Do angels have free will?
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It's often taken simply as a fact that angels do not have free will and do exactly what God asks. But I'm wondering, does the Qur'an actually say this? I've looked but failed to find it, maybe i have not looked hard enough.
It also leads on to the issue of Satan, it's debated whether he was Angel or Jinn, but if angels do have free will, Satan could have easily been an Angel.
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Satan could have easily been an Angel.
Pickthall Translation
1850 - And (remember) when We said unto the angels Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil-doers.Sahih International
1850 - And when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.This verse seems to disagree. It also implies the free will situation -- it is mentioned he is a jinn because only a jinn could disobey a direct command. It also implies that he willingly submitted for a time, until he heard the one command he was unwilling to comply with (to prostrate to Adam.)
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Pickthall Translation
1850 - And (remember) when We said unto the angels Fall prostrate before Adam, and they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He was of the jinn, so he rebelled against his Lord's command. Will ye choose him and his seed for your protecting friends instead of Me, when they are an enemy unto you? Calamitous is the exchange for evil-doers.Sahih International
1850 - And when We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam," and they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was of the jinn and departed from the command of his Lord. Then will you take him and his descendants as allies other than Me while they are enemies to you? Wretched it is for the wrongdoers as an exchange.This verse seems to disagree. It also implies the free will situation -- it is mentioned he is a jinn because only a jinn could disobey a direct command. It also implies that he willingly submitted for a time, until he heard the one command he was unwilling to comply with (to prostrate to Adam.)
Other translations say things like "He became a Jinn" so I'm so sure which to believe, theres a thread about it right now. I'm more interested in the free will of Angels though.
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I think that we can never 100% know the truth about it
So here is what we haveTranslated by Yusuf Ali
And behold, We said to the angels "Bow down to Adam" and they bowed down. Not so Iblis he refused and was haughty He was of those who reject Faith. 234
And to Allah doth obeisance all that is in the heavens and on earth, whether moving (living) creatures or the angels for none are arrogant (before their Lord) 1649
They all revere their Lord, high above them, and they do all that they are commanded. 1650Behold! We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam" They bowed down except Iblis. He was one of the Jinns, and he broke the Command of his Lord. Will ye then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than Me? And they are enemies to you! Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers! 1850
And the Jinn race, We had created before, from the fire of a scorching wind. 1527
The Hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire no helper wilt thou find for them 4145
Except for those who repent, mend (their lives) hold fast to Allah, and purify their religion as in Allah's sight if so they will be (numbered) with the believers. And soon will Allah grant to the believers a reward of immense value. 4146Verily Man is in loss, 1032
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. 1033Translated bu Shakir
Say O Allah, Master of the Kingdom! Thou givest the kingdom to whomsoever Thou pleasest and takest away the kingdom from whomsoever Thou pleasest, and Thou exaltest whom Thou pleasest and abasest whom Thou pleasest in Thine hand is the good; surety, Thou hast power over all things. 326
a) Angels have no free will and jinn is not one of the angels
b) Angels have no free will except jinn. He is one "race" of angels with free will
c) Angel is a just a tittle (kingdom) who is given to a special being who obey 100% God and when Angel doesn't obey God, tittle is taken away by GodAs I know the nature of angels directly is not mention in Quran. Maybe according to "b option" it is not mention directly in Quran because jinn=angel and angel=fire
So what do you think which one could be the correct one. Is there any other option that I have forgotten to mention.
God knows the truth