The Majestic Maker of this palace of creation employs four kinds of laborers: angels and spirit beings; inanimate things and the vegetable creation, which are quite important servants who work without wages; animals, who serve unconsciously in return for their food and pleasures; and humanity, which works according to the Majestic Creator's purposes. Humanity learns from everything and supervises the other servants (on Earth) in return for wages: a reward here and in the Hereafter.

Fourth fundamental:

When we carefully examine creation, we discern that each universal or particular thing has a collective identity and performs a unique, universal function. Each flower displays a superlative design and symmetry and recites the Creator's Names in the tongue of its being. Earth performs a universal duty of glorification as though it were a flower. A fruit and a tree glorify God within an order and regularity, although the latter does so on a larger scale through the "words" of its leaves, blossoms, and fruits. The heavens' vast "oceans" praise and glorify the Majestic Maker through their suns, moons, and stars, all of which are like words. Even inert and outwardly inanimate and unconscious material bodies perform a vital function in praising God. Angels represent such bodies in the World of the Inner Dimensions of Things and express praise on their behalf. In turn, these bodies are the angels' representatives, dwellings, and mosques in the material world.

The Majestic Maker of this palace of creation employs four kinds of laborers: angels and spirit beings; inanimate things and the vegetable creation, which are quite important servants who work without wages; animals, who serve unconsciously in return for their food and pleasures; and humanity, which works according to the Majestic Creator's purposes. Humanity learns from everything and supervises the other servants (on Earth) in return for wages: a reward here and in the Hereafter.

As the foremost category of servants, angels resemble humanity because they know and conform to the Creator's purposes. But they differ from us, because they work solely for God's pleasure and ask only for the spiritual pleasure and happiness of nearness to their Creator. Their worship varies according to their nature and function as representatives of most species. Their services and praises also differ, as do the duties performed by a government's departments. For example, Archangel Michael superintends the growth of corn and provision upon the Earth by God's permission and Power. If one may say so, he is the head of all angels resembling farmers. Another great angel leads the "incorporeal shepherds" of all animals, by God's permission, Command, and Power.

Since an angel represents each kind of creature and presents its service and worship to the Divine Court, the Prophet's descriptions of them are entirely reasonable and credible: "There are angels with 40,000 heads, each with 40,000 mouths, and 40,000 praises sung by 40,000 tongues in each mouth." This Prophetic Tradition means that angels serve universal purposes and that some natural creatures worship God with 40,000 heads in 40,000 ways. For example, the firmament praises the Majestic Creator through its suns and stars, while Earth worships with countless heads, each with countless mouths, and each mouth containing tongues. Thus this Tradition is said to refer to the angel representing Earth in the World of the Inner Dimensions of Things.

Once I saw a medium-sized almond tree with 40 branches (the equivalent of 40 heads), each of which had 40 twigs (the equivalent of 40 tongues). Each twig had 40 blossoms, each of which had 40 differently colored stamens. These 40s are each a manifestation of a Divine Name. Is it possible that the All-Wise One of Grace, the Majestic Maker of that almond tree, Who charged it with so many duties, would not appoint a specific angel to know it, introduce it to the universe, and present it to the Divine Court?

The above explanations seek to encourage the heart to believe, the intellect to accept, and the carnal soul to admit the truth. If you have acquired some understanding and wish to encounter angels more closely, purify yourself of doubt and enter the garden of the Qur'an—its gates are open. You can see angels in this garden, and its verses are like an observatory from which you can look at them:

By the loosed ones successively, storming tempestuously; by the scatterers scattering, and the severally severing, and those hurling a reminder, excusing or warning. (77:1-6)

By those that pluck out violently and those that draw out gently, by those that float serenely and those that outstrip suddenly, by those that direct an affair. (79:1-5)

... in (the Night of Power) angels and the Spirit descend, by the leave of their Lord, upon every command. (97:4)

... a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, and over which are harsh, terrible angels who disobey not God in what He commands them and do what they are commanded. (66:6)

Glory be to Him. Nay, but they are honored servants that outstrip Him not in speech and perform as He commands. (21:26-27)

If you desire to meet jinn, enter into the Qur'anic chapter that discusses them (72) and listen to what they are saying:

Say: "It has been revealed to me that a company of jinn gave ear. They are saying: "We have heard a Qur'an wonderful, guiding to rectitude. We believe in it and we will not associate with our Lord anyone." (72:1-2)

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