The Bearers of the Throne

The Bearers of the Throne are among the most eminent and immense angels. The Quran evokes them: they carry God's Throne, they glorify Him, and — a beautiful detail — they implore forgiveness for the believers. The Quran indicates that on the Day of Resurrection, there will be eight of them carrying the Throne. An authentic hadith gives a vertiginous idea of their size.

THEIR QURANIC MENTION — God evokes them with honour: 'Those who carry the Throne and those who surround it glorify their Lord with praise and believe in Him' (40:7). And regarding the Last Day: 'On that Day, eight of them will carry the Throne of your Lord above them' (69:17).

HOW MANY? — According to the most widespread view (Ibn Kathir, Ibn al-Jawzi, reported as the majority), there are four in this world, and there will be eight on the Day of Resurrection — as indicated by verse 69:17 ('eight, on that Day').

THEIR IMMENSITY — An authentic hadith (Jabir ibn Abdillah, Abu Dawud) is staggering: the Prophet ﷺ said: 'I have been permitted to speak of one of God's angels among the Bearers of the Throne. The distance between the lobe of his ear and his shoulder equals a journey of seven hundred years.' If a mere portion of his body spans such a distance, what must his full size be? This is a creation that surpasses the imagination, recalling the infinite majesty of the One whose Throne they carry.

THEY IMPLORE FOR THE BELIEVERS — This is the most touching detail. These colossal angels, at the pinnacle of the celestial hierarchy, dedicate their glorification to asking forgiveness for believing humans: '...and implore His forgiveness for the believers, saying: "Lord! Your mercy and knowledge encompass all things; forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire..."' (40:7-8). The greatest of angels pray for the believers.

The Bearers of the Throne are Quranic (40:7, 69:17). The number 'eight' is explicit in the Quran for the Day of Resurrection; the view 'four now, eight on that Day' is that of Ibn Kathir and the majority. The hadith of the size (700 years between the earlobe and shoulder) is reported by Abu Dawud (no. 4727), with a chain judged sound by Ibn Hajar. NB: the exact nature of the Throne (al-'Arsh) belongs to the unseen; the people of the Sunnah believe in it without seeking its modality.

That the most immense of angels — those who carry the Throne — employ their greatness to implore forgiveness for believing humans is a lesson in humility and hope. The most colossal creation places itself at the service of mercy. And their vertiginous size is there only to remind us, by contrast, of the immeasurable majesty of the One who created them and whose Throne they carry.

Ceux qui portent le Trône et ceux qui se tiennent autour, parmi les anges, célèbrent par les louanges la gloire de leur Seigneur... et implorent Son pardon pour les croyants

40:7

...tandis que les anges se tiendront sur ses confins. Huit d'entre eux porteront, ce Jour-là, le Trône de ton Seigneur au-dessus d'eux.

69:17