Scholarly Refutation of a Misinterpretation Regarding Angels
Compiled by: Tawheed.com
A person who adopts belief and practice based on clear and solid proofs from the Qur’an and Sunnah follows that path with insight.
Such a person’s creed remains firm even in the face of opposing winds.
In contrast, those whose ideas are self-invented and unacceptable to people of knowledge and reason are constantly in search of external supports to make their views acceptable.
To make his self-made theory about angels acceptable to the public, Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Parwez sought to rely on the name of Mufti Muhammad Abduh (رحمه الله).
He wrote:
“Mufti Muhammad Abduh wrote in his commentary Al-Manar that it is established that every thing in the universe has a force upon which its existence and system depends. Those who do not believe in revelation call these forces ‘natural forces,’ and in the language of the Shari’ah, they are called angels. But whether you call them angels or cosmic forces, the reality is the same.”
(Lughat-ul-Qur’an, Vol. 1, p. 242)
In Tafsir al-Manar, various opinions about angels are mentioned.
The above statement is taken from page 268 of Tafsir al-Manar.
Mufti Muhammad Abduh mentioned this statement only to address and satisfy the materialists.
The close student of Mufti Muhammad Abduh and compiler of Tafsir al-Manar, Allama Muhammad Rashid Rida, explained the reason for mentioning this view:
“أراد بہذا أن يحتج على المادّيين و يقنعہم بصحة ما جاء بہ الوحى من طريق علمہم المسلم عندہم كما صرح بہ فيما مرفى صفحة٢٦٨”
(Tafsir al-Manar, Vol. 1, p. 274)
Translation: “The purpose of the statement on page 268 is solely to establish proof against the materialists and to convince them that what is established in divine revelation (about angels) is also consistent with the scientific method they accept.”
This mention was not intended as endorsement by Mufti Muhammad Abduh, but rather to bring the concept of angels in revelation closer to the understanding of materialists.
Although materialists deny the existence of angels, they are compelled to accept them as “cosmic forces” in their own terminology.
Sayyid Rashid Rida, commenting on this statement of his teacher, said:
“ہذا ما كتبہ شيخنا فى توضيح كلامہ فيما يفہمہ علماء الكائنات من لفظ القوىٰ إلى ما يفہمہ علماء الشرع من لفظ الملائكة”
(Tafsir al-Manar, Vol. 1, p. 273)
Translation: “Our teacher wrote this to explain his words, aiming to relate what scientists mean by the term ‘forces’ to the meaning of ‘angels’ as understood by scholars of the Shari’ah.”
Mufti Muhammad Abduh explained his own belief about angels in detail under verse 30 in Tafsir al-Manar, which Mr. Parwez deliberately ignored:
“أما الملئكة فيقول السلف فیہم أنہم خلق أخبرنا اللہ تعالىٰ بوجودہم وببعض عملہم فيجب علينا الايمان بہم ولايتوقف ذلك على معرفة حقيقتہم فنفوض علمہا إلى اللہ تعالىٰ فإذ ورد أن لہم اجنحة نوٴمن بذلك ولكننا نقول أنہا ليست أجنحة من الريش ونحوہ كأجنحة الطير”
(Tafsir al-Manar, Vol. 1, p. 254)
Translation: “As for the angels, the Salaf say that they are a creation whose existence and some of their tasks Allah has informed us about. It is obligatory upon us to believe in them, and this does not depend on knowing their true nature. Therefore, when it is mentioned that they have wings, we affirm this, but we do not say that these are wings made of feathers or like the wings of birds.”
Careful analysis shows that the introduction of angels given by Mufti Muhammad Abduh is exactly the same as what the Muslims have always believed.
He never endorsed the self-made theory of calling angels merely “cosmic forces.”
This proves that Mufti Muhammad Abduh’s belief regarding angels was the same as that of the majority of the Ummah.
In contrast, Mr. Parwez deviated from traditional Islamic beliefs and stepped outside the ideological boundaries of Islam.
Compiled by: Tawheed.com
A Failed Attempt to Justify a Self-Made Concept
Foundation of Belief – Revelation or Self-Invented Thought?
A person who adopts belief and practice based on clear and solid proofs from the Qur’an and Sunnah follows that path with insight.
Such a person’s creed remains firm even in the face of opposing winds.
In contrast, those whose ideas are self-invented and unacceptable to people of knowledge and reason are constantly in search of external supports to make their views acceptable.
Mr. Parwez’s Reliance on the Name of Mufti Muhammad Abduh
To make his self-made theory about angels acceptable to the public, Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Parwez sought to rely on the name of Mufti Muhammad Abduh (رحمه الله).
He wrote:
“Mufti Muhammad Abduh wrote in his commentary Al-Manar that it is established that every thing in the universe has a force upon which its existence and system depends. Those who do not believe in revelation call these forces ‘natural forces,’ and in the language of the Shari’ah, they are called angels. But whether you call them angels or cosmic forces, the reality is the same.”
(Lughat-ul-Qur’an, Vol. 1, p. 242)
The Original Source – Tafsir al-Manar and Context
In Tafsir al-Manar, various opinions about angels are mentioned.
The above statement is taken from page 268 of Tafsir al-Manar.
Mufti Muhammad Abduh mentioned this statement only to address and satisfy the materialists.
Clarification by the Student – Allama Rashid Rida
The close student of Mufti Muhammad Abduh and compiler of Tafsir al-Manar, Allama Muhammad Rashid Rida, explained the reason for mentioning this view:
“أراد بہذا أن يحتج على المادّيين و يقنعہم بصحة ما جاء بہ الوحى من طريق علمہم المسلم عندہم كما صرح بہ فيما مرفى صفحة٢٦٨”
(Tafsir al-Manar, Vol. 1, p. 274)
Translation: “The purpose of the statement on page 268 is solely to establish proof against the materialists and to convince them that what is established in divine revelation (about angels) is also consistent with the scientific method they accept.”
Purpose Was Closeness, Not Endorsement
This mention was not intended as endorsement by Mufti Muhammad Abduh, but rather to bring the concept of angels in revelation closer to the understanding of materialists.
Although materialists deny the existence of angels, they are compelled to accept them as “cosmic forces” in their own terminology.
Further Clarification – Comment by Rashid Rida
Sayyid Rashid Rida, commenting on this statement of his teacher, said:
“ہذا ما كتبہ شيخنا فى توضيح كلامہ فيما يفہمہ علماء الكائنات من لفظ القوىٰ إلى ما يفہمہ علماء الشرع من لفظ الملائكة”
(Tafsir al-Manar, Vol. 1, p. 273)
Translation: “Our teacher wrote this to explain his words, aiming to relate what scientists mean by the term ‘forces’ to the meaning of ‘angels’ as understood by scholars of the Shari’ah.”
Mufti Muhammad Abduh’s Salafi Belief About Angels
Mufti Muhammad Abduh explained his own belief about angels in detail under verse 30 in Tafsir al-Manar, which Mr. Parwez deliberately ignored:
“أما الملئكة فيقول السلف فیہم أنہم خلق أخبرنا اللہ تعالىٰ بوجودہم وببعض عملہم فيجب علينا الايمان بہم ولايتوقف ذلك على معرفة حقيقتہم فنفوض علمہا إلى اللہ تعالىٰ فإذ ورد أن لہم اجنحة نوٴمن بذلك ولكننا نقول أنہا ليست أجنحة من الريش ونحوہ كأجنحة الطير”
(Tafsir al-Manar, Vol. 1, p. 254)
Translation: “As for the angels, the Salaf say that they are a creation whose existence and some of their tasks Allah has informed us about. It is obligatory upon us to believe in them, and this does not depend on knowing their true nature. Therefore, when it is mentioned that they have wings, we affirm this, but we do not say that these are wings made of feathers or like the wings of birds.”
Conclusion
Careful analysis shows that the introduction of angels given by Mufti Muhammad Abduh is exactly the same as what the Muslims have always believed.
He never endorsed the self-made theory of calling angels merely “cosmic forces.”
This proves that Mufti Muhammad Abduh’s belief regarding angels was the same as that of the majority of the Ummah.
In contrast, Mr. Parwez deviated from traditional Islamic beliefs and stepped outside the ideological boundaries of Islam.
