Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The texts of the Quran and Sunnah indicate that Allah Almighty speaks directly to whomever He wills among His angels, and they hear His words and understand His commands. They also indicate that He may reveal to the angels whatever He wills. Both are established in principle, and there is no contradiction between them.
Allah Almighty Addresses the Angels Directly
Among the clearest evidences is the saying of Allah Almighty:
“And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.’”
[Al-Baqarah 2:30]
Then He said:
“They said, ‘Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we glorify You with praise and sanctify You?’ He said, ‘Indeed, I know that which you do not know.’”
[Al-Baqarah 2:30]
Then He addressed them again, saying:
“Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.”
[Al-Baqarah 2:31]
They replied:
“Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, You alone are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
[Al-Baqarah 2:32]
These verses indicate that communication took place between Allah Almighty and His angels: He addressed them, they understood His words, and they responded to Him.
Allah Almighty Speaks to Gabriel
It is authentically reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“When Allah loves a servant, He calls Gabriel and says: ‘Indeed, I love so-and-so, so love him.’”
Gabriel then loves that servant and announces among the inhabitants of heaven that Allah loves him, so they love him as well.
[Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The hadith indicates that Allah Almighty addresses Gabriel and commands him, after which Gabriel carries out Allah’s command and conveys it to the angels.
What Happens to the Angels When They Hear the Words of Allah?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When Allah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to His statement, sounding like a chain dragged over a smooth rock. Then, when fear is removed from their hearts, they say, ‘What did your Lord say?’ They say, ‘The truth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great.’”
[Reported by al-Bukhari]
It is also reported:
“When Allah speaks with revelation, the inhabitants of heaven hear a sound in the heaven like a chain being dragged over a rock...”
[Reported by Abu Dawud]
They then ask Gabriel, peace be upon him:
“What did your Lord say?”
He replies:
“The truth.”
According to the fatwa, these texts indicate that the words of Allah are heard by those angels whom Allah wills to hear them, and that hearing His words fills them with submission and awe.
The Speech of Allah Does Not Resemble the Speech of Created Beings
Affirming that Allah speaks and that His angels hear His words does not mean that Allah’s speech resembles human speech.
Allah Almighty says:
“There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
[Ash-Shura 42:11]
The attributes of Allah Almighty befit His majesty and perfection, while the attributes of created beings befit them. Sharing the same term does not imply similarity in reality or manner.
Imam al-Bukhari also mentioned that the voice of Allah does not resemble the voices of created beings and that Allah’s attributes have no equal or likeness.
Does Allah Also Reveal to the Angels?
Yes.
Allah Almighty says:
“[Remember] when your Lord revealed to the angels, ‘I am with you, so make firm those who have believed.’”
[Al-Anfal 8:12]
Allah described what He conveyed to the angels here as revelation.
Scholars differed regarding the manner of this revelation. Some said that it could be audible speech, while others said that it could be inspiration placed by Allah into the hearts of the angels, through which they understand His will.
Al-Shinqiti, may Allah have mercy on him, stated that Allah’s revelation to the angels may be revelation by inspiration or revelation by informing.
Some scholars held that what is meant in this verse is that the meaning was placed in the hearts of the angels without an audible address.
Thus, the verse establishes that Allah reveals to them, while the manner of that revelation in each instance depends on what the relevant text indicates.
What Is the Difference Between Direct Speech and Revelation to the Angels?
Not every form of revelation must occur in the same manner.
Allah may address some of His angels with words they hear directly, as indicated by the texts mentioned above.
He may also reveal to them whatever He wills through another form of informing or inspiration.
Therefore, there is no contradiction between saying:
Allah speaks to the angels
and saying:
Allah reveals to the angels.
Both are mentioned in the revealed texts.
How Did Gabriel Receive the Quran?
According to what the fatwa cited from the leading scholars of the early generations, Gabriel, peace be upon him, heard the Quran from Allah Almighty, and then conveyed it to the Prophet ﷺ.
Allah Almighty says:
“And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah.”
[At-Tawbah 9:6]
It is reported from Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, that he said:
“Gabriel heard it from Allah, the Prophet ﷺ heard it from Gabriel, and the Companions of the Prophet heard it from the Prophet.”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, stated that the position of the early generations of the Muslim community and its leading scholars is that the Prophet ﷺ heard the Quran from Gabriel, and Gabriel heard it from Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
Conclusion
Allah Almighty speaks directly to whomever He wills among His angels, and they hear His words and understand His commands, as established in His address to the angels and His speech to Gabriel, peace be upon him.
Allah Almighty also reveals to the angels, and this revelation may be audible speech or another form of informing or inspiration, according to what the relevant text indicates.
According to the fatwa, Gabriel, peace be upon him, received the Quran from Allah Almighty and then conveyed it to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
All of this is affirmed for Allah in a manner befitting His majesty, without likening His speech or attributes to those of created beings.
And Allah knows best.