Angels Are External Means of the Fulfilment of Our Spiritual Needs — Essence of Islam Vol. 2

14 Sep, 2026 Essence of Islam 0

Essence of Islam Book Cover by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS)

Introduction

In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 2), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Angels Are External Means of the Fulfilment of Our Spiritual Needs, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 2)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 4: Angels
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Angels | Next: Independent Existence of Angels »

compelled to acknowledge their existence though we may not be able to penetrate to their reality, nor is this necessary. When we have accepted the external law, there is no reason why in the same way we should not accept the internal law. We shall have to accept it in the same way as we have accepted the external law. That is the reason why God Almighty in His Holy Book has set forth these two laws in the same words, as He says:

وَٱلذَّـٰرِيَٰتِ ذَرۡوٗا فَٱلۡحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقۡرٗا فَٱلۡجَٰرِيَٰتِ يُسۡرٗا فَٱلۡمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمۡرًا

“By the winds that scatter seeds with a true scattering, Then by the clouds that carry the load of moisture, Then by the rivers that flow gently, And then by the angels that finally administer and execute affairs,” (Surah Al-Dhariyat, 51:2-5)

that is to say, God puts forward the testimony of the winds that separate the vapours from the oceans and other waters and carry them inside like pregnant women and waft them in the shape of clouds to their goal and the testimony of the angels that put into effect all these matters. This indicates that the winds have no power in themselves to lift the vapours from the oceans and to convert them into clouds and to cause them to send down rain where it is needed and thus administer matters. All this is the function of angels. In these verses God Almighty first indicated, like philosophers, the cause of rain descending from the clouds and set out how water becomes vapour and then becomes clouds, then in the last verse:

فَٱلۡمُقَسِّمَٰتِ أَمۡرًا

“And then by the angels that finally administer and execute affairs,” (Surah Al-Dhariyat, 51:5)

disclosed the reality that no one should imagine that the system of material causes and effects is adequate for the Divine dispensation, but that a system of spiritual causes is behind this physical system which supports this visible

system. At another place it is said:

وَٱلۡمُرۡسَلَٰتِ عُرۡفٗا فَٱلۡعَٰصِفَٰتِ عَصۡفٗا وَٱلنَّـٰشِرَٰتِ نَشۡرٗا فَٱلۡفَٰرِقَٰتِ فَرۡقٗا فَٱلۡمُلۡقِيَٰتِ ذِكۡرًا

“By the angels who are sent forth with goodness, And then they push on with a forceful pushing, And by the forces that spread the truth, a good spreading, And then they distinguish fully between good and evil. Then they carry the exhortation far and wide” (Surah Al-Mursalat, 77:2-6)

This means that God Almighty puts forth the testimony of the winds and angels which proceed slowly and then proceed fast, and the winds that raise the clouds, and the angels which are appointed over them, and the winds that carry the message to the ears, and the angels who carry the Divine Word to the hearts. In this way, God Almighty has combined the angels and stars in the verse: 35

The seven planets have been referred to as arranging the affairs of the earth externally and the angels are referred to as arranging them internally. The commentary Fath-ulBayan sets forth both these views on the authority of Mu‘adh bin Jabal and Qushairi. Ibn-e-Kathir has reported on the authority of Hasan that all arrangements that are carried out between heaven and earth are carried out through angels, and Ibn-e-Kathir writes that this is an agreed interpretation.
Ibn-e-Jarir has interpreted the verse:

فَٱلۡمُدَبِّرَٰتِ أَمۡرٗا

“Then they manage the affair entrusted to them.” (Surah Al-Nazi‘at, 79:6)

as meaning that the angels carry out the arrangements of the universe, that is to say, that though on the surface,

35 ‘And by those who plan and execute their task well.’—Al-Nazi‘at 79:6 [Publisher]
[A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 5, pp. I33-I37 Footnote]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, p. 143]

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Introduction