Part 20
By Abu Rayyan Hamidi
The Wisdom Behind the Descent of Angels
A question often arises: why did Allah, the All-Powerful, send down angels to aid the believers? Could He not have granted victory to a small band of Muslims against the vast army of disbelievers without such heavenly support?
The answer lies in the divine wisdom behind this event. The descent of the angels was not because Allah required them to secure victory, but to calm the hearts of the believers and fill them with reassurance. When the Companions saw the angels, their faith was strengthened and their resolve renewed. Human beings naturally judge by what they see; when tangible strength is perceived, their courage grows, and they face the enemy with greater confidence. The noble Companions were steadfast and resolute, yet the natural human desire for reassurance remained. To completely transcend such needs is a distinction reserved for the Prophets, whose state could at times rise above the human, approaching the angelic.
This wisdom is captured in the words of Allah:
“Allah made it only as glad tidings for you, and so that your hearts might find peace through it. And victory is from none but Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Āl ‘Imrān 126)
From this verse, the believer learns a profound lesson. One must make use of all available means, prepare diligently, and employ them against the enemy. Yet these means should never become the sole object of reliance, for true victory comes only from Allah. To abandon preparation altogether and then claim trust in divine help is not true tawakkul, but a distorted and blameworthy form of reliance. Conversely, placing one’s trust entirely in material measures while forgetting Allah’s support is equally misguided. The correct path lies between these extremes. Sadly, many either fall into neglect under the guise of reliance or become so absorbed in worldly measures that they deny the unseen help of their Lord. Only a few walk the balanced path, and they alone attain success.
Some have attempted to explain the descent of angels as a mere metaphor, claiming that no angels actually came down and that Allah merely granted spiritual strength to the believers. Yet this cannot be sustained. The Qur’an explicitly mentions specific numbers of angels, affirming their literal, physical descent. Moreover, the hadiths clearly describe the presence of Jibril (Gabriel, peace be upon him), leaving no doubt that the angels physically joined the battle.
Another wisdom behind their descent was the terror they inspired in the hearts of the disbelievers. When the enemy saw these formidable, unfamiliar figures fighting alongside the Muslims, they were seized with fear, and this dread became one of the causes of their defeat.
A Scholarly Note
The Qur’an refers to the descent of angels in three places. In Surah Al Imran, one verse speaks of three thousand angels, another of five thousand. In Surah al-Anfal, the number mentioned is one thousand.
Exegetes reconcile these verses by explaining that Allah’s support was sent in successive waves: initially, Allah aided the believers with one thousand angels. Their number was then increased to three thousand, and finally completed at five thousand. This understanding is affirmed by the verse in Surah al-Anfal:
“When you cried out to your Lord for help, He answered you: ‘I will reinforce you with a thousand angels, following one another.'” (Al-Anfāl 9)
The word murdifīn means “in succession.” Thus, one thousand angels descended first, followed by another thousand, and then another, completing a total of five thousand.