Angels, in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s explanation, are first of all the confirmations of God, the celestial powers that arrive when a soul arises to serve; and they are also people, souls so freed from the chains of self that their lives already belong to heaven. Both meanings bring the subject close to home. The unseen help that loosens a hesitant tongue, the joy that greets a sinner who turns back, the praise that circles the divine throne: such images describe a world pressing in upon this one, eager to assist. Gabriel, Israfil and the winged messengers of scripture keep their places in prayer and prophecy, yet the deeper invitation is to become angelic in quality, trustworthy, loving and detached. Hebrews counsels kindness to strangers, since some have welcomed angels without knowing it [1], and the counsel fits: any encounter may carry a hidden grace. From here the journey rises toward the Holy Spirit that strengthens every soul, toward the outpouring of divine confirmations, and toward the concourse on high that waits to welcome the faithful.
The hosts of the Company on high will defend them, and the angels of the Abha Paradise, in continuous succession, will come down to their aid.
The meaning of 'angels' is the confirmations of God and His celestial powers. Likewise angels are blessed beings who have severed all ties with this nether world, have been released from the chains of self and the desires of the flesh, and anchored their hearts to the heavenly realms of the Lord. These are of the Kingdom, heavenly; these are of God, spiritual; these are revealers of God's abounding grace; these are dawning-points of His spiritual bestowals.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906-May-17, to Grace R Lamb -- AB02652)
02
These angels are spiritual and merciful powers, and in one sense the angels are those sanctified souls who have disentangled themselves from the world of possession and are confirmed with the powers of the Kingdom.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1915 or <, to Dealy, P K Mrs et al -- AB02956)
03
Sometimes is meant by angels, spiritual powers, and on other occasions you will find is meant by them, pure and holy souls. Where it is said, "I will give my angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways," is meant pure souls and true believers. In one station angel means those spiritual and divine powers give by God to the body of man which change mankind for good. These are the angels which confirm man.
The second is the following: Angels refer to human souls imbued with Divine attributes and Heavenly characteristics. They are the souls of whom the Lord has said: "We shall make men after Our likeness and image"; the purpose of the image or likeness is Divine attributes. For though outwardly of the earth, earthly, yet in reality they are of Heaven; although they are human, they are not accounted of the human - they are the Heavenly Angels, the radiant lamps, the Heavenly stars.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Ida Finch and Fanny and Alma Knobloch, spoken on 1908-Nov-12 -- ABU1401)
05
Those to whom you turn may be the mediators of God's power to you, even as when on earth. But it is the One Holy Spirit that strengthens all men."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken in Sep. 1911 in London -- ABU0975)
06
Let the angels of Thy loving-kindness descend successively upon her, and shelter her beneath Thy blessed Tree.
By 'angel' is meant the power of the confirmations of God -- that the candle of God's confirming power shineth out from the lamp-niche of those souls -- meaning that every one of those beings will be granted the most vehement confirming support.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902-Oct-25, to Corinne True -- AB00342)
08
Then, by God the True One! the hosts of the angels of the Kingdom shall surround thee and convey to all thy limbs and veins the Spirit of Life; thy tongue shall utter fluently and distinctly the most eloquent and clear words and thoughts; thy bosom shall be cheered with joy through the appearance of the evident texts; thy face shall be illumined, among the daughters of the Kingdom, with the light of firmness; the door of glad-tidings shall be opened before thy face and thou shalt receive knowledge through the symbolic signs descending from the heavenly Kingdom in the Books and Tablets!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1899-May-17, to Margaret B Peeke -- AB06426)
09
The Herald of the Unseen would, at every moment, raise the call of praise, and the angels of the highest heaven would successively send their confirmations.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909 or <, to Haji Husayn Milani son of Haji Muhammad Baqir -- AB08027)
10
If you remain steadfast and firm, know with certainty that you will be assisted by the confirmations of the Most Glorious Kingdom and will be enabled to serve the Kingdom of God, for by the power of the Word of God and the breaths of the Holy Spirit, all the mighty forces of the angels of heaven are arrayed in the highest horizon, waiting for a soul to charge forth in the arena of the Kingdom so that all may render victory and assistance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-May-04, to Barton-Peeke, Pauline et al -- AB04261)
11
As to what thou hast seen in the dream, concerning the letter which reached thee from me, and angels were enclosed in it and they surrounded thee: Know thou verily, that letter is this glorious writing whereby I address thee; and, verily, this is full of angels of confirmation from the Kingdom of God and they will assist thee to serve the Cause of God in the vineyard of God.
You who are the memorial of that noble one must follow in his footsteps and move according to his way and conduct, so that you may become a sign of mercy and witness the ultimate bounty.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mirza Nasrullah son of Mirza Aqa the martyr -- AB06233)
13
Therefore, O friends, come let us clasp hands with one another and, like the hosts of angels, circle round the throne of the All-Merciful. "And thou shalt see the angels circling round the Throne, celebrating the praise of their Lord." His throne is His Cause, and the seat of His sovereignty is His laws and ordinances. Let us arise to serve and open wide the gates of guidance.
Verily, he who adorneth himself with the ornament of trustworthiness is remembered by the Concourse on High, and upon him do the denizens of the realms of dominion and kingdom offer prayers.
Verily the angels of inspiration cast upon thee the spirit of utterance and teach thee the most wondrous meanings and exposition and the reality of clear explanation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Wife of Ahmad Nabilzadih -- AB09719)
16
Another interesting question which was touched upon was the belief in the guardian angels or as the Master said the "Divine Powers." Without the protection of these divine powers humanity cannot exist for one moment. They ward off all dangers and guard man from threatening evils.
Man is like unto an innocent lamb and all these dangers and perils are like unto the ferocious wolves. "Imagine a little lamb surrounded by a hundred thousand wolves, threatening to tear it to pieces at every moment. Were it not for the eternal vigilance of the Divine Powers man could not live for one second."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Dr. Coles and Archdeacon Dowling, spoken on 1914-Jan-01 -- ABU3412)
17
The subscribers to this newspaper are frail humanity but the subscribers to that newspaper are the angels of the supreme Concourse.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1913-Oct-24 in Ramleh -- ABU2626)
18
He was so very beautiful that the angels longed to minister, in some special way, to him and they asked that they might come and do this, and consent was given. So, these ministering angels came down to earth and said to this beautiful soul, "We have come to you with a gift.
O thou blooming rose in the garden of the Love of God! Verily, the heavenly angels address thee from the Supreme Horizon, saying: "O maid-servant of God! Be rejoiced for God hath chosen thee for His love and sheltered thee under the shade of His Kingdom, the lights of which shone forth, the signs of which were manifested, the mysteries of which were unfolded, the fragrance of which emanated, the waves of which surged, the causes of which were promulgated, the suns of which appeared, the moons of which shone and the stars of which sparkled."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909 or <, to Mary A Woodworth -- AB08356)
20
In the realm of contingent being there exist the angels of the All-Merciful - they give glad tidings, provide guidance, and bestow eternal life. And there appear other souls, impotent, dumb, blind and deaf - they become the cause of death and prevent others from the path of salvation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Jul-07, to Aqa Siyyid Mihdi Qarihbagh -- AB02319)
21
The jinn refers to imperceptible forces which influence human souls, and the word jinn in Arabic means hidden, that is, realities and forces which cannot be seen. Likewise devils and what people imagine are mere superstitions and have no existence whatsoever. Similarly, believing and assured souls are interpreted as angels, and unbelieving souls are designated as devils and jinn.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Jan ca., to Ethel J Rosenberg -- AB02401)
22
These two are expressed in scripture by 'Israfil' The angel who gives life to men, and the Angel of Death who takes it away. The first is the power of composition or attraction, the other the power of decomposition. They are not angels.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Helen Goodall and Ella Cooper spoken in Jan. 1908 -- ABU1809)
23
Azrael, the Angel of death, is well-known in the Mohamadan world for his heartlessness in the face of misery and sorrow. Without any remorse or compunction he takes away the lives of men, women and children once they have filled the short span of life allotted to them by God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some Druze friends, spoken on 1914-Nov-03 -- ABU0782)
24
The path hath become smooth, the way straightened, the carpet of the Kingdom is spread, the Tabernacle hath been elevated upon the Hill of Might, the powers of heaven have been shaken, the corners of the earth have quaked, the sun has been darkened, the moon ceased to give light, the stars have fallen, the nations of the earth have lamented, and the Son of Man hath come upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and He hath sent His angels with the sound of the great trumpet, and no one knows the meaning of these emblems save the wise and informed.
Concerning thy vision of the angels surrounding the great white throne: This "throne" is the body of the Greatest Name.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903-Jul-21, to Kate Ives -- AB00438)
26
In Islam we have Mohamad, Gabriel and Allah. Consequently God revealed Himself to Moses through the burning bush, to Christ through the Holy Spirit and to Mohamad through Gabriel.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paraphrase of words spoken on 1913-Oct-24 in Ramleh -- ABU2625)
27
No word doth escape you but that angels from Us are present by the leave of the Remembrance as witnesses, and Our servant hath never been hidden from the sincere servants of God.
… Verily We commanded the angels to prostrate before Adam of the Gate, and the angels all prostrated in truth upon the ground of the heart together, save Iblis who refused and grew proud concerning Our command, and was thus in the Mother Book rejected from that Gate.
… The angels and the Spirit descend in that Gate by God's permission, rank upon rank, like an extended line around the Pole.
(The Báb, Qayyumu'l-Asma' (Commentary on the Surah of Joseph), 1260-05 [1844-May] -- BB00002)
28
And as for what you asked about God's word (mighty and glorious is He) regarding the command for the angels to prostrate and Iblis's pride, where He said (exalted and glorified is He): "Were you arrogant, or were you among the exalted ones?" - observe with the eye of origination that God has created in all things three signs from Himself: a sign of the nobility of the Family of God, and verily they are the exalted ones; and a sign from His angels, which is the condition of true servitude in every station according to its reality; and a sign from His absolute Divinity for preserving His worlds in what they have accepted for themselves without command or compulsion.
"And all the angels prostrated to Adam except Iblis, who alone transgressed..."
The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.
29
Say: What God willeth - there is no power except through God in the highest heavens what lieth above them above the most exalted heights, and on the right of the space of two bow-lengths or closer, and on the left of the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing, and concerning what God hath created in the Garden of Refuge of angels who glorify God by night and by day and never cease, and the angels who praise God by night and by day and never tire, and the angels who proclaim the unity of God and never grow weary, and the angels who magnify God and never become proud, and what God hath created in the heavens of angels save that He hath created in Paradise a maiden.
(The Báb, Kitab-i-Jaza' (Book of the Reckoning), 1264-05-05 ca. (Chihriq) [1848-Apr-9], to Mulla Husayn, Quddus, 'Abdu'l-Vahhab, Aba 'Ali, Hasan, 'Azim, Yahya and others -- BB00004)
30
Yea, God, glorified be He, hath created a mighty angel, greater than all the angels, and God hath placed in his hand all the heavens and earth and whatsoever lieth between them. His name in the Hidden Tablet is "Ghadanfar Ghaghanaz." God hath created no angel greater than him in His knowledge, for the station of the five simple essences hath, in the Manifestation of God, been raised for that angel to the station of five thousand two hundred, and no higher station is possible.
(The Báb, Tafsir-i-Vav-i-Va's-Safat I, 1264 (Chihriq) [1847-1848], to Azim and the first believer, Yahya Darabi and Javad -- BB00047)
31
This is a prayer to the crimson light whose bearer was Israfil, peace be upon him:
In the Name of God, the Exalted, the Most Holy
O my God! I beseech Thee by the most magnificent of Thy Divinity, though all Thy Divinity is magnificent with Thee, then in the Mother Book, O my God!
… Bless, O God, the bearer of Thy crimson light, Israfil, peace be upon him, morning and evening.
(The Báb, Du'a' li'n-Nuri'l-Ahmar, 1265 mid-late [1848-1849] -- BB00227)
32
And send Thy blessings, O God, upon Gabriel, the worker of Thy white light, in every condition, before every condition, and after every condition.
(The Báb, Du'a' li'n-Nuri'l-Abyad, 1265 mid-late [1848-1849] -- BB00254)
33
And conceive not of anything imaginary, for Israfil is an angel who, by what God sendeth down, bloweth the spirit of death and life, and none hath aught save by God's leave.
(The Báb, Answer to Mirza Ahmad-i-Azghandi, to Ahmad-i-Azghandi -- BB00506)
34
And I seek assistance through God and rely upon God and upon the angels of God and upon the Prophets of God and upon the righteous ones among the servants of God.
The angels of the highest paradise seek blessings from the dust of its holy presence, and soon thou shalt hear its resounding voice in the East and West of the earth.
O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!
By God the True One, verily the angels of the Supreme Assembly pray for thee every morn and eve and announce to thee glad-tidings!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1901-Jul-13, to Sarah J Farmer -- AB03526)
37
Be thou steadfast in thy love for God, then make mention of Him and He verily maketh mention of thee in this Prison - the place wherefrom ascend and descend the angels that are nigh unto God.
The gate of heaven hath been opened and the angels and the Spirit descend at every moment.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1296 ? [1878-1879], to Karbalai Abbas -- BH05743)
39
Truly I say unto thee, every maidservant who arises in this day in the mystery of sacrifice in the path of God will become one of the stars of guidance in the supreme horizon; all in the heaven and earth will be illumined by her face; the angels of the Supreme Concourse will speak in her praise and she will be encompassed with the favors of the Kingdom of Abha.
Whenever a company of noble souls assemble in a heavenly gathering there and offer supplications, intone divine verses, and chant prayers with wondrous melodies, the inmates of the Concourse on high hearken and call out, crying, "Happy are we; let all the world rejoice!" for, praise be unto God, souls from among the angels of the Kingdom of Glory have arisen in the nether world to commune with their Lord and intone the verses of Divine Unity in a gathering of holiness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903-Apr-05, to Spiritual Assembly of Bushruyih et al -- AB12080)
42
He was asked whether he thought those on the Other Side were able to see what happened to those they love still on earth.
To this he replied: "They see all as it affects the spirit. A great joy, a great sorrow, a sin, or a good deed: as these things darken or cloud the soul, or cause it to rise into greater light, so they see every earth event that touches you for good or ill, reflected in your soul. That is the meaning of 'the angels who rejoice over one sinner who repents.'"
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken ca. Sep. 1911 in London -- ABU3249)
43
Verily, I say unto ye, then (when ye become so) the angels of holiness will welcome ye by the glad-tidings of God, the Mighty, the Powerful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909 or <, to Walters, Ida et al -- AB03255)
44
By God the True One, the angels of the Paradise of Holiness welcomed them with radiant faces, and greetings and praise from the Most Glorious Kingdom.
By God! The company of God's well-favoured angels came forth to meet him, and on that day a continual descending and ascending took place as one group from the Concourse on High came down to meet him and another group returned unto their retreats on high.
In the garden of his Lord, the Ever-Forgiving, with nightingale notes of joy and gladness, he warbleth such songs as delight and enrapture the Concourse on high in the Kingdom of Abha.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Afnan, Khadijih Sultan wife of Mirza Aqa Afnan -- AB06969)
47
O Abdul-Baqi! Today from the right hand of the Throne the pavilion of the feast is adorned, and from the left the field of battle is visible. The clamor of the heedless has become the cause of a great celebration in the Supreme Concourse - the tribes of angels and the Spirit give each other glad tidings and prepare to welcome, for verily the blessed spirit of Mihdi has intended the Supreme Companion.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1307 ? [1889-1890], to Aqa Abdul-Baqi -- BH09662)
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
48
And as to His saying "with pairs of wings, two, three and four...", the meaning, as already mentioned, is that angels occupy diverse stations. By virtue of the diversity of their station and degree they are the possessors of numerous wings, through which they ascend and descend. Some of them have as many wings as there are divine names, even as the Seal of the Prophets, upon meeting Gabriel on the night of the Mi'raj, recounted: "His are six hundred wings!"
(Baha'u'llah, provisional translation, Amr va Khalq, vol. 2, 159-160)