Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
Angels are creatures belonging to the unseen realm, and Allah has granted them abilities that differ from those of human beings. Therefore, their movement, speed, and actions should not be measured according to human capabilities. We believe in what has been authentically established about them in the Qur’an and Sunnah without attempting to determine its exact nature. Likewise, the Arabic word “day” may refer to the familiar day, but depending on the context it may also refer to a period or span of time. As for marriage undertaken for the sake of chastity, the revealed texts indicate that it is among the means through which Allah grants help and provision, while all provision ultimately remains in the hand of Allah Almighty.
Allah Almighty says:
“He regulates the affair from the heaven to the earth; then it will ascend to Him on a Day whose measure is a thousand years of what you count.”
[As-Sajdah 32:5]
Ibn Kathir reported from Mujahid, Qatadah, and Ad-Dahhak in their explanation of this verse that a distance which humans would traverse over a very long period can be traversed by an angel through the ability Allah has granted him.
Therefore, the speed of angels should not be compared with human speed, because the nature of their creation and their abilities are different.
Angels are a magnificent creation of Allah, and Allah has granted them abilities appropriate to the tasks with which He has entrusted them.
Thus, the fact that a certain distance might require hundreds of years for a human being to cross by ordinary means does not mean that an angel requires the same amount of time.
The mistake here comes from assuming that the laws of movement and the capabilities familiar to human beings must apply in exactly the same way to angels.
This assumption is incorrect because angels belong to the unseen realm, and we know nothing about the true nature of their abilities except what revelation has informed us.
Whatever strength, speed, and ability angels possess is not independent of Allah. Rather, Allah created them, created their abilities, and commanded them to perform their duties.
Allah Almighty says:
“We do not descend except by the command of your Lord.”
[Maryam 19:64]
And He says:
“They do not precede Him in speech, and they act by His command.”
[Al-Anbiya 21:27]
Therefore, if it is established that an angel traverses an immense distance in a short period of time, this is due to an ability Allah has granted him and is not an independent power apart from Allah Almighty.
Human beings know only a limited portion of the creatures and abilities Allah has brought into existence.
Even within the human world, the speed of travel and communication differs enormously depending on the means used. Things that once required months can now be accomplished in hours or even moments through modern technology.
If such differences exist within the world we can observe, then it is even more appropriate that we should not make our human abilities the standard by which we judge the abilities of angels.
Allah Almighty says:
“The Originator of the heavens and the earth! When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.”
[Al-Baqarah 2:117]
No.
The basic meaning of “day” refers to the familiar period of time, but the Arabic word yawm (day) may also be used to mean a time, occasion, or period, with the intended meaning being determined by context.
Thus, in Arabic usage, “day” may refer to the time during which a particular event occurs and does not necessarily always mean the familiar day measured by the hours of night and daylight.
There is therefore no contradiction between the Qur’an’s use of this word and its usage in the Arabic language.
Regarding matters of the unseen, the basic principle is that we should not attempt to explain details that revelation has not clarified.
It is reported that a man asked Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, about the verse mentioning a day whose measure is a thousand years and another mentioning a day whose measure is fifty thousand years. Ibn Abbas replied:
“They are two days that Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an; Allah knows best about them.”
He refrained from speaking about something concerning which he had no knowledge.
This is an important principle when dealing with matters of the unseen: we affirm what Allah has affirmed and do not delve into details without evidence.
Yes. The revealed texts indicate that marriage, especially when undertaken for the sake of chastity, is among the means through which Allah grants His help and bounty.
Allah Almighty says:
“Marry off the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His bounty. For Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.”
[An-Nur 24:32]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“There are three whom Allah has undertaken to help…” and among them he mentioned: “the one who marries seeking chastity.”
[Reported by At-Tirmidhi]
Therefore, whoever marries seeking chastity may hope for Allah’s help and bounty.
However, this does not mean that everyone who marries will necessarily become wealthy, nor does it mean that marriage guarantees a specific amount of money. Provision is in Allah’s hand, and He gives to each servant according to His wisdom and decree.
The speed, movement, and actions of angels should not be measured according to human abilities. Angels belong to the unseen realm, and Allah has created them with abilities appropriate to their duties, all of which occur by His command and permission.
The word “day” in Arabic may refer to the familiar day, or it may refer to a period or span of time depending on the context. Regarding details of unseen measures of time that have not been explained to us, it is better to refrain from speculation.
Likewise, marriage undertaken for the sake of chastity is among the means of receiving Allah’s help, bounty, and provision, but this does not guarantee material wealth for everyone who marries, for all provision is in the hand of Allah Almighty.
And Allah knows best.