A Study on the Representation and Embodiment of Angels from the Perspective of the Qur'an and Narratives

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor of the Department of Islamic Studies, University of Art, Tehran, Iran.

10.22081/jqss.2024.60069.1101

Abstract

One of the topics related to angels is their representation and embodiment, meaning their appearance in human form to some prophets and other individuals. This subject falls within theological, historical, and hadith domain. Since angels are immaterial beings, their representation and embodiment cannot be proven or denied through sensory perception, experience, or reason alone; rather, it must be proven or denied through revelation and narration. In the Qur'an, mention is made of angels appearing to Lady Mary, Prophet Ibraham, and Prophet Lut, with the appearance to Lady Mary described as representation. However, the reality of representation has not been extensively discussed. It seems that Fakhr Razi was the first to raise this issue, presenting several possibilities and addressing some issues, which Allama Tabatabaei responded to. In Sunni sources, the representation of Gabriel and his presence before the Prophet Muhammad in the form of a beautiful youth is abundantly mentioned, with some companions also claiming to have seen Gabriel in the form of a handsome youth. This topic has gained widespread fame and is considered as a well-established fact. Some Shiite writers have also mentioned it. In this article, the subject is analyzed critically, and it becomes clear that the narratives and documents proving representation from a weakly authenticated standpoint appear to be influenced by Israelite narratives. From a rational perspective, doubts exist regarding this matter, and there is no convincing evidence for Gabriel's representation in the form of a beautiful youth, as widely acclaimed.

Keywords

References

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