Do Angels and Jinns Have Souls?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Do angels and jinns have souls? This question popped up in my mind as I watched a video that Allah would tell the angel of death to take the soul of Jibra’il and the other angels. So, does that mean they have souls? Also, are these simply things of the unseen that are not required for us to know?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

There is a different opinion on whether death will occur on the angels. The majority of scholars say their death will come about. The death of the angels and Jinns will come about with the trumpet; however, except for a few angels, which later on, too, will be met with death.

Everything is Going to Perish

Allah Most High said in the Quran, Allah Most High said, “Everything is going to perish except His Face.” [Quran, 28:88] The word ‘His Face’ in this verse means the very Being of Allah Most High. Hence, the meaning of the verse is that except for Allah Most High, everything is mortal and will get destroyed and vanish.

Some commentators have taken the phrase ‘His Face’ to mean the good deeds performed by human beings exclusively for Allah Most High. In that case, the meaning of the verse would be that those actions performed sincerely for Allah Most High will not be destroyed, while all other things will perish.

All Those in The Heavens And All Those in The Earth Will Faint

In verse 68 of Sura Zumar (The Troops) it was said: فَصَعِقَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ إِلَّا مَن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ and all those in the heavens and all those in the earth will faint, except the one whom Allah wills.” The word صَعِقَ (sa-i-qa) literally means to swoon, faint, or fall unconscious, and the sense is that they all will become unconscious first, then die, and those who had already died, their spirits will become unconscious. The last part of the verse, ‘except those whom Allah wills, needs to be explained.

According to the narrations of Dur al-Manthur, there are four angels – Jibra’il, Mika’il, Israfil, and ‘Izra’il (the angel of death) – and as in some narrations, the angels bearing the Throne are also included therein. That they have been so exempted means that the effect of the blowing of the trumpet will not cause death to them. But, later on, they, too, will meet their death. And no one, except the one and single Being of Allah Most High, will remain alive at that time. Ibn Kathir has also opted for this view and has said that, even out of all of them, the angel of death will be the last to die. [Shafi, Marif al-Quran]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

Check this:
A Higher Reality: Manifestations of the Unseen – IV Publishing
Will the Angels Die? – SeekersGuidance
Angels Archives – SeekersGuidance

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I pray this helps with your question.