# Does the Quran use metaphors, like calling people angels?

*Does the Quran use metaphors like the two angels of al-Baqarah? Yes, many*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/--pntsar8ck/s/56/
- Date: 2021-02-16 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti #202| Q&A Unscripted & Unrestricted! 😉 | Mufti Abu Layth (3:14:34–3:17:40)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--PntsaR8ck&t=11674s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/--pntsar8ck/

**Topics:** How to read the Quran

**Question as asked:** You said in Surah al-Baqarah that the two angels there refer to saint-like kings. Does Allah use similar metaphors in other parts of the Quran?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Yes, he says the Quran is full of metaphors, from God as light to the wall that 'wanted' to fall, and humans are called angels just as they are called devils.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says there are many metaphors in the Quran, such as Allah saying he is light, which is not meant in a literal sense.

**Evidence, his words at 3:15:43:** “allah himself saying he is light he's the light that we see in the heavens um obviously we don't you know it's not a literal sense that's it's spoken as a metaphor” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--PntsaR8ck&t=11743s)

## Longer summary

A super chat notes that he said the two angels in Surah al-Baqarah refer to saint-like kings and asks whether Allah uses similar metaphors elsewhere in the Quran. Mufti Abu Layth says yes, of course: there are many metaphors in the Quran, from Allah saying he is light, which is not meant in a literal sense, to the wall that 'wanted' to collapse, since a wall does not want anything. He cites the women in Surah Yusuf saying 'this is no human, this is but a noble angel', and says people call humans angels just as they call humans devils, so these terms are used interchangeably.

## Sources and names cited

- Quran 2:102: https://quran.com/2/102
- Quran 24:35: https://quran.com/24/35
- Quran 18:77: https://quran.com/18/77
- Quran 12:31: https://quran.com/12/31

## Transcript (machine tier, 3:14:34–3:17:40)

[3:13:56] i've done videos saying dmt is not haram and so you know he has to kind of speak on dmt but he doesn't even know what dmt is hasn't ever you know has i mean very uninitiated with the whole thing and speaking on it just making it haram but on matters like poison like bloody rat poison i mean for god's sake for the love of god rat poison publicly consuming rat poison and then justifying it by saying it's not haram if you know you're going to be okay i mean i don't know how you'll

[3:14:33] know that but if you feel you're gonna be okay it's okay it's just absurd it's absurd let's do dmt together we are all those who walk this path um mufti you said in surah baqarah that the two angels here refer to saint-like kings here does allah use similar metaphors in other parts of the quran yes of course

[3:15:10] there's many metaphors used in the quran the other realm is called okay sure why not why not shukran for the super chat ryan there are many metaphors in the quran um i mean we can go over that maybe in a bit more detail another day but there are plenty of uh

[3:15:43] i mean whether it's going to begin from the utmost allah himself saying he is light he's the light that we see in the heavens um obviously we don't you know it's not a literal sense that's it's spoken as a metaphor right down to where when allah says well you know this wall wanted to do this it wanted to collapse obviously the wall doesn't want that's a metaphorical reference and in between this countless kind of uh references uh you know like whether in um surah yusuf mahada basharon in hazel

[3:16:23] kareem you know this is not a human this is but a benevolent angel so um these kind of things are used people do call sometimes humans angels just as they call themselves from the jinn and from the people you get shayateen

[3:17:02] so calling some and a human a shaytan is the opposite of calling a human an angel i mean these things are used interchangeably i hope that answers that question people right that's enough for tonight take very good care of yourselves i was just seeing somebody saying is you yep i've answered everything i can see here right okay people if you haven't already liked and subscribed get over there get liking get subscribing make sure you click the notification

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment --PntsaR8ck/s/56. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/--pntsar8ck/s/56/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.