Gabriel (Jibreel) came to teach you”
In addition, there are many other Hadeeth refer to the angels taking human forms such as the:
6) Hadeeth about the man who killed a hundred men in which it says “. . . there came to them an angel in human form . . .”
7) Hadeeth about an Angel who came to the blind man, the bald man and the leper.
You will read about 5), 6) and 7) later on.
N.B., Hadeeth = Muhammad’ saying
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Appendix:
The verses 51:24-28 (Abraham and the Angels):
24- Have you heard the story of Abraham’s honored guests?
25- They entered to him and said: ‘peace. ‘And he replied: ‘peace, you are people unknown to me. ‘
26- So he turned to his household and brought a fattened calf.
27- He set it before them, saying: ‘will you not eat? ‘
28- Then he conceived a fear about them, and they said: ‘have no fear’, and gave him the glad tidings that he was to have a knowledgeable son. [QARIB translation]
The verses 11:77-81 (Lot and the Angels):
77- And when our messengers came to lut, he was grieved for them, and he lacked strength to protect them, and said: this is a hard day
78) And his people came to him, (as if) rushed on towards him, and already they did evil deeds. He said: o my people! These are my daughters– they are purer for you, so guard against (the punishment of) Allah and do not disgrace me with regard to my guests; is there not among you one right-minded man?
79- They said: certainly you know that we have no claim on your daughters, and most surely you know what we desire
80- He (Lot) said: ah! That i had power to suppress you, rather i shall have recourse to a strong support
81- They said: o Lut! we are the messengers of your lord; they shall by no means reach you; so remove your followers in a part of the night– and let none of you turn back– except your wife, for surely whatsoever befalls them shall befall her; surely their appointed time is the morning; is not the morning nigh? [SHAKIR translation]
The verses 19:17 (Saint Mary and Gabriel):
“. . . Then we (Allah) sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects (the likeness of a perfect man).” [YUSUFALI translation]
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