All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
There is no established evidence in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah for the existence of angels called “Seraphim” or “Cherubim,” nor is it established that a group bearing either of these names acted as intermediaries between Allah, the Exalted, and His Prophet ﷺ on the Night of the Isra’ and Mi‘raj. These names are known from some of the scriptures of the People of the Book. What is established in Islam is the existence of angels brought near to Allah, bearers of the Throne, and angels around it who glorify Allah with praise, along with the established names of certain angels such as Jibril, Mika’il, and Israfil.
As far as we know, there is no authentic hadith or report in Islamic sources in which a group of angels is called “Seraphim.”
Rather, this name is known from some Jewish and Christian scriptures, where it is used for a class of angels regarded as being especially close to God.
Such details concern the unseen. Therefore, they cannot be affirmed as part of Islamic belief merely because they appear in the scriptures of the People of the Book.
Yes. This is established explicitly in the Qur’an.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
“The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels brought near.”
[Al-Nisa’: 172]
And He says:
“Those who carry the Throne and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, believe in Him, and seek forgiveness for those who believe.”
[Ghafir: 7]
Thus, there are angels brought near to Allah, bearers of the Throne, and angels around it who glorify and worship Allah.
However, the Qur’an does not call this group “Seraphim.”
Some books of Qur’anic commentary use the term “Karubiyyun” to describe certain angels close to the Throne.
Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned this expression while commenting on Allah’s words:
“Those who carry the Throne and those around it.”
Some of them were described as “Karubiyyun.”
However, according to the fatwa, none of the reports naming these angels with this term are authentically established.
Therefore, the safer and more accurate approach is to affirm only what is established by revelation: angels brought near to Allah, bearers of the Throne, and those around it, without definitively assigning names for which no authentic proof exists.
No.
It appears that those who attribute such a report to al-Tirmidhi may have confused it with the famous narration known as the Hadith of the Mountain Goats, which was reported by al-Tirmidhi and others.
That narration mentions the heavens, what is above them, and the Throne, but it does not mention the names Seraphim or Cherubim.
The fatwa also considered the chain of transmission of this hadith to be weak.
In any case, even if one were to use that narration as evidence, it does not establish the existence of angels called “Seraphim.”
There is no established evidence for this.
What is authentically established is that Jibril, peace be upon him, accompanied the Prophet ﷺ during the Night Journey and Ascension.
Jibril is also the angel entrusted with conveying revelation to the Prophet ﷺ.
His special status is established in many texts, just as the names of other angels such as Mika’il and Israfil are established.
The Prophet ﷺ used to say:
“O Allah, Lord of Jibril, Mika’il, and Israfil, Originator of the heavens and the earth...”
[Reported by Muslim]
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, stated that these three are among the most distinguished angels, and that Jibril is entrusted with revelation through which hearts and souls are given life.
There is scholarly disagreement concerning some details of this matter.
Many scholars held that Allah, the Exalted, spoke to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the Night of the Mi‘raj without an angel as intermediary, just as He spoke to Musa, peace be upon him.
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned that among the levels of revelation is Allah speaking directly to His Prophet ﷺ without an angelic intermediary, and that this is established for the Prophet ﷺ in the narration of the Isra’.
Whatever position is taken regarding the details of this issue, there is no evidence establishing that a group called the Seraphim served as the intermediary.
The names, characteristics, and duties of angels belong to the unseen.
Therefore, we affirm only what is established in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah.
For example, we believe in Jibril, Mika’il, Israfil, the bearers of the Throne, the angels brought near, and others whose names or descriptions have been authentically established.
As for names such as “Seraphim” or “Cherubim,” if there is no authentic revelation establishing them, we do not make them part of Islamic belief.
There is no established evidence in the Qur’an or authentic Sunnah for the existence of angels called “Seraphim” or “Cherubim.” Nor is there an authentic report from al-Tirmidhi naming them as such, and there is no evidence that they acted as intermediaries between Allah, the Exalted, and His Prophet ﷺ on the Night of the Isra’ and Mi‘raj.
What is established is the existence of the angels brought near, the bearers of the Throne, and those around it, as well as the names of certain angels such as Jibril, Mika’il, and Israfil.
As for other names and details derived from the scriptures of the People of the Book, we do not state them with certainty, because matters of the unseen are only established by authentic evidence.
And Allah knows best.