|
Philosophers and religious scholars agree that creation is not limited to this visible world. Although this world is material and thus unable to receive and serve as a "home" for spirit beings, it has been decorated by countless living creatures. Based on this, we conclude that there are many degrees of existence over which this material world is but a lace curtain. Furthermore, as the sea houses fish, the unseen World of the Spirit houses spirit beings. In short, all arguments presented so far and all others that can be deduced from the universe's operation indicate the existence of angels.
Second fundamental:
Most philosophers and religious scholars agree that angels and spirit beings exist, although there have been differences in naming them. Among philosophers, the Peripatetics (Mashshaiyyun), who were inclined to explain the origin of existence in materialistic terms, had to admit the existence of angels on the ground that each species has a spiritual, incorporeal essence. The Illuminists (Ishraqiyyun) did not deny the existence of angels, but wrongly called them the "Ten Intellects" and "Masters of Species." Followers of Divine religions, guided by Divine Revelation, believed that an angel is in charge of each kind of existence. They named them according to that kind of existence: the Angel of the Mountains, the Angel of the Seas, the Angel of Rain, and so on. Even naturalists and materialists, who restrict themselves to what they see, admit the meaning of angels by calling them (incorrectly) "pervasive forces." If you do not admit the existence of such beings, on what proof do you base your denial? Can these vast spaces and beautiful firmaments be devoid of inhabitants while, as explained in the First Fundamental, life unveils the reality of creation and is its result and essence, and Earth is animated by numerous living beings? How can so-called natural laws have any influence upon creation? Being no more than nominal and imaginary principles, they cannot set creation in motion if there are no angels to represent, manifest, and administer them. Since life is an external observed reality, such nominal principles as natural laws cannot be the origin of this reality. Philosophers and religious scholars agree that creation is not limited to this visible world. Although this world is material and thus unable to receive and serve as a "home" for spirit beings, it has been decorated by countless living creatures. Based on this, we conclude that there are many degrees of existence over which this material world is but a lace curtain. Furthermore, as the sea houses fish, the unseen World of the Spirit houses spirit beings. In short, all arguments presented so far and all others that can be deduced from the universe's operation indicate the existence of angels. The Qur'an explains the meaning of angelic existence so reasonably that anyone can understand it: The human community is responsible for carrying out Divine Commandments issuing from the Divine Attribute of Speech, whereas angels are a community whose "working" stratum carry out Divine laws of nature issuing from the Attribute of Will. They are God's honored servants who have spiritual and subtle bodies, are divided into classes, and do whatever He tells them to do. They obey the commandments issuing from the Eternal Will and the Creative Power, Which rules the universe. Each heavenly body is a place of worship for them.
Related Items:
|