How Does Angelic Help Transform Our Lives?
The Almighty God has established the entire universe, in both the material and spiritual realms, upon fixed and stable laws. These laws are immutable and eternal; they never change at any point in time or under any circumstances. For example, water always evaporates when heated and freezes in extreme cold. This rule can never change. Similarly, if a person earns an honest livelihood and gives charity from their earnings, their life will naturally be blessed. These fixed laws are called Divine laws.
Divine laws have various types. One of the most important of these is the law of aid. This refers to God’s assistance to human beings in reaching the goals they choose of their own free will and choice. The law of aid can be categorized from various perspectives. One of the most common ways is classification based on its universality across people. Based on this, the law of aid is divided into two categories: General aids and specific aids. General aids stem from God’s attribute of universal mercy (Rahmāniyyah). They encompass all human beings, whether they are believers or non-believers. Specific aids, however, are reserved only for believers. They originate from God’s attribute of specific mercy (Rahīmiyyah) and His special favors toward these individuals.
One type of specific aid that reaches believers is invisible aid, and one form of invisible aid is angelic help. The belief in angels, who, by God’s permission, come to help people in difficult times, has existed in all cultures and divine religions since ancient times. This belief, which has deep roots in religious teachings and the personal experiences of human beings, indicates that the human being has not been left alone in this world and that God bestows His grace and favor upon them in various ways. Angels, these luminous beings who are obedient to the Divine Command, are considered intermediaries between the Creator and the creation. They are entrusted with numerous missions, including, worship and glorifying God (Tasbīh), recording deeds, conveying revelation to Prophets, protecting human beings, aiding believers, providing both material and spiritual sustenance, taking lives, guiding hearts, and executing Divine punishment. Angelic help is a manifestation of God’s expansive mercy, which appears in various forms in people’s lives.
Various Domains of Angelic Help
The aid provided by angels to human beings is not limited to one or two specific areas. Rather, angelic aid manifests itself in various dimensions of life, ranging from spiritual matters to material and worldly affairs. Below, we will refer to some examples of these aids.
Protection and Guarding Against Calamities and Dangers
One of the most crucial duties of angels is the protection of human beings. God says in the Quran: “For each person, there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him, who guard him by the Command of Allah”
[1].
This protection can include warding off calamities, shielding against physical harm, or even repelling satanic temptations. However, the angels’ protection against physical harms that could lead to death only lasts until the individual’s appointed time (death) arrives. When the appointed time is due, the mission of the guardian angels ends, and the person is handed over to the angel of death and the angels under his command. In general, angels do not prevent inevitable decrees. Instead, they only protect a person from incidents that have not been definitively decreed by God’s command.
Another important point regarding angelic help and protection is that this protection and assistance is not unconditional. We cannot throw ourselves into an abyss, act recklessly, or commit sins that warrant Divine punishment, and still expect protection from the angels. To prevent this kind of misunderstanding, God adds the following statement at the end of the verse mentioned previously: “Indeed, Allah does not change the condition (or destiny) of a people (toward calamity, defeat, or misery) until they change what is in their hearts (of good and worthy attributes) into wickedness and sin…” [2].
A person who moves toward wickedness and sin, whether consciously or not, opens the doors of defeat and misery upon themselves. God created us as beings with free will and does not intend to forcibly or miraculously prevent us from making our choices, even if those choices are mistakes. Of course, Merciful God still sends signs of His guidance even for the most wretched individuals. However, many of them deliberately ignore these signs.
Steadfastness and Spiritual Strengthening in Difficult Moments
In the face of hardships, fears, and adversities, human beings require spiritual strengthening and steadfastness. Angels come to the aid of believers in these circumstances by instilling peace and reassurance, making them resilient against challenges.
Angelic help aids believers in avoiding despair and continue on the right path with reliance upon God. Much of the peace and spiritual strength granted to the fighters on the Front of Truth on battlefields is of this very nature. However, perceiving the tranquility instilled by angels requires readiness of the heart. It happens when an individual has prepared themselves for such reception through purification of the soul. One of the most famous and manifest examples of angelic help occurred during the Battle of Badr. The Muslims went to battle in this war with the most minimal equipment, relying on nothing but their faith. God aided them by sending down a thousand assisting angels, allowing them to taste the sweet victory.
It can be almost certainly stated that the aid which occurred in the Battle of Badr was the most extensive instance of invisible aid, and such a phenomenon is less frequently witnessed afterward. Therefore, the descent of aid from the Lord is contingent upon the piety, sincerity, and reliance of the believers. The greater our level of sincerity and the stronger our reliance on God, the more we benefit from invisible aids. Angelic help in the Battle of al-Aḥzāb, (Khandaq) is another example of God’s invisible aids. In this battle, various Arab tribes marched toward Medina with a large, well-equipped army of ten thousand men to suppress and subdue the Muslims. Following the suggestion of Salmān al-Fārsī, the Muslims dug a massive trench around the city, which was an arduous task with the tools available at the time. The war and the siege of Medina dragged on. Provisions began to run out, and the Muslims endured great hardships. It was at the peak of this crisis, through the prayers and supplications of the army of Islam, that God granted His favor. By sending fierce storms and also an army of angels, He scattered the enemy forces and granted victory to the Muslims. Similar instances of such aid also occurred frequently during the Imposed War (Iran-Iraq War), and their accounts are available in the written and oral memoirs of the combatants.
Invisible Inspirations and Guidance
Angels can assist believers in making decisions and choosing the correct paths through inner inspirations and guidance, or even through seeing true dreams. Often, a sudden idea or a strong intuition to perform a good deed has an angelic origin, and the angels inspire it in the person. In such cases, we usually say, “I felt like doing such and such,” but the reality is that nothing in the world is accidental or random. Every intention that arises in our hearts has an external source, which can be either satanic or angelic.
Of course, as mentioned, receiving invisible inspirations requires readiness. Those who exhibit stubbornness, hostility, and rebellion in accepting the truth deprive themselves of receiving these inspirations and block the path to guidance.
Invisible inspirations only enter the hearts of people who are free-spirited, truth-seeking, and unbiased. Even a glimmer of inner purity or spiritual light in an outwardly sinful person is enough for God to guide them to the right path.
Assistance in Worship and Attaining Nearness to God
Angels are themselves among those nearest to the Divine presence, and they assist believers on the path of servitude and worship. They attend assemblies of remembrance and Quranic gatherings, seek forgiveness for believers, and carry their prayers to the Divine presence. This angelic help and presence deepens the spiritual atmosphere and brings the believer nearer to God.
In general, the belief in angelic help provides a source of peace, hope, and strength for believers. This belief reminds us that we are not alone in this vast world, and we are not meant to bear the burden of problems single-handedly. The helping hand of God and His loving, compassionate agents (the angels) are always our support and refuge. Therefore, we can move forward with a confident and hopeful heart and take steps toward our future and our sacred goals.
References
[1]. Holy Quran, 13:11
[2]. Holy Quran, 13:11